PERSONAL INTEGRITY I believe we have a total collapse of integrity in Nigeria, and I think this has occurred because of one major reason - Loss/Lack of Personal Integrity. This is why corruption is on the increase. “Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not.” - Oprah Winfrey “Loss of integrity comes from those thousand tiny surrenders of self-respect to self-interest.” - Robert Brault WHAT IS PERSONAL INTEGRITY? Personal Integrity simply put is when a person says what they mean, means what they say, and does what they say they will do. Personal Integrity is a strongly held sense of commitment to openness, honesty, inclusiveness and high standards in oneself. A person with integrity stands for what is right and acts as a role model to his or her peers. Personal Integrity is personal; you do it for yourself because you know its the right thing to do, not for what you want people to think of you. Personal Integrity is doing the right thing when it wont make much difference whether you do or you dont, like taking pens home from work. Personal Integrity is being able to do the right thing even when its not the easy choice. Personal Integrity is giving your word and commitments, such that your actions and behavior are consistent with what you promise and commit. Personal Integrity is not telling lies. Personal Integrity is not crossing the expressway when there is a pedestrian bridge. Personal Integrity is not throwing thrash out of the window of your vehicle onto the road. HOW TO DEVELOP PERSONAL INTEGRITY Identify aspects of your behavior that require change. Reflect on your interactions with others in the workplace, at home and in social situations to determine specific areas in need of improvement. For example, if you are late for work every day and feel guilty about creating excuses for this behavior, this may be an opportunity to develop greater personal integrity. Determine your reasons for not behaving with greater personal integrity. For example, you may be pushing unpleasant work tasks on to other employees instead of being honest with your boss about your inability to do the tasks. You may be afraid to admit to yourself or to your boss that you do not possess the right skills or that the job is not the right fit for you. Face the obstacles that weaken you to excuse yourself, lie or violate your moral code. Make a list of tasks and behaviors in which you will become more trustworthy. The list might range from basic tasks, such as remembering to take out the trash as promised, to repaying large or small sums of money in a timely manner. Respect the property of others. Consider any complaints you may have had or have received about using another persons belongings. Make a concerted effort to respect other peoples belongings. Listen to and respect the opinions and decisions of others. Part of possessing personal integrity is protecting the human rights of others. Respecting diverse thoughts and decisions is a sign of open-mindedness and integrity. Do more than you expect others to do. If you are in a position to contribute to the development of others or help them to do something they cannot reasonably accomplish on their own, make an effort to assist them. Assess your progress, as success and integrity are not destinations, but making some progress: going forward. Expect yourself to learn and strive daily toward your goals, always making progress. Enlist the help of others, as mentors. The smiles and advice of colleagues, relatives and good friends, who know you well and have your best interest at heart, can assist your progress by providing objective feedback on a daily basis about the personal changes you are making. Develop your accountability. Learn to admit when youve made a mistake and apologize for it. If you were at least partly to blame for a bad situation, own up to your part in it instead of blaming others. If you admit that youve done something wrong, its easier to be more honest and to avoid the same mistake in the future.
Posted on: Wed, 06 Aug 2014 07:19:19 +0000
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