Integrity begins with a choice, the moment you know what the right thing is, the debate is already over. Stop rationalizing. Stop searching for loopholes. Stop waiting for perfect circumstances. When you know the right thing to do, do it.
The first problem is that we're too often influenced by others, external events, and imagined consequences. It's not that people don't know right from wrong. That's drilled into us by family, friends, and others who helped shape us as we grew and developed.
The second is that character is revealed in moments when action is required. Decisions must be made. Others may be watching. And once the choice is made, there are no do-overs.
We all have experiences and stories about this. In the casino business, employees are tempted by so much activity around them. An item is lost and found by you. What do you do with it? A question is asked and you say you'll get back to someone, but you don't. A customer pleads for an exception to policy, and you're tempted. Those and countless other situations test integrity when no one is watching.
Integrity isn't only about what happens in business. It's an issue in everything we do in life. But my messages are about business, and so I suggest that building relationships based on trust and respect is the stuff that points people in the right direction when decisions are made. Better yet, those relationships create a safe haven where people can come forward and discuss what's on their minds before making a choice they may later regret.
It's no different than what goes on between parents and their children.
Create the conditions that promote integrity. Build trust. Encourage honest conversations. And when the right choice becomes clear, make sure people know they have permission to do the right thing every day. Starting today.
Amy Jade Winehouse (1983 – 2011): British singer and songwriter. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amy_Winehouse
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