Thursday, August 1, 2013

Integrity in business and leisure ~ Tommy Middaugh


If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don’t have integrity, nothing else matters.” — Alan K. Simpson

 

Integrity is the adherence to moral and ethical principles and is often synonymous with honesty. In the business world, integrity is at the core of a company’s success. In today’s highly competitive business world, customers have more choices than ever before and easy access to them through the worldwide web. So they will often opt for those companies displaying the most ethical behavior. Integrity leads to trust, which is essential to attract first-time customers and obtain repeat business. Without integrity, a company won’t be able attract new customers, as well as the necessary business partners. The company may fail to thrive and eventually collapse.

 

So where does integrity come from in the business structure? It is up to the company’s leader to set the moral compass for all employees and departments. Once the leader / CEO establishes integrity as the heart and soul of the business, it will trickle down to reach everyone underneath. One of the best ways for employees to show integrity is to be their customer’s advocate. They need to ask themselves if they are doing their best to offer the most valuable products and services. Do they keep their advertising promises and deliver on customer expectations? Being able to answer these questions truthfully and making the necessary changes is what makes the difference between an average company and a great one.

 

Of course, integrity is a moral principle that applies to your personal life, not just your professional life. Your personal reputation and relationships are crucial to your happiness, so why risk it? As C.S. Lewis said so wisely, "Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching."

No comments:

Post a Comment