In our post 3 Steps to Build Integrity in the Workplace, we analyzed the relationship between workplace integrity and company core values.  That post concluded that building workplace integrity required having a clear set of values communicated to all and holding each other accountable to act in accordance with those values.  This is our attempt to summarize that post and express integrity in a sentence.

Integrity in a Sentence

Defining such a complex subject in a single sentence is difficult.  Integrity can involve many things such as honesty, trust, loyalty, doing the right thing, and following the Golden Rule to name a few.  People also can disagree about what values are important.  Here's our attempt at the single sentence definition:

One way to define "integrity" is "to act consistently with a set of positive values, regardless of whether someone is watching and even when such action would not be in a person's benefit"

Examples of Integrity

Here are a few examples of how people can act with integrity to their values - even at their own personal cost:

• Self sacrificing for the benefit of others

• Keeping promises about you say you will do

• Acting with honesty even if it is uncomfortable or it might hurt another's feelings

• Living according to your code despite what others may think

• Always doing your best even when you think you are going to fail

How do you define integrity in a sentence?

For more on corporate culture and values based business, read our posts, Radical Candor - Honesty at the Office,  What Makes an Ideal Work Environment and Advantages of a Values Based Business.

The Culture Counts blog is a discussion of law firm culture and legal innovation, including topics such as effective leadership, employee engagement, workplace culture, ideal work environment, company core values, and workplace productivity.  

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