“The foundation stones for a balanced success are honesty, character, integrity, faith, love and loyalty.”—Zig Ziglar
Integrity is built on honest and character. Integrity is “having a moral compass that doesn’t waiver” (Vocabulary.com)—of course, this implies a positive and ethical morality.
Integrity comes from the same root as “integer”, i.e., a whole number—having no fractions. Thus, it refers to the “wholeness” or “completeness” of one’s honesty and character. As with all of our pursuit toward well-centeredness, integrity pursues perfection. No one has his or her moral compass perfectly aligned. Integrity, however, reflects the desire to be moving in the “right” direction and the degree to which we waiver upon our path. Thus, we do not have to agree with one’s point of view to find them to have integrity. Believe it or not, there are leaders of both ends of the political spectrum who have integrity (perhaps these are not so easy to find, but they exist). Leadership requires integrity and a steadfastness of purpose.
Integrity is not, however, bullheadedness. It is not stubbornness. Rather, it “means that you are the same in public as you are in private” (Joyce Meyer). It also means that you are willing to adjust the compass should you find yourself headed in the wrong direction. Integrity admits to error and changes its path.
Carpe momento!
“The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office.”—Dwight D. Eisenhower