In my second series of guest blogger inputs, a few of my friends weigh in on how to bring integrity into your job situation.

Justin Gold, Founder of Justin’s (the most amazing nut butters and peanut butter cups!)

-See things through to completion.

-Do the RIGHT thing even if it means more work.  Something that you know that you don't NEED to do but is the RIGHT thing to do.  

-Empathize with people.  Ask questions about their lives that demonstrates that you genuinely care about them.

-Invest in the mental and physical health of your teammates.  Support them on diets, exercise goals, etc.  Encourage them to take time to exercise, recommend healthier food in the office, etc.

-Lead by example in your own personal and professional relationships.  Have integrity on the field and off.

-Trust and give folks the opportunity to make decisions, lead and make mistakes.

-Do what you say you're going to do.  You are your word and that alone has integrity.

-Value other people’s time.  Don't ever be late without letting them know.  

-Write your thank you's.

Jian Wu, Associate Brand Manager at WhiteWave Foods, Recent CU-Boulder MBA Grad

As I got promoted and started my new marketing role after getting my MBA, I found that I had to start all over again with building integrity with my new team. Besides being invigorated by my promotion, I had to ruthlessly come to terms with putting hard work into build trusting relationships with a new group of co-workers. The best way to accomplish this was to be extremely proactive in setting up meetings to seek advice and gain knowledge on the business. Through this process, I found a couple of individuals to be wise counsels. I prioritized building a sincere and transparent working relationship with these individuals because they honored my reputation and believed in my future contributions. Also, it allowed me to build a base level of trust with other team members through conversations about personal values, goals, and similar attitudes towards helping each other achieve success. Ultimately, don't become too entrenched in your own priorities because your integrity is constantly being defined through your relationships.

Jacqueline Ros, Founder and CEO of Revolar

Integrity for our company means openness. When I communicate honestly with my team about any situation or issues that come up, they rise to the occasion. Especially within our small start-up team where everyone is wearing so many hats, you’ve got to trust them to do their job. Too many times, I see the leader of a group try to micromanage their team. Micromanaging demonstrates a lack of trust and wastes time. At the end of the day, a business is comprised of individuals. When you trust your team and show them respect as a team and as individuals, it’s incredible what they can accomplish. Still, for those accomplishments to have a solid foundation, they have to be based on integrity.