In my first series of guest blogger inputs, here are the thoughts of two different colleagues that each highlighted the idea that integrity is doing what you said you would do.

Erick Mueller, Founder of Funovation and University of Colorado Faculty Director

Would you want to be lied to?  Or provided false information?  Or not be told the whole story?  I doubt it.  Me either!  And yet it seems more and more, people are willing to do these things and sacrifice their integrity.  And for what?  To not be embarrassed?  To look good in front of peers?  Out of fear of failure?  Perhaps.  But end of the day, all we have is our integrity.  That sales award or great grade or recognition from peers is empty if it’s done from a foundation of low integrity. 

OR. A simple statement….

I’ve hired hundreds of people throughout my career.  After all of these years, one thing has bubbled to the top on which I choose from all the candidates that apply for the position: will they do what they say they will do?  Do they have the highest of integrity?  I hire that person that will look me square in the eye and say, “I’ll get it done.  I may not have all the answers, but I’ll figure it out and get it done”.  This sense of integrity sets people apart.

Kate Haslem, Denver Zoo Individual Philanthropy Coordinator

Integrity in the work place is about being a team player and that means knowing your role and the scope of your role in addition to having the self-awareness to know your own strengths and weaknesses. What are you a rock star at? What could use work? Asking these questions is essential for two reasons.

• Knowing your strengths helps you identify what you’re a natural at and may help you identify how you want to specialize in your career
• Weaknesses are indicators of what kind of teammates you need. Are you a driver with little attention to detail? Great. Partner up with the conscientious proofreader and together the two of you can take over the world.

Now back to integrity. Every member of your team should know holistically what you’re all about and that you’re always going to follow through with what you say you will do. Sometimes this means putting the ego aside and saying “I don’t know much about that but I’d like to learn. I need help with X, Y, and Z to get this done. Will you help me? I’d love to learn from working with you.” When you begin a new position it’s very simple. The big question is: will you follow through on the work that you say you will and will it be high quality? In the beginning that’s how you get the integrity ball rolling and it can’t be done alone. My favorite way to work around these obstacles is by tapping into the strengths of my coworkers and returning the favor when it comes back around. And it always comes back around.

Eventually as you work to develop relationships with your boss and your peers it’s about knowing that you will do what it takes for the whole team to succeed rather than just advance your own personal agenda. I know folks who are over achievers, but I wouldn’t trust them to help me if it didn’t mean they would get the praise for being the kind of suck up who will bask in the glory of “faux-selfless.” If you do the right thing and always get the job done and deliver, eventually people around you will learn that your name is always on that list of workers who can always be counted on, no matter what comes your way.