If you lie, you know you’re dishonest. If you steal, you know you lack integrity.
This should be the ABCs of moral behavior.
However, life is not always black and white. There are subtle shades of grey that often go unnoticed. Even the best of us can unknowingly display a lack of integrity.
We all trip up sometimes, myself included. And that’s likely because we’re doing these 8 specific things without even realizing it.
So, let’s dive in, shall we? It’s time for some tough love and self-awareness.
1) You’re not keeping your promises
Promises are tricky things.
They’re easy to make, but often, they’re much harder to keep. We’ve all been there, right? You agree to something in the heat of the moment, and then when the time comes to deliver, you find yourself coming up short.
However, this is where integrity comes into play.
People of high integrity understand the weight of their words. They know that when they make a promise, they’re not just giving their word; they’re giving a piece of their honor and credibility.
But here’s the kicker: Sometimes, we break our promises without even realizing it. We forget, we procrastinate, or we simply choose something else over the commitment we’ve made.
And each time we do this, we chip away at our own integrity.
2) You’re not owning up to your mistakes
Admitting to our mistakes can be tough. Trust me, I’ve been there.
I remember a time when I was working on a project with a tight deadline.
In my haste, I overlooked an important detail and the project ended up failing. It would have been so easy to pass the blame onto someone else or make up some excuse.
But that’s not what integrity is about.
Instead, I confessed my oversight to my team and took full responsibility for the failure. It was a difficult pill to swallow, sure.
But it was also a pivotal moment for me. I learned the true meaning of integrity: owning up to your mistakes and taking responsibility for your actions.
We all make mistakes; that’s human nature. But if you’re consistently dodging responsibility and shifting blame, you might be showing a lack of integrity without even realizing it.
3) You’re taking shortcuts
In a world where everything is about speed and efficiency, taking shortcuts has become the norm. But here’s something you might not have considered: it can also reveal a lack of integrity.
Consider the famed Stanford Marshmallow Experiment.
Children were given a choice: they could either eat one marshmallow immediately or wait 15 minutes and get two marshmallows. Those who waited showed a higher level of self-control and, later in life, achieved greater success.
The same principle applies to integrity. It’s about resisting the temptation to take the easy route and instead, committing to doing what’s right – even if it means waiting for that second marshmallow.
4) You’re not being genuine
We all put on different masks for different situations. It’s a part of life. But when that mask becomes a constant fixture, hiding the real you, it might be a sign of lacking integrity.
Being genuine means being true to yourself and others.
It means expressing your thoughts and feelings honestly, even when it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient. It’s about embracing your quirks and flaws, and not pretending to be someone you’re not.
But here’s the thing: sometimes we get so caught up in our roles that we lose sight of who we truly are. We start pretending, and that’s when our integrity starts to slip away.
Be genuine, be authentic, be you. Because at the end of the day, integrity is about being true to yourself and treating others with honesty and respect.
5) You’re not respecting others’ time
Time is a precious commodity, isn’t it? I’ve always believed that how you respect other people’s time says a lot about your character.
I remember a few years back when I used to run late for meetings, thinking it was no big deal.
But then, a colleague pointed out how my tardiness was affecting others. I was wasting their time and showing a lack of respect. It was a hard truth to swallow.
But it was also a wake-up call. I realized that by not valuing other people’s time, I was inadvertently showing a lack of integrity.
If you’re constantly running late, cancelling plans at the last minute, or not meeting deadlines, take a moment to reflect. Are you truly respecting others’ time?
Because in the grand scheme of things, showing respect for others’ time is a clear sign of integrity.
6) You’re always saying yes
Saying yes to everything might make you feel like a team player, but it can also be a sign of lacking integrity.
Agreeing to everything that comes your way might seem like a good idea at the time – you’re being helpful, right? But in reality, if you’re saying yes when you want to say no, you’re not being honest with yourself or others.
Integrity is about standing up for what you believe in, even when it’s not the popular choice. It’s about setting boundaries and respecting your own limits.
Before you say yes next time, pause and think about what you truly want. Because maintaining your integrity often means having the courage to say no.
7) You’re ignoring the small things
Ever heard the saying, “The devil is in the details”? It’s especially true when it comes to integrity.
Those little actions that you think don’t matter? They add up.
Skipping out on returning a borrowed pen, not cleaning up after yourself, or even failing to acknowledge someone’s good work – all these ‘small’ things can indicate a lack of integrity.
Integrity isn’t just about the big decisions; it’s about those seemingly insignificant moments too. It’s about doing the right thing, even when nobody is watching, and even when it might seem unimportant.
Pay attention to the small things. They might be saying more about your integrity than you realize.
8) You’re not practicing what you preach
Integrity is about aligning your actions with your words.
It’s about walking the talk. If you’re preaching honesty but telling white lies, or advocating for hard work but slacking off when no one’s watching, you’re showing a lack of integrity.
The most important thing to remember about integrity is that it’s not a one-time thing. It’s a continuous practice, a way of life. It’s about being consistent in your actions, regardless of the situation or audience.
If you want to exhibit true integrity, make sure that your actions match your words. That’s the real litmus test of integrity.
Reflecting on integrity
Hopefully, if you’ve journeyed with me this far, you’ll have recognized that people of integrity are some of the most respected and admired individuals.
Integrity isn’t about perfection. It’s about honesty, responsibility, and consistency. It’s about aligning your actions with your values, even when it’s inconvenient or challenging.
If someone embodies this, they are not just a person of integrity. They are probably someone you’d want to have in your corner.
As you go about your day, reflect on this. Are your actions matching your words? Are you owning up to your mistakes? Are you respecting others’ time?
Because in the end, it’s these small acts of integrity that truly define who we are as individuals. It’s not just about being a person of integrity for others to see, but being one for yourself to respect and be proud of.
