I was thinking that it would be so cool if a person’s integrity could be measured scientifically and accurately – then we could have something called an Integrity Quotient.
Imagine how advantageous that would be for countless things!
Definitely a huge advantage if you were hiring people. Or, even more importantly, when choosing a spouse for life.
Warren Buffet said, “Look for three things in a person – intelligence, energy, and integrity.
If they don’t have the last one, don’t even bother with the first two.”
Which means, if there were such a thing as an Integrity Quotient, it would be far more important than IQ – the intelligence quotient that we’re familiar with.
Why is integrity is such a huge concern when choosing who to marry, who to hire or vote for? Who to work with, and who to work for? Well, because your very life – not just your job or business – could depend on it!
Imagine being married to someone you can’t trust? Or what if you had a boss who just uses you, and who you can’t rely on to have your back, in case anything went wrong? Or what if you had a co-worker who’d sabotage you just to get ahead of you? Or a spouse who’ll clean the toilet bowl with your toothbrush when she’s angry at you? Or lace your coffee with arsenic? These are the stuff that horror movies are made of.
A person with no integrity, or who lacks integrity, can certainly throw you under the bus.
Anytime. You don’t want someone like that on your team – no matter how intelligent, energetic or talented that person is!
Warren Buffet goes on to say that people with integrity are “truth-tellers.” Given that all of us lie, and have probably lied countless times in our lives, a person with integrity will generally tell the truth, even when trapped in a corner.
The propensity to tell the truth is evident in a person with integrity. It would be his knee-jerk reaction if you asked him a question from left field. A habitual liar, on the other hand, will lie immediately just to get out of a predicament. Even if it’s a stupid lie that can easily be found out.
Hence, integrity is really a habit. A lifestyle. A knee-jerk reaction, much like muscle memory. It’s the cumulative result of habitually telling the truth even if telling the truth will get one into trouble – like getting scolded, penalized, demoted, embarrassed, etc.
Truth-telling has its onerous consequences, of course. But its long-term benefits are out of this world. Even gossips will spread the word about how honest you are!
The other thing that’s closely connected to integrity is being quick to admit it when you’ve made a mistake. Not waiting to be found out before confessing. Being willing to take full responsibility, to accept the consequences. Not blaming someone else.
A person with integrity won’t take credit for something he didn’t do. In fact, he’ll make sure to mention who should get the credit!
A person with integrity will deliver on his promises. But he’ll also tell you the minute he knows that he won’t be able to deliver – and why. Without lying or making excuses. And he’ll do his best to absorb any losses.
A person with integrity will immediately apologize, ask for forgiveness, once they know they’ve wronged you. The one who’s been caught red-handed yet doesn’t apologize is a person who really lacks integrity – especially if he’s your superior.
The higher the integrity of a leader, the faster he/she will admit his/her mistake, say sorry, and take responsibility – even to a subordinate.
A person with integrity will never be a yes man. He’ll dig in his heels and stand up for what he believes is right – even if he has to risk his money, connections, influence, or position.
I remember my husband refusing to take part in an illegal way of getting his inheritance.
He could’ve easily rationalized that it was his rightful share anyway. But he didn’t. That’s integrity.
I believe that we will go through many tests in life that are meant to strengthen our integrity. Because God wants us to have integrity – as a way of life.
Even if we fail at times, what’s important is that we repent. That we don’t sell out our integrity next time.
Our knee-jerk reaction to any situation should be one of integrity. Not deception, treachery, lying, or sabotaging the others – just to get what we want, for our own selfish ends.
The Bible tells us, “People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed.” (Proverbs 10: 9)
“The way of the Lord is a stronghold to those with integrity, but it destroys the wicked.” (Proverbs 10:29)
