Integrity means congruence. Words and behavior match.
There are people was know whom we trust and others, we will see that congruence is basic. We trust congruency and are suspicious of incongruence.
Studies disclose that many people in organizations do not trust those above them. Why? Lack of congruence. Beautiful mission statements unsupported by practice. The doctrine of respect for the individual disagreed in action. Slogans abut customer service on the walls on matched by the realities of daily business. Sermons about honesty mocked by cheating. Promises of fairness betrayed by favoritism.
In most organizations, however, there are men and women whom other trust. Why? They keep their word. They honor their commitments. They do not peach fairness, they practice it. They do not just counted honestly and integrity, they live it.
I gave a group of executives this sentence stem. If I want people to perceive me as trust worthy. Here are typical ending. I must keep my word, I must by evenhanded in my dealings with everyone, I must walk my talk, I follow through on my commitment, I must look after my people against the bigger ups, I must be consistent. To any executive show wishes to be perceived as trustworthy, there is not mystery about what is required.
There are parents whom their children trust and there are parents whom their children do not trust. Why? The principle is the same as above congruence. Children may not be able to articulate what they know but they know.
