Integrity is an ethical concept that is widely discussed owing to its importance in life. In all areas of study, including religion, law, ethics, philosophy, politics, and psychology, it is viewed as the hallmark of ethical living and effective leadership. Humans live in accordance with socially acceptable values and principles. Integrity is the strict adherence to specific principles and values that are considered ethical, and it is characterized by qualities that include honesty, transparency, consistency of character, and truthfulness.
Successful relationships between parents and children, employers and employees, marriage partners, as well as teachers and students, are founded on trust and the willingness, to tell the truth, regardless of the prevailing situation or circumstance (Scherkoske 53). Many relationships fail because of the propensity to compromise principles. For example, a child might lie to their parent in order to avoid punishment, or an employee could feign sickness in order to have time to attend to family matters.
These actions involve compromising moral principles for selfish interests without considering their effects on other people. A person of integrity would avoid lying because their core values demand honesty and transparency at all times.
In ethics, integrity describes the consistent application of a framework of principles that are regarded as a measure of morality. For example, the concept is widely used in politics to evaluate the suitability of different individuals for leadership. Politicians are widely criticized for their lack of integrity because some of them manipulate citizens to get votes, use lies to garner support, and make promises that they fail to honor. In that regard, they lack integrity (Scherkoske 65). In order to be a person of integrity, it is important for individuals to focus on the development of their character. This process is difficult because it involves making mistakes, learning from them, and using the insights gained to improve personal character (Scherkoske 74).
Integrity is one of the most critical components of effective leadership. Successful leaders practice integrity by doing the right thing, standing for truth, keeping promises, and adhering to a strict set of moral principles (Hancott 52). Many companies have collapsed because leaders compromised their integrity in order to earn huge profits. I believe that integrity is important because people who possess this quality are honest, trustworthy, and dependable. In many companies, such individuals get promotions because they act with honor and truthfulness all the time (Hancott 86). Moreover, they are good at developing effective interpersonal relationships with their coworkers.
Integrity is one of the most important ingredients for success in personal and professional life. It facilitates the development of effective relationships, which are based on trust and transparency. Integrity can be practiced in both small and big ways. It is the duty of every person to behave according to the dictates of morally acceptable principles that vary from society to society, company to company, and community to community. Becoming a person of integrity is a worthy goal to pursue because it leads to the development of a strong character.
Works Cited
Hancott, Daren. Leadership is What? The Importance of Vision, Integrity, and Developing Others. Lulu Publishing Services, 2017.
Scherkoske, Greg. Integrity and the Virtue of Reason: Leading a Convincing Life. Cambridge University Press, 2013.