Integrity and Ethics

(By Rick Lambert)

Integrity also plays a major role in defining work ethics.  Corporate ethics determine what acceptable behavior is, and what is considered “professional”; it defines what a person’s behavior ought to be.  Ethics are codes of conduct that when everyone follows, permits business to function with as little “people-friction” as possible.  Integrity is an internal motivation that drives a leader in determining what behavior is appropriate, for in many situations, there may be no written code of ethics. 

One of the reasons integrity in ethics is so vital, is that decisions are made by leadership that are derived from their ethics or lack of ethics.  Should they cover-up corruption? Should they lie?  Should the expose wrong-doing?  Should they admit mistakes?  These are just a few of the simple questions that every leader must ask at some point in their career.  The tragedy behind these questions is that while the average leader/manager may say they will do the right thing, because they lack a commitment to integrity, they will compromise their ethics and then cover-up their scandal.  A lack of integrity is most often revealed when someone seeks to hide things done wrong.  It’s self-centered self-preservation.