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Integrity Our third element in our mission statement is "…conducts all matters with integrity." Integrity is a word that seems to have lost some of its luster. Too many words and phrases are overused with no action to match. If you say "it" and want people to believe "it", you had better do "it". In other words, walk your talk. Integrity comes in many forms. Integrity is doing the right thing when no one is looking. Do you drive 75 because you can get away with it? Or do you drive the speed limit? Stretching the limits of the law, stretching the specifications, stretching the truth to protect yourself, or stretching your commitments because no one will know, are all examples of being "out of integrity". Integrity is meeting your commitments. As a company we make commitments every day; such as "…delivery of x units to a customer by a certain date." That commitment implies, "…the product will also meet the expected quality requirements." As a team each of us has the responsibility to meet all of the explicit and implied company commitments. Each of us exhibits "integrity" in meeting these commitments by putting every human effort possible toward accomplishing the commitments. Ask yourself, "Could I have done better or is it the best possible"? Then "think outside the box". What else could I do to improve upon the commitment? Thinking outside of the box is also part of our implied commitment. Integrity is also a part of missing a commitment. There are times that no amount of "thinking outside of the box" or human effort will meet our commitment. How does integrity play in missing the mark? Integrity is "immediately owning up to missing a commitment". Two things happen when you admit that a commitment can't be met. First, you are showing your integrity and ownership in missing the mark. This keeps the trust alive between you and the other person. Secondly, with communication of a missed commitment you allow others to bring to bear knowledge and expertise that may assist in finding an alternative solution. Early knowledge allows for alternatives not available to you individually. Ultimately an alternative may still meet our commitment. Our company's integrity is base on employing the full team to meet all commitments. There are many other examples of maintaining your personal level of integrity and collectively the company's level of integrity. Integrity is about doing the right thing every time, even when it is painful. No one said it would always be easy. Frank |
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