Can Integrity be learned?

Integrity by definition is a “steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code”.  It is an attribute that is found in the core beliefs of the United States Marine Corp when they talk about “leadership traits”.  According to the USMC, “Integrity means that you are honest and truthful in what you say or do.  You put honesty, sense of duty and sound moral principles above all else”.  Beyond this definition there is also an “improvement “section noted under the same USMC statement…”be absolutely honest and truthful at all times.  Stand up for what you believe to be right”.  This made me think…I guess integrity can be taught or at least modified by continued applications.

I posed a question on LinkedIn recently asking if integrity could be learned. The overwhelming response was “yes”.  This surprised me since I always thought that integrity was an innate part of one’s character similar to judgment which most people believe you either have or don’t.  The suggestion from USMC above also shows that “improvements” can be made as it relates to integrity.  I have a lot of faith in my colleagues from LinkedIn.  I also hold the USMC in high regard as well as all the men and women of our military.  I guess that I now have a better understanding that integrity can be massaged as we grow through life.  Integrity, morals and ethics can evolve as we experience new things but first I want to focus and dwell on our formative years.  Our moral fibers are assembled early on in our childhood. According to most research, by the age of 3, a significant part of our character is firmed up.  The solid groundwork in early childhood has a profound impact on us as individuals, our decision making and judgment that will carry us through life.  Our parents and families have a deep impact on setting the course for our future. I pose the question…Are we fated to be a success or failure from our childhood?  Absolutely not but a good or bad start to the process often points us in one direction or the other.

Integrity emerges from high quality relationships where there is stability, positive emotions and growth…if there are any roadblocks that restrict positive relationships, it puts integrity at risk. Early on in our development, abused children will have difficulty in developing integrity because they will focus more on feeling better by external sources rather than understanding themselves.  When a child reaches school age, the friends and teachers that the child comes in contact with will have an effect on either strengthening or diluting the early foundation that our parents gave us.  Coaches could also have a strong influence as well as various authoritative figures the child comes in contact with.  All this interaction and change will have bearing on the moral and ethical code of conduct in our lives.  Which role model(s) we choose to emulate will have lasting impact on virtually everything we do in our lives.

In college and graduate schools, every major university has multiple classes on business ethics.  Did this teaching fall on deaf ears in the case of notorious disregard for ethics in the case of Enron, Tyco and the Bernie Madoff fiasco.  Enron’s CFO came from one of the most prestigious graduate schools in America. What happened?  Most scholars agree that by the time that we hit our 20’s, the extent of our integrity has for the most part been established. Tom Donaldson a Wharton School professor from the University of Pennsylvania stated “a course on ethics is not like a polio vaccine…we cannot inoculate students who have been inclined toward unethical behavior for the past 20+ years”.

Similar to our early foundation with our family and parents a new set of mentors can affect us when we finally arrive in the workplace.  The core beliefs of an organization can have a drastic impact on how we behave and react.  Many people graduate college and graduate school thinking that they are ready for the business world only to realize that the real learning is yet to come.  It is contact with our teammates and management where the business can have either a very positive or negative impact.  As leaders, the principles that we employ in outlining our mission as an organization are the catalyst for continuing integrity. Conducting your business with a vision built on moral ethics and instilling at every level of the organization a trusting, honest relationship is crucial.   

Be 100% Honest ~ Build your reputation based on honesty and hard work! Your leadership will be copied and you can expect your employees to mirror what executive management demonstrates. Absolute integrity means being absolutely honest and upright in your actions to the best of your ability.

Take Responsibility ~ Always be personal accountable for your actions. Blaming others supports the illusion that others are responsible for our circumstances.

Core Values and beliefs ~ This forms the culture of the organization and if you expect honesty in return you need to exhibit truthfulness and principled behaviors.

Walk Your Talk ~ If you ask for it, make sure that you yourself are going to do it!

Business Culture ~ Just last week in the op-ed section of the New York Times, there was a resignation letter from a former VP of a major Wall Street firm.  In his scathing letter he said “It (company culture) revolved around teamwork, integrity, a spirit of humility, and always doing right by our clients. The culture was the secret sauce that made this place great and allowed us to earn our clients’ trust for 143 years. It wasn’t just about making money; this alone will not sustain a firm for so long. It had something to do with pride and belief in the organization. I am sad to say that I look around today and see virtually no trace of the culture that made me love working for this firm for many years. I no longer have the pride, or the belief”.  I have no comment other than to say that Business culture is a key to fueling Integrity.