The Integrity Myth

In almost any poll of managers, employees, CEO’s or leaders, integrity is always rated in the top three values they aspire to, see themselves as having, or require in the organisation’s they work for.

It has almost become a buzz word.

Some have argued that it should surpass core values in organisations and become a fundamental tenant on which the others values are built on. So why then do we read every day in the general news and in the financial press of organisations that fail in this most critical requirement for existence?

Is it because integrity is a subjective term – one that can be interpreted by the beholder?

Is it because there are such few public examples and role models?

Is it because there are no objective benchmarks for integrity?

Perhaps it is all of the above.

What we do know is that everyone wants it, and whilst each of us has an expectation of what it is, not all of us can agree on a definitive template. Maybe, the integrity goal is too utopic a pursuit? Too high a demand on…