KMC 4) INTEGRITY (Part 1)
Key Mentorship Characteristics (KMC)
INTEGRITY - the characteristic of being honest and demonstrating a high level of moral principles in one's conduct and within the mentoring relationship. Integrity is frequently associated with being complete, intact and without fracture or division towards an alternative purpose.
We invited our friends and readers to add their perspective on the role of “INTEGRITY” in Mentorship.
Please feel free to share your experience with respect to this aspect of mentorship and invite others to participate where you feel they could add value to our discussion.
We asked:
• What is the role of INTEGRITY within a mentoring relationship?
• What does INTEGRITY mean to you?
• How is INTEGRITY developed between the mentoring partners?
If you were to ask me to try to define INTEGRITY, I'd say that it is the unwavering consistency that we demonstrate - it’s what others see when the going gets tough, when the storms of life lash out upon the hull of our fragile ship and the fabric of our character is tested on the stormy seas of adversity. Someone once said that INTEGRITY is 'who you are when no one else is watching.'
Awhile ago, several of my friends in social media circles commented on what INTEGRITY meant to them. Here is a sampling of some of those comments. I trust that they 'ring true' with you as they did with me when I first read them!
1) My friend Bill Butler says that INTEGRITY speaks to one's moral fiber, to consistency of character and personal honesty, such that all of their actions are above board and align with the values they claim to live by. In other words, INTEGRITY is being who you are.
Stephen R. Covey said it this way. "Living a life of INTEGRITY starts with making and keeping promises, until the whole human personality, the senses, the thinking, the feeling, and the intuition, are ultimately integrated and harmonized."
A person of INTEGRITY is the genuine article. They are forthright and honorable and can be counted on to tell the truth.
INTEGRITY is:
Innocence
Nobility
Trustworthiness
Excellence
Genuineness
Reliability
Irreproachability
Temperance
YOU!
2) Another friend, Lesley Byrne Marcovich asks: “How do you treat yourself? With INTEGRITY?
- Are you truthful with yourself?
- Do you keep promises you make yourself? Are you quick to forgive yourself?
- Do you accept responsibility for your actions?
- Are you consistent with your personal goals?
- Do you genuinely care and respect the life you have been given?
"INTEGRITY is the welcome mat at your front door."
3) My friend, Gilberto MacKnight tells an interesting story:
My Mom used to say: ”No one can give what they do not possess”. It is true; how can we radiate INTEGRITY, harmony and cohesion, without having them? Integrity means wholeness, all parts united in harmony. Impossible to transmit or inspire it without really having it! Before we can present ourselves to others we have to unite our qualities, talents and capacities to our character as a whole.
4) Narendra Man Pradhan, another friend says that, “INTEGRITY is the adherence to a high standard of honesty and character. Without INTEGRITY, a leader has absolutely no ground on which to stand. INTEGRITY and trustworthiness are the two qualities at the top of the list that are considered essential for LEADERSHIP.
NOW - Please feel free to share your comments and experiences with respect to this aspect of mentorship.
WHAT'S been your experience with respect to INTEGRITY within MENTORSHIP?
Also, help us to reach others who could benefit from participating in this discussion. We welcome your 'sharing' this page with those in your circle of contacts!
Questions:
• What is the role of INTEGRITY within a mentoring relationship?
• What does INTEGRITY mean to you?
• How is INTEGRITY developed between the mentoring partners?
