Articles

Integrity Does Count!

Jana M. Kemp

We’ve all made buying decisions based on knowing someone and how well we trust them to do the job. We make employment decisions based on whether we know or think we’ll like the company and its values. And we make charitable contributions based on what we know and trust about an organization’s mission and actual work in the community.

In other words, the integrity of a business, a not-for-profit, or a social organization is a part of our “get-involved” decision making process. Integrity is about honesty, following through on promises made, consistency, and trustworthiness. Integrity can be written down in an organization’s value statements and yet not be seen in action.

The disconnect between a professed value and seeing that value in action comes when people are involved, which of course is every minute of every work day. People make decisions and promises as a normal part of doing business. The challenge is fostering and seeing the values-in-action connection on a daily basis.

We can hire the best possible people who are committed to the organization’s purpose. We can document integrity as a company value. We can establish human resource policies about honesty, and respect. And then when managers and owners interact with integrity, respect, honesty and care the organization is seen to have integrity because people throughout the organization tend to act with integrity. When leaders in organizations fail to act with integrity, the whole of the company is undermined and people at all levels determine that since integrity isn’t important “at the top” then how does what I do “down here” matter.

In 1999, I took my company through a review of consistency and integrity. I was nominated and recognized with small business Integrity Counts! Award sponsored by the Better Business Bureau. The process was rigorous and included a detailed application packet that was then reviewed and assessed by a panel of judges.

Here’s your opportunity! The Seventh Annual Better Business Bureau’s Integrity Counts! Award nominations are now being invited. Nominations are due by June 16, 2003. While the application process is rigorous, as it should be given the award’s focus, the process is enlightening and worth the effort.

ACTION ITEMS: Look around your business to see where integrity is in action. Nominate your company or someone else’s for their commitment to and follow-through on integrity in business. For more information on the Integrity Counts! Award or for a nomination form, visit www.boise.bbb.org .
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Reprint Permission: The author is willing to grant reprint permissions. Please contact Jana Kemp: jana@janakemp.com or call 208-367-1701.