What exactly is integrity? How do you define it, and what does it truly mean to you?

When I asked ChatGPT for a definition, it described integrity as the quality of being honest, consistent, and guided by strong moral and ethical principles – no matter the situation or audience. It means aligning your actions, words, and decisions with your values, keeping your promises, and doing what’s right even when it’s difficult or inconvenient.

Integrity forms the bedrock of effective leadership. When you consistently do what you say you will do and communicate with openness and honesty, you earn the trust of those around you. But integrity extends beyond how you treat others – it also includes honoring the commitments you make to yourself.

In this article, we’ll explore what it means to lead from a foundation of integrity – both in your relationships with others and in the promises you keep to yourself.

Honor Your Word to Others

A crucial part of acting with integrity is honoring your word to others – keeping promises and following through on commitments, even when it’s inconvenient. Consistently doing what you say you will do builds a reputation for reliability and earns the trust of those around you.

On the other hand, failing to follow through sends a clear message that your word cannot be counted on, eroding both trust and respect.

Be Consistent Across All Situations

Acting with integrity also includes being consistent across all situations. Act with the same values and principles whether in public or private, with superiors or subordinates.

When you always act with consistency, you avoid the “two faces” trap. People can trust you because you act with authenticity, and authenticity builds credibility.

Hold Yourself Accountable

Integrity isn’t just about how you treat others – it’s also about how you hold yourself to account. True integrity means setting personal standards and living by them, even when no one is watching.

Self-accountability starts with acknowledging your mistakes quickly and taking responsibility for fixing them. Denying errors or shifting blame onto others erodes trust and damages your credibility.

Personal accountability isn’t always easy – something I continue to work on every day. I create daily action plans and set goals for myself. Most days, I follow through, but there are times when motivation dips and I fall short. The key is recognizing those moments, learning from them, and recommitting to the promises I’ve made to myself.

Honor Commitments to Yourself

To act with integrity toward yourself, treat your personal goals and promises with the same respect you give to commitments made to others. Approach them with equal conviction, following through even when it’s tempting to let them slide.

Honoring the commitments you make to yourself builds self-trust, which strengthens both your confidence and resilience. It also sharpens your ability to lead yourself effectively – creating a strong foundation for leading others. When you consistently keep your word to yourself, you model the very discipline and reliability you expect from those you lead.

Make Values-Based Decisions

To act with integrity, let your core principles guide your decisions – not pressure, convenience, or short-term gain. This means living your values consistently, even when the easier path is tempting.

Making values-based decisions protects both your reputation and your sense of self. For me, those guiding values are integrity, respect, service, and excellence. I strive to embody them daily, allowing them to shape my actions and influence every decision I make.

Conclusion

Integrity is more than honesty – it’s about honoring your word and following through on what you commit to, no matter the circumstances. It means showing up as the same authentic person in every interaction, whether you’re speaking to a client, a colleague, or a close friend. When you act with integrity toward others, you earn their trust and respect. When you act with integrity toward yourself by keeping the promises you make to yourself, you build self-trust and confidence. My challenge to you is this: lead from a foundation so solid in integrity that both you and those you serve can rely on it without question.