Integrity:

“Knowing what’s right and doing what’s right.” 

These words have echoed through my head during my elementary days. At least once a month, our counselor would bring out these behemoth, laminated key-lookin’ things and have us repeat sayings for each word on the different keys. Looking back, I always thought it was just another thing to kill time. I never took to heart what it all really meant. 

First, let’s start out as to what integrity means. According to Dictionary.com, integrity carries the meaning of “adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.” 

I read that and my eyes go big. It sounds like some type of description only fit for a queen or king. 

Well, I guess we’re all queens and kings because we are totally capable of practicing integrity on the daily. 

I searched different ways people can be full of integrity, there are many ways to do so, but these are the three that stood out to me: 

1. Take responsibility 
2. Keep your word and commitments (especially if you promised to bring me dessert.) 
3. Show up on time. (This is something I firmly believe in; however, I do find myself pushing time and running 5 minutes late on occasion. I’ll work on this.) 

The characteristic of integrity on a team plays a huge role. A team cannot be successful if they lie to each other, don’t show up on time, don’t take responsibility when at fault or don’t do what they need to do when no one is looking. There are many things this world needs in order to become a better place and integrity is one of them. 

Oprah delineated integrity well when she said: 

“Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not.” 

-Abby Williams