Small Business Today Magazine JUN 2014 MASTERWORD SERVICES INC | Page 35
EDITORIALFEATURE
Integrity is Your
Personal Brand
By Birgit Zacher Hanson
Y
ou’re in the integrity business regardless of the industry you think you’re
in and your success is determined
by your reputation for making and
keeping promises.
Despite its importance, integrity is most
likely a blind-spot for you, not because
you’re a bad person but because you
haven’t been trained for it. Most people
admit they could be better at time management and organization but few will actually say that they lack integrity. We tend
to think that other people lack integrity,
not ourselves!
Integrity has many dimensions but, to
keep it simple, think of it as being true to
your word or taking responsibility. How
blind are people to integrity at work?
Consider these common utterances and
then consider these alternative responses:
1. “I was going to write the draft but instead I had to fix my printer problem.”
Sounds like a fact but is it really an excuse?
Couldn’t you have found another computer to use?
Alternative: “I am sorry I didn’t finish the
draft.”
2. “I’m late because traffic was horrible.”
Sounds like something out of your control
but couldn’t you have planned to leave earlier?
Alternative: “Sorry I am late.”
3. “It’s not my fault.”
If the results you received were not what
you expected, does it really matter whose
fault it was?
Alternative: “I am disappointed I/we fell
short. What can I/we do to accomplish
what was expected?”
Most adults don’t like to be disappointed nor do they like to disappoint others.
Often, they avoid making promises out of
fear that something unpredictable might
come up and as a result is beyond their
control. On the other hand, they may
overcommit because they don’t know
how to say “No”. Both avoidance tactics
result in breakdowns in trust and performance.
Lastly, always close the loop. Don’t be
the kind of person who says “I will try” or
“I will get back with you” and then not
commit to a specific outcome or specific
Most people admit they
date. By leaving the loop open, you keep
could be better at
people hanging on. As a result, they can
never develop confidence in knowing they
time management and
organization but few will can depend on you.
actually say that
In the end, we must accept that life has
they lack integrity.
a way of interfering with our plans and
We tend to think that
sometimes, regardless of how good our
intentions are, we may not be able to fulother people lack
fill a promise we made. However, we can
integrity, not ourselves!
always own up to our responsibilities and
either make a new commitment or revoke
a promise we made.
mitments? Sure you would. If I gave you
Acting with integrity and taking personal
a million dollars to be on time, you would
figure out a way to beat traffic. No doubt. responsibility isn’t always easy or comfortable. But if you desire success in your life
Yet, as a result of our lack of foresight, and business, it is important to take a close
we think we can get away with the excus- look at your integrity first then train your
es when, in fact, other people see them team on doing the same. Your customers
exactly for what they are. What’s even will thank you and send you referrals over
worse, their esteem for us and trust in our and over again.
word goes down. But not all is lost! Unlike
the common belief that integrity is something you either have or don’t have, integrity happens by design. Anyone can live in
integrity. The key is to honor your word
at all times. If you make a commitment, Birgit Zacher Hanson, Master Certified Coach, is a
speaker and the co-author of the best-selling
follow through. If you are unable to do so, public
book, Who Will Do What by When? You can contact
let the person know as soon as you know, her at [email protected] or visit her
apologize, and renegotiate your promise.
website at www.headsupperformance.com.
Can you perceive the difference between valued self-defense over integrity?
People commonly (and unconsciously)
use excuses to defend their innocence or
cover up a lack of commitment and follow-through. Our natural tende