Stress and Joy of the Decisions Not Taken (Lesson V) (Integrity and Career)

 

Stress and Joy of the Decisions Not Taken

(Lesson V)

(Integrity and Career)

Integrity is doing the right thing,

even when no one is watching.

 C. S. Lewis

 

It was almost lunch time, meal boxes had already been placed in the hot case, on an autumn afternoon a few decades back, when my help in office entered my room hurriedly to tell that one of our officers was being brought from the road side tea shop to the room of the head of office, both his shoulders held by two unknown persons and tightly escorted by four-five other persons not belonging to our office, as if something serious had happened. Subsequently, it transpired that an officer had been caught red handed while taking bribe money, by an anti-corruption agency, on a trap laid down by the agency on the information supplied by the person from whom money was demanded by the officer concerned for doing some official work which otherwise was the duty of the officer caught to be performed in the normal course. Result was while in the room of the head of office, he was arrested then and there, made to sit on the floor like a criminal  and forced him to take out his clothes which were got sealed for producing them as evidence in the Court and he was standing in a vest and underwear in a most embarrassing manner. The Officer arranged some clothes for him. Next day he was produced in the Court  : when he was told by the Court that this is a bail able offence and he can make arrangement for person who would stand surety for him and execute bond papers etc. he simply told the Court that  no local person would stand surety for him and he will have to wait for arrival of his father-in-law who was also a Govt. employee but at an out station and in the days to come the surety came and he got the bail but it took a week before he was out of the jail. He fought this case in the Court of law for almost two decades and was ultimately awarded the punishment of imprisonment for five years. In departmental disciplinary proceedings on the same set of circumstances he was dismissed from service.

 

Just see, this is what the integrity, if not maintained, can do. The officer lost his honour, integrity, respect, regards, awards, job, became a person of doubtful integrity, labeled as corrupt officer, earned a court case, a departmental case, expenditure to fight these cases and his monthly income got stopped, tension, stress, irritation, quarrels at home, his wife was unable to explain to his kids what their father had done, even friends deserted him and he became a suspicious man in his known circles, financially in ruins, in few minutes and for few chips to which he was not legally entitled . When he was caught red handed he was shabbily treated by the officers of the anti-corruption agency in their attempt to collect on the spot evidence and to demoralize him. In the heart of his heart, he must have experienced himself as a guilty conscience.  

 

Know how to maintain integrity: To understand as how to maintain integrity one must know clearly what integrity is. Dictionary defines integrity as adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character and honesty. Dictionary defines conscience as a person's moral sense of right and wrong. There is a very strong relationship between integrity and conscience which has to be understood to become a person of “integrity” not of “Doubtful Integrity”. In fact, both integrity and conscience are the two sides of the same coin of the adorable character. When we say “He is a man of integrity” or “He is a man of conscience”, it is more than enough to describe the person and his character. Among many other ways to define distinction between ‘doubtful’ and ‘beyond doubt’ integrity one test is simple; anything done and said which pricks the conscience of any person including yourself, is against the norms of integrity. Choose the word you like, “integrity” or “conscience”, you would like to be described as and have trouble free career.

 

Integrity is generally limited to financial transactions, benefits, advantages particularly to those one is not entitled to: but it is very narrow view, however with reference to employment it is the only view that can be reasonably taken.  In fact, it is a system of accepted beliefs that control behaviour, in a system based on morals, for example ethical behaviors in the workplace includes; obeying company's rules, instructions and codes, effective communication, effective listening, taking responsibility positively, accountability, trust, mutual respect for colleagues etc. Discipline, decorum and decency are all part of integrity and should be enforced by the management for the development of integrity “Beyond Doubt” culture in the organization and for the welfare of the employees.

 

There is a saying, “reputation travels faster than the man”, this is equally true in case of integrity which assessed by others on the basis of your talk, behavior, corridor whispers, complaints particularly oral ones, your style of handling official matters relating to finance and grants, notes  recorded on files, your dealings with outsiders, your attitude etc. Employers keep a special watch on employees in these matters, so is the Govt. in a more powerful manner. Still there is so much corruption around reason is simple “Yatha Raja Tatha Praja”.  

 

When we employ a person to do some odd jobs at home, we expect him to be honest absolutely, simply because it is a home and remains open always. He is also supposed to be fully devoted to his job as it is not possible to keep a strict watch always on him and that we want a satisfactory job to be done. Similarly when another person employs us his expectations are similar to what we expected from our employee may it be home, office, factory or some other work place. In addition, employers want that their reputation – goodwill - brand should never be spoiled by the actions of the employees so they expect that an employee should do nothing which is unbecoming of an employee of that organization. All conduct rules or instructions prescribe that every employee shall maintain absolute integrity, devotion to duty and shall do nothing which is unbecoming of an employee of that organization. Thus we should follow the same set of standards whether it applies to ourselves or others whether at home or office.

 

Another factor that determines the level of one’s integrity is the satisfaction. How much one is satisfied with his lot, his achievement, his life, his luck, what he wants to achieve in life - peace, development, welfare of his family. More a man is satisfied with his circumstances higher is the level of his integrity lesser is greed and attraction towards allurements.

 

In fact, integrity has no levels, it is either “Beyond Doubt” or “Doubtful”. In rules integrity required is as, “Absolute Integrity” which means whatever be the quantum of allurement and his circumstances the person concerned will never be allured to accept the bribe by whatever name called. The employers expect an employee to be, “More loyal than the king”.

 

Spirituality, divinity and belief in the Almighty are the concepts that bring us near to the nature and the truth. They brings humility in life and destroys ego. More a man has belief in spirituality less likely is he becoming corrupt and more near to his conscience and hence the chances are that he would be more on the side of “integrity” that is “Beyond Doubt” integrity.

 

Conscience, the soul, the inner self has always been considered and in fact it is the part and parcel of bigger self the Almighty, is always pure, correct, pious and guides right. If we follow conscience our acts will always be “Beyond Doubt”, they would become “Doubtful” as soon as we act against the conscience.

 

I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence.

                                                                  Frederick Douglass

 

Sometimes people are initiated into corruption-that is shown wrong path by those who are already in and are men of “doubtful” integrity: once in never out, like many other immoral but lucrative trades and professions. When one comes to know of such a situation; there is no compromise one has to fight it out with the strength of his character otherwise he would become part of the unbecoming lot. So beware: keep your conscience clear and integrity sterling.

 

Some people by nature have special terrible interest in some activities not indulged by normal human beings. Love of money is such one activity. They exploit every occasion right or wrong to mint but they do not know what they are doing and when caught it is all the mess for life and family. Once you are slave to such an interest you are always a slave of that habit.

 

Strong determination is a finest human trait, for betterment of life, a panacea for all achievements and a guard against failures, does not fail here also; so the determine to remain above board, that earns for an individual the title of “Man of integrity.”

 

The satisfaction that one derives from doing his duty is a great contributor to a person’s self-esteem and inner glow that keeps an individual away from many evils in employment. Job satisfaction, in fact is satisfaction of the inner self for having done something for earning one’s salt. More one has tasted job satisfaction lesser he is likely to be corrupt or a man of lose integrity.

 

“Whatever action is performed by great man, common men follow in his footsteps and whatever standards he sets by his exemplary acts, all the world pursues.” This is what Bhagwat Gita says about the qualities of a leader. If a leader follows these words of the Master of the Masters, Lord Krishna, there is no question of doubtful integrity. A sterling leader who enjoys leading people on the right path by his actions   and lives much after his death in the minds and actions of the people: whereas a corrupt person cannot even lead.

 

It is true that integrity alone won’t make you a leader,

but without integrity you will never be one.

Zig Ziglar

 

Honesty is the best policy. That is what has been taught by parents and teachers. Fact remains that if one has to live or deal with family, friends and society, he has to be honest otherwise sooner or later all of them would leave you one by one. Still there is one person with whom one can afford to be dishonest as long as one wants and as many times as he wants. All wrong acts are done by men when they become dishonest with themselves. Be honest with yourself that is the best policy that is what conscience is and that is what integrity is. 

 

Integrity is telling myself the truth.

 And honesty is telling the truth to other people.

Spencer Johnson

 

Integrity calls for courage to say “NO”. It is easier to say “No” to your partner, parents and friends but it is requires real courage to say “No”, to the person who gives you employment, but when to say “NO” that is real issue, one must say “No” when the orders given or the decision taken is not in the best interests of the organization and that too with reasons. It is said best civil servant is one who can say “No” to his boss.  One must show the courage when he is offered for the first time say smoking or alcohol that would save stress for years to come.  

 

Have the courage to say no. Have the courage to face the truth. Do the right thing because it is right. These are the magic keys to living your life with integrity.

 W. Clement Stone

 

 

Lord sends every human being with sterling integrity; it is subsequently he loses integrity for one reason or the other; it is jewel of human character; keep it safe and shinning.

 

If you don't have integrity, you have nothing. You can't buy it. You can have all the money in the world, but if you are not a moral and ethical person, you really have nothing.

Henry Kravis

 

A normal human being when it comes to earning adopts a particular profession for life irrespective of jumping from one job to another in the initial stages, may it be self-employment or working with somebody else, may be a Govt. a company or even an NGO. Earning anywhere is associated with spending less than the income or the sales. In such a proposition, integrity the quality of doing right even when nobody is watching, is fundamental to a long career. Even when one is self-employed integrity is serving the customer with the best at the minimum cost to him, be true to the terms and conditions, helping the customer to have full satisfaction, if you fail to do all these things you will lose your organization sooner or later. In fact, absolute integrity is synonymous with long and trouble free career.

 

Before speaking, consult your inner-truth barometer,

 and resist the temptation to tell people only

what they want to hear.

 Wayne W. Dyer