But First, Integrity
“In looking for people to hire, look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence and energy. And if they don’t have the first, the other two will kill you.”
I usually include an Albert Einstein quote in my blog posts, as Einstein is a favorite source of wisdom and inspiration. But this one from Warren Buffet was just too perfect and I had to share with you.
What makes it perfect is that it illustrates my personal view of integrity as the foundation upon which all other character traits and behaviors are built.
It is no accident that “Act with Integrity” is #1 in Momentum’s Founding Principles, and our group’s belief in and practice of integrity is the primary reason I joined.
I believe that so many of our other key fundamentals are rooted in integrity, for example:
Honor commitments
Be accountable
Respect confidentiality
Practice blameless problem solving
Fix problems at the source
Appreciate and acknowledge
Speak straight, respectfully
Always do your best
Integrity at its core is about respect; respect for others and for your community, but primarily for yourself and what you hold to be true and important. Having and demonstrating sound moral and ethical values is evidence of integrity and the basis of trust in personal and business relationships. But it’s what you do when no one is looking that is the true litmus test of integrity and demonstrates your respect for your own values.
At the end of the day, you are accountable primarily to yourself.
Fundamental #1: ACT WITH INTEGRITY Demonstrate doing the right thing in all your actions and all your decisions, especially when no one is looking. Always tell the truth. Acknowledge and own your mistakes, clean them up and make appropriate corrections.
