Integrity

It's a funny thing, integrity. Everyone has their own version. Actually that's not really 'wrong'. Like all things 'judgemental' there are different perspectives.

In the last couple of years I've had two major events that tested my integrity. The first was when my daughter and I moved from the house we were taking care of. I dragged us back and forth in the last number of days to make sure that the house was clean and tidy and that holes in the walls were repaired. My poor daughter got so fed up with me one night saying, "You and your *#!! integrity!" We hadn't even been talking about it at that moment. She and I were both exhausted from the moving. I was in considerable pain and she was concerned for me, which I appreciated. But I was determined to leave the house in excellent shape even if the relationship with the friends of the home was in shambles. The relationship was not something that I had any control over. They had made a decision to end the friendship. But the house I could leave in excellent shape, even with the list of jobs not completed.

This past week has been the second test of my integrity. As you know I am finished up my job at the funeral chapel on this Friday. I have been determined to leave on a positive and amicable note. So far it is going well. But it would be so easy to just rest on my laurels and coast through until the last day. It would be even easier to just walk!

Besides my integrity I am being this way for professional reasons as well. I want to keep a good relationship for the Celebrant work I do. And not burning my bridge can have indeterminable future impact too.

I remember I had this same attitude when I left a job a few years ago. I gave a month notice there because of my position. I spent the next weeks making sure that the transition would be easier. On the last week the Executive Director walked into my office and told me that he no longer trusted me and told me to get the #$$$@ out! I was shocked and yet not. He was not a man of integrity and that was the reason I was leaving.

It is often seen that when integrity shines a light onto the lack thereof the darkness has two choices: clean up or clear out (or in this case tell me to clear out); and I did. I said thank you for paying me for the final few days even though I wouldn't be working. He knew I would go to Labour Relations, so he relented. But he continued his madness into the next job by writing a scathing letter accusing me of all sorts. Fortunately the new employer saw through it because of the former's reputation and because he knew that if I was guilty for even a fraction of the accusations he would have fired my ass out of there long ago. Besides the new employer had actually poached me and knew me well.

Integrity! What does it mean to you? For me it's more than honest. It means my word is everything. And part of that word is the way I conduct myself both in business and privately. I have worked hard to make that so. I have sacrificed a lot to make that so. I'm not about to stop now!

I am counting down the hours, of course. I'm also a bit anticipatory about the next job. But that's normal: Feel the fear and do it anyway!

What does integrity look like to you? What does YOUR integrity look like?