Personal Integrity: 5 Examples of Personal Integrity

Personal integrity is the sum of ethical standards that communicate what kind of person you are in how you treat yourself and others. Integrity means you are predisposed to help others, be honest, and lead by example. For these reasons, integrity often factors itself into business ethics. Brands that lack integrity—acting unscrupulously or without a moral code—may be unfavored in the marketplace. Meanwhile, companies known for trustworthiness (no false advertising) and ethical principles (prioritizing the customer and staff well-being) will garner greater respect and sales.

Personal integrity is essential because it can directly correlate to a company’s sales, perception, and branding.

• Improves customer retention: In terms of sales, companies without integrity may suffer sinking stock values or customer retention. When companies find themselves amid a scandal, there is a lack of trust amongst the base, decreasing the brand’s financial opportunities.
• Boosts brand image: Integrity helps keep strong relationships and positive word-of-mouth marketing. This engenders greater faith and confidence in a company and can lead to good press and an exciting digital presence.
• Talent acquisition: Finally, for branding, one’s integrity is intrinsically tied to one’s ethos and mission statement. A company’s sense of integrity will dictate what kind of applicants want to work for the company and the customers it attracts.

Personal integrity takes many forms, and together they can define a brand’s mission statement, moral character, and company policies. Examples of personal integrity may include:

1. 1. Transparency: Communication during dilemmas or uncertainty is a hallmark of solid integrity. Customers want transparent brands that will not lie to them or leave them in the dark when confusing information and challenging transitions are underway.
2. 2. Strong moral compass: A sense of set moral values makes a brand reliable; customers like to know what to expect from a company. Companies that act clearly and consistently will make buyers more readily depend on them.
3. 3. Trustworthiness: False advertising will turn customers away and lead to bad word of mouth. Brands can fortify their reputation and customer engagement by being true to their word.
4. 4. Customer and staff prioritization: Customers want to feel taken care of, which means positive customer service and in-store experiences. Consumers also care about how an organization treats the staff of an organization. Companies without policies protecting employees are subject to criticism and backlash.
5. 5. Ethical standards: Companies should hold all employees accountable to the same standard of values, regardless of standing. If those at the top abuse power, it can trickle down and create a corrupt work environment, affecting how consumers view a brand.

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