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