I’ve been thinking a lot about the concept of integrity today. It started when I was watching some of the extras on my Glengarry Glen Ross DVD. In one segment, Jack Lemmon talks about how his father would have been appalled by the behaviour of the characters in the movie.

My mind then wandered to Warren Buffett who has always preached that integrity is the most important part of business. To be more accurate: “Mr. Buffett has been quoted as saying that he looks for three things in his manager: intelligence, honesty and integrity. If they do not possess the last two characteristics, the first one will kill you.” (source). Countless others have identified integrity as paramount to success. (My favourite being Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Character is higher than intellect.”)

Integrity isn’t a selfless act. I believe that having principles and honouring them forces one to acknowledge something bigger than oneself and provides meaning in the process. And if Harvard’s class on positive psychology is any indication, this is one step towards happiness.

I understand if you’re skeptical. The business world has been plagued by scandals and this trend will no doubt continue. People abuse power. And if you do a search on integrity you’ll find all sorts of articles about how businesses implement it and even a list of the Ten Universal Characteristics of Integrity. All of these things are meaningless if you really don’t believe that integrity should be the number one guiding principle of your business and your life.

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