Integrity

A common way of thinking about integrity is: “The actions you take when no one is watching”. Building trust is at the heart of this value. It’s about being honest, having strong moral principles and working in an ethical manner. Healthy Interpersonal Relationships, Assertiveness and Independence are three EQ skills that enable integrity at work. 

Interpersonal Relationships

Refers to the “skill of developing and maintaining mutually satisfying relationships that are characterised by trust and compassion” (MHS, 2011). In this context, the key part of the definition is “trust”. Trust is a core feature of integrity and extends beyond trust within your team, to your wider network of clients and customers. Relational integrity at work looks like actively opting out of gossip culture,  resisting the urge to take your foot off the pedal when your manager leaves the office, and ensuring that you keep information you are entrusted with confidential. 

Assertiveness

Involves “communicating feelings, beliefs and thoughts openly, and defending personal rights and values in a socially acceptable, non-offensive, and non-destructive manner” (MHS, 2011). There are four main categories of behaviour that we all exhibit in relationships, at different times and in different ways. Three are unhealthy and the last one, assertiveness, is a healthy skill of expression. At Mygrow we have four illustrations for each of the behaviour types. The first is the “bulldozer” of aggression, which tries to overpower others. The second is passive behaviour, illustrated by a doormat. When we are passive, people walk all over us. The third unhealthy behaviour is a combination of the first two, passive-aggression, illustrated with poison. This behaviour is subtle and happens when someone has an aggressive internal response but doesn’t express it overtly. The illustration for healthy assertive behaviour is a rock. Firm, immovable. Hard to push around, and doesn’t push others either. That’s what developing assertiveness will do for you and your team – give you a firm, rooted confidence in who you are and how to interact with others. 

Independence

Is “the ability to be self-directed and free from emotional dependency on others” (MHS, 2011).  Sometimes acting with integrity is difficult and requires you to go against a crowd, or stand up for what is right. In times like these, independence is a crucial EQ skill to have developed. It allows you direction by your inner convictions, rather than by the crowd. Team members with strong independence take ownership for the work that they do and ensure that what they produce is of high quality.