Definition of Integrity

Since the fall of Enron and Arthur Andersen, I've heard a lot about integrity and how important it is to have leaders in the business community who have integrity. I feel that I have integriy in the sense that I'm honest with others. Well, I was at a seminar the other day and heard a new definition of integrity. The speaker talked about the integrity gap, which is the difference between what a person says and what he or she does. For example, a father might say to his kids that they shouldn't stay up late while he stays up late. The kids don't understand why it's okay for him to stay up late while they can't. I guess that it kind of goes back to the concept that Actions speak louder than words.

So, I've been thinking a lot about the integrity gap in my life. It's interesting because I realized that there is even an integrity gap between what I say to myself and what I do. I'm pressed for time, but still take a half hour to read my email. I'm running late, but I still stop to eat a casual breakfast. I don't always do what I need to do. So I'm setting a goal to be true to myself--to do what I say I'll do.