#3 Integrity: Being vigilant with your commitments

In looking for people to hire, look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence and energy. If they don’t have the first, the other two will kill you.
-Warren Buffett

​Integrity is one of those qualities that is sought after and valued, almost universally. It is the cornerstone on which we build our character and a trait that most of us would like to be associated with. In general, people naturally feel that they operate with integrity and any suggestion to the contrary can be met with disbelief, despair or even anger. So, where and how does the disconnect arise? How do we fall short and what can we do about it when we do?
 
Traits of a person with integrity might include honesty, respect for others, generating trust, and authenticity. It is also reflected in on our ability to keep promises and honour commitments that we have made with others, and this is an area in which many of us inadvertently fall short. In seeking to be helpful and supportive, we can sometimes be guilty of overpromising and failing to deliver. If this is something that happens regularly, it can lead to an erosion in our integrity. For this reason, it is so important to stick to making commitments that we know we can honour. Even if this means making fewer commitments, it is better to be true to our word rather than having to let someone down.

If we can be vigilant in following through with our commitments, it will go a long way to ensuring we retain our integrity.