Flourish Series Part I: Getting into Integrity at Work

Let’s start with a definition of terms. For our purposes, integrity means the ability to feel in alignment across your actions, desires, words and impact, leading to a sense of wholeness and fulfillment.

In the context of careers, I argue that how you achieve integrity is to be aligned with your values through:

• the regularly use, development and honing of your greatest gifts and

• opportunities to contribute to a purpose that is meaningful to you.

 While this article focuses on integrity in the context of careers, your professional values will also be relevant to your familial, financial, social and romantic lives.

 When we are not in integrity, we begin to feel fragmented - unable to be our genuine selves or use the gifts that get us excited. I do not want you to feel that way, so below are my tips for better understanding and acting upon your values to feel a greater sense of integrity.

1. Know Your Values

Self-awareness is the essential starting point for integrity. If you are unclear on what is important to you, then you may have a sense of being out of integrity, but it will be hard to resolve your unease.

 There are many resources to better understand your values: the behaviours, traits and codes of conduct that you consider important and vital to being a fulfilled person.  

 Please check out and download the values matrix below – this is a fantastic starting point to identify and articulate your values.  

TIP: When identifying your values, do not feel limited to what you currently get to DO and BE in your day-to-day – look for the values that are inspiring and aspirational.

Values Matrix by TheVocationist.com

2. Assess Your Environment

Now that you have your shortlist of values – take another look at the matrix and note which values are most esteemed by your workplace OR most required for your current role.

 How much alignment is there? It would be rare to find 100% overlap, but there should be some sense that the traits, values and outputs esteemed by your place of work align with your motivations and values.

 In cases where there is great disparity between your values and those of your workplace, you are more likely to experience conflict, either:

• External conflict because you are encountering people / leadership with values that differ from your own.

• Internal conflict because you feel the need to sacrifice or act against your deeply held values in order to be accepted or succeed in a given situation.

3. Adjust as Needed

If you are seeing and experiencing a disconnect between what is valued by you and what your workplace celebrates, this does not necessarily mean that you need to immediately resign.

 If your workplace values some traits that you aspire to but do not yet have the experience to implement, then you can think about how to find opportunities to put that value into action. You could speak with your manager about your desire to cultivate that capacity.

 If you see another role or functional area in your existing workplace that better complements your strengths and motivations, maybe it is time to learn more about how to transition into that area of work. What trainings or practical skills could you acquire that will help you shift into this new area of work? Who are leaders in their area whose mentorship you could seek?

 If you find yourself with a significant disconnect between your values and those of your workplace, it will be challenging to feel like you are in integrity. It may be time to explore a bigger change if you are serving a mission that is demotivating or conducting tasks that deplete your energy on a daily basis. For example:  

• If you care deeply about justice and community-building, but you’re working in a for-profit tech start-up, it may be time to explore careers in the non-profit or public sector that are more aligned with what you want your legacy to be.

•  If you are currently working as a teacher, but you highly value alone time to deeply contemplate and write about issues, then you may want to consider opportunities for careers that in the educational field as a researcher or policy advisor.

 I know pivots are NOT easy, but having a better understanding of your values provides a compass and guide for how to chart a course toward greater career satisfaction.

4. Integrity is Not An Excuse to Behave Poorly

What do we love? Being safe to bring your authentic self and true gifts to work.

What do we not love? When people use 'integrity’, or its cousin ‘authenticity’, as an excuse to behave poorly at work.

Being in integrity does not absolve you of the obligation to be professional, by which we mean

• treating others with respect and kindness,

• being productive in the tasks you are paid to do and

• keeping appropriate boundaries with colleagues, especially when there are hierarchies and power structures at play.

For example, I may have a bad temper. While it may be consistent with my personality to be hot-headed, it is not okay to bring that trait to work or treat colleagues with anger.

Similarly, your experiences and identity shape who you are, but be cautious in sharing too much about your personal experiences. While vulnerability is key, sharing irrelevant and sensitive information about your personal life may make people uncomfortable or put you in an awkward position if shared with an indiscreet person. Everyone needs spaces where they can fully let lose, tell their unedited story, and unload about the stresses in your life, but work is not always the best place for this unburdening.

5. Revisit as You Evolve

 To close out, values and goals and dreams – none of this is static.

 You may outgrow a job and a place where you once experienced great integrity and fulfillment.

 What you want in your day-to-day work experience may change over time.

 What you once found motivating may become exhausting, and vice versa.

 Revisiting your values as you evolve throughout your life will help you explore new options and pathways for feeling like you are in integrity.

Flourishing through Integrity

 The beauty of integrity is that it will allow you to feel like you are using your gifts and having an impact in the areas of greatest importance to you.

 If you cannot find a role that checks every box, identifying the areas where there is alignment, will allow you to focus on what is working and spend more time on the tasks that inspire you.