Integrity, Truth & Honesty

How do we keep our integrity in a world that can sometimes be unforgiving.

Integrity is telling myself the truth. And honesty is telling the truth to other people.

Spencer Johnson.

We always want to live to our highest ideals, yet at times it is not to our advantage. How many times have we tried and in the end its better to just keep quiet.

So what happenes? Most of us would just remain silent, or speak with selectively truths.

What are selective truths?

You are late in meeting your friend. She SMS you asking where you are? The fact is, you are just about to leave your house. What do you reply?

"I'm already on the way there. Will be there as soon as possible"

What you didn't tell her was that you forgot and still at the house getting ready to go.

The overriding concern of most people is self-preservation. When was the last time you said something that you know will affect your well-being?

So most of us will go with life with all these burdens secretly carried in our hearts.

It is always difficult when you leave a company. It is not about the company, its about the colleagues that have become friends. People like to belong in a group. That's why Facebook is widely popular. You just want to be in a group. I would too.

It becomes difficult when they ask why are you leaving and where are you going?

My advice. If any of your colleagues are leaving the company, don't put her in a difficult position. Don't ask her where she is going. Just respect her decision, update contact details and called after she left.

Why?

She might be joining a rival firm, and by asking her where she is going, you put her in a position to lie. And what happens when you found out the truth? You feel betrayed. The fact is you put her in a position to lie.

Do not confuse friendship with loyalty to a company. A company exist for the sole purpose of making profits for its owner, most will never think twice of letting you go, if their bottom lines are at stake.

Yes, there are labour unions. They can protect your job. Not really, some companies are very creative in dealing with lay-offs. Instead of letting people go en-masse, they do it bit by bit, so as not to arouse suspicion. Some would simply call in "structural re-engineering" or "change of management" and make you sign a new employment contract.

You have only two choices, accept the new terms or leave.

So when you friend is leaving the company, don't ask where she is going; ask, if you really want to know, after she left.