Value is in the Eyes of the Beholder: Integrity

In an earlier post, I introduced six Key Value Factors that I consider to be drivers of high value perception:

• Timeliness
• Efficiency
• Effectiveness
• Responsiveness
• Quality
• Integrity

In this post, I will expand upon the final factor:  Integrity.  I will do so by defining what it means and discussing what it entails.  While the focus of this post is based on my experience and approach at Remote DBA Experts, these factors are universal and thus applicable in multiple individual and business contexts.  Being timely, efficient, effective, responsive, and delivering quality output with high integrity will score big on anyone’s value scorecard.  That is why awareness of them is so important!

What is Integrity?

In this context, Integrity is doing what we say we will do.  That is simple, and very powerful.  It is the foundation of trust.  And trust is perhaps the most critical factor in any relationship.

What does Integrity entail?

There are two aspects to the Integrity Factor:

• Making commitments
• Keeping commitments

Integrity starts when you make a commitment.  To ensure integrity, you must make sure your capabilities are in line with your commitments.  In the service business, there are a number of elements that make up commitments and impact our ability to deliver.  Before you commit, you need to understand all the aspects of the commitment and the factors that can affect your ability to deliver on it.  Service deliverables may include one or several of the following:

• Tasks
• Information
• Results
• Etc.

Your ability to deliver is based on a number of factors such as:

• Resources
• Time
• Knowledge
• Etc.

These and other considerations must be taken into account when determining your ability to deliver what you committed. Once you are confident that your capabilities are in line with the commitment, then you can move on to doing what it takes to keeping the commitment.

Keeping the commitment requires full awareness of these aforementioned factors as well as some action.  To keep your commitment, you need to manage it.  If you are like most of us, you need to manage several of them.  Keeping them takes continuous planning and organizing.  You need to prioritize and reprioritize.  You have to keep an eye on the balls you have up in the air.  It is hard work, but when you make it happen, it feels great!  Delivering on or ahead of expectation is a great feeling!  Meeting commitments builds trust and strengthen relationships.  It gives you credibility and “power” unlike any other.

Before you make a commitment, first make sure you can actually deliver it. Then, work hard to make sure you ultimately do so.  High integrity is one of the best virtues to be known for.

The BEST is Yet to Come!

Epi Torres, CEO