It's easy to be honest when that works in your favor. It's easy to deliver on a promise when doing so is convenient. It's easy to act on your beliefs when your views are held by the majority.
But what happens when it's not easy? What happens when maintaining your integrity might cost you?
“Do what is right, not what protects your tenure,” I once heard a hospital leader say at a conference.
He exhorted the audience: "You can’t please everyone. When you’re in a position of influence, each decision you make will piss off some people. After a handful of decisions, almost everybody's upset at you for something. But do what is right, not what protects your tenure.”
I believe this message can apply to all of us. Whether you're in a formal leadership role or not, we are all in "positions of influence" - among our friends, neighbors, coworkers, and communities.
And though he was talking about career, this call to integrity transcends our professional lives. It should take root in our personal principles.
We tend to think of integrity as not lying, cheating, or stealing. Or as keeping promises and following laws. But integrity requires more than knowing right from wrong or doing the bare minimum. It takes courage to cut against the grain; to not turn a blind eye to wrongdoing or injustice; to do what is right, even at personal cost.
Recalling the speaker’s words, we could substitute many things for “tenure.” Will you do what is right - not what protects your privilege, income, reputation, comfort, relationships, or social status?