I define integrity as the adherence to moral principles, soundness of moral character, and sincerity of intentions.
You can have all the power in the world and money in your bank account but without these qualities you’ll find no happiness.
In a world full of questionable characters, it’s very important to develop strong moral character that’s beyond reproach and even those who don’t understand people with a strong sense of integrity.
This article will outline the 10 personality traits to look out for in people that show they have integrity and moral character.
1) Actions are aligned with what they say they’ll do
When a person is considered to have integrity, their actions are aligned with what they say.
If someone is going to do something for you, you can trust them because they’ve said they’ll do it. If they say they’ll do something, you can trust them to follow through with it because it was committed to them verbally or in writing.
2) Strong moral values (not following social norms)
When people have strong morals and integrity, they don’t follow the crowd if it clashes with their values. They may be very outspoken about what’s right and wrong. They don’t just go with the flow of society, instead choosing to stand out from the crowd.
These people know who they are and are comfortable in their own skin. They don’t conform to what others want them to do but stand up for themselves and their values, even if they may be in the minority.
3) Sincerity of intentions
A person with integrity is sincere (honest) in their intentions – they don’t have ulterior motives or selfish intentions. They’re not out for their own gain but for what’s best for everyone. They put the needs of others before their own.
They go out of their way to offer what they can and do not want anything in return. They’re not looking for praise or reward but do it because it’s right.
4) Treats others with respect
If you want to be a person that has integrity and moral character, you must treat all people with respect. This means you have to give others their equal opportunities and not be biased against anyone because of their race, gender, sexual orientation or social status. People that have integrity treat everyone with the same amount of respect and dignity regardless of their background.
You should show kindness and respect to everyone no matter what they look like or who they are – if you’re corrupt in any way, people will know.
5) Willing to do the right thing
Having integrity means you are willing to do the right thing, no matter what the circumstances. It means even if it’s not in your best interest, you put others first and say no to opportunities. This is indicative of a person that has strong moral character. They are able to make difficult decisions that most people would not consider doing – they do what’s right over what’s easy.
6) Service to others
A person that has integrity is willing to lend a helping hand. They’re not afraid to lend their time and do what they can to help someone in need. They don’t just see a problem and walk away or ignore it – they make an effort to help the person out of their misery by offering them something.
7) Puts their word on the line
When a person has integrity, they’ll do what they say. They won’t make an empty promise to someone and let them down – but instead follow through with it. Even if everything doesn’t go to plan, they’ll still make their best effort to complete the task and fulfil their promise.
8) Takes responsibility for their actions
People that have strong moral values don’t run away from the problems they create or put the blame on others. They take full responsibility for their actions and don’t blame others or make excuses.
9) Genuinely cares about others
When you see people with true integrity they’re genuine in their care and make every effort to show that they genuinely care about others. It doesn’t matter if they know the person or not – they go out of their way to help someone in need. They don’t look for praise or reward for their good deeds – but instead just do it because it’s the right thing to do.
10) Never puts others down to build themselves up
People that have integrity don’t put others down to make themselves look better. They never resort to gossip and backstabbing to get ahead in life – instead they prefer the honest and direct approach. People that have integrity understand the importance of being respectful to others and what it means to be honourable. They’re not afraid to give credit where credit is due.
There are plenty of people out there that are considered to be “successful” but don’t have integrity or moral character. It’s important you avoid these people and instead seek out those with strong morals – they won’t steer you wrong and can help guide you towards a better future for yourself and your family.
Did you like my article? Like me on Facebook to see more articles like this in your feed.
