Integrity is one of those "key" core personal values I hold deep in my own heart and fiercely strive to protect whenever it seems threatened.
We are all usually moving pretty fast both professionally and in our personal lives, and along our life path situations continuously pop up that test our moral character. It could be that we are selling something, including ourselves, or it could be that we are placed in a position of having to make a decision that will have an impact on the outcome of a situation that will affect us or others around us.
I believe integrity is something all people of strong character do not sacrifice for any one or any thing --for it defines who they are and what they stand for.
“There is no such thing as a minor lapse of integrity”
― Tom Peters
So how does one gauge Integrity and Moral Character? The salient points to ask yourself and to apply to others to determine personal levels of integrity are:
Consistent commitment to being trustworthy.
Consistent ability to accomplish what one commits to.
Consistently fair and honest with one's self and others.
Consistently takes responsibility for mistakes without trying to blame the situation on circumstances or on others.
Consistently assures decisions made are "the right thing to do", even though the outcome may not be enriching and may even be harmful.
Take a moment and ponder your family, friends, coworkers, employer.....do they meet the standards of integrity based upon the above questions? Does the level of integrity when applied to people you know affect your level of trust in that person?
Do others see those qualities in you?
“If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.”
― J.K. Rowling,
It is very difficult and uncomfortable for someone who has integrity to associate regularly with someone who does not. Nobody likes a dishonest person--you can't trust them and they are flaky. They also tend to put us on guard because usually they possess narcissistic personalities and whatever they are telling us is usually designed to enhance themselves in one form or another.
“If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it.”
― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
I've mentioned it before, but I belong to a group called Rotary International, who has 1.2 million members around the world. Rotary does much good, like being very close to eradicating polio in our world, but the main reason I joined was that every Rotarian commits to live their life by the Four Way Test of the things we think, say and do.
Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
I absolutely love doing business with Rotarian's and becoming friends with them because of the above four reasons -- it's a no-brainer.
Remember this -- integrity is something all people of strong character never sacrifice for any one or any thing --for it defines who they are and what they stand for.
We are all going to be dealt circumstances in our life that will test our character.
Don't ever give up your integrity in favor of an "easy out" or to achieve personal enrichment.... for the hefty price you will wind up paying is a loss within yourself that, once compromised, is very, very hard to regain.
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Integrity has no need of rules.” 
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