Integrity is defined as the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.
People who show integrity are people we can trust. They make the best business partners, friends, and significant others. You know that when they say they are going to do something, they will follow through. You know that they will always be honest with you and complete every task to the best of their ability.
So how do you spot these kinds of people? Here are five simple traits that will prove to you whether or not someone has strong integrity.
5 Traits of People With Integrity
1. You can always count on their word.
This is the person that you know if you make plans with them, they will not flake on you. If they say they are going to be there, they will be. They will also show up fully prepared: If you asked them to bring their favourite chips to a party, they will show up with two bags.
2. They stand up for what is right.
These are the people who have been standing up for others since their playground days. They don’t have time for bullies or the mistreatment of others. They always let their moral compass guide them and work hard to maintain justice and balance.
3. What they expect from others, they expect from themselves.
People with high integrity will never ask you to do anything that they wouldn’t do for you in return. They practice what they preach and are not judgemental. They prefer to lift others up and are comfortable admitting their own imperfections and if they misstepped.
4. They often take leadership roles.
Being a leader means you are ultimately accountable for the outcome of a project. People with integrity know this and are confident that they can handle the responsibility of being in charge. If things don’t turn out as planned, they are okay taking ownership of both their own mistakes and the mistakes of their team.
5. They take action first.
When problems arise, these are not the type of people who sit back and wait for others to take action first. They jump in with both feet and start helping to solve the problem. More often than not, they have taken prior steps to proactively prevent problems or have contingency plans in place.
If you have people in your life who exhibit these traits, hold onto them and try to emulate what they do. Having integrity yourself will help you to improve your life – both in your career and your personal relationships.