Integrity – Doing the Right Thing, Even When Nobody Is Looking

“We believe in being honest, accountable, authentic and respectful in everything we do. We take responsibility for our actions, remain open to learning and strive to act with integrity even when nobody is watching.”

Integrity is one of those words that sounds quite straightforward until you actually stop and think about what it means. Being honest. Doing the right thing. Taking responsibility.
All good things, obviously.

But integrity is about more than simply telling the truth or following the rules. For Fulcrum, it is about the way people choose to behave, the decisions they make and the way they treat others, particularly when nobody is checking up on them.

It’s about being the same person behind closed doors as you are when everyone is watching. And perhaps most importantly, it is about being honest enough with yourself to recognise when you might have got something wrong.

Being Honest With Ourselves

It is usually fairly easy to spot when somebody else isn't being honest. Being honest with ourselves can be considerably harder. Integrity means being prepared to look at our own behaviour and ask ourselves some uncomfortable questions.

Could I have handled that differently?
Did I listen properly?
Was I making assumptions?
Have I taken on more than I can realistically manage?
And if the answer is yes, can I actually admit it?

At Fulcrum, we believe there is strength in being able to say, “I got that wrong.” Nobody gets everything right all the time. We all have bad days, make mistakes, misunderstand situations and occasionally put our foot firmly in it. Integrity isn't about pretending that doesn't happen. It is about what happens next. Taking responsibility rather than looking for someone else to blame. Apologising when an apology is needed. Learning from what happened rather than simply moving on and hoping nobody mentions it again. That kind of honesty can be uncomfortable, but it is also how people and relationships grow.

Integrity Means Being Willing to Learn

 Nobody arrives at a point where they can say, “That's it. I've learned everything I need to know.” People change. Circumstances change. The world around us changes. So, integrity requires a certain amount of humility.

It means being prepared to listen when somebody sees something differently. It means being open to feedback rather than automatically becoming defensive. It means recognising that our own experience isn't necessarily everybody else's experience.

At Fulcrum, we encourage ongoing learning and reflecting, whether that is through formal training, conversations with one another, listening to other people's experiences or simply taking the time to understand.

Integrity Within Fulcrum

Fulcrum is made up of individuals. Everyone brings different experiences, personalities, perspectives and strengths.

Integrity within the team means being honest with one another, communicating openly and treating people with respect.

For Fulcrum members, integrity is something that belongs in everyday life.

It might be standing up for someone who is being treated unfairly. It might be being honest when telling the truth would be easier to avoid. It might be keeping a promise, admitting a mistake or choosing to do something kind when there is absolutely nothing in it for you. It can be as simple as treating people with respect when you disagree with them.

Or recognising that someone else's circumstances might be very different from your own.
Or noticing when a person is being left out and making an effort to include them.
Integrity isn't always dramatic. In fact, most of the time it probably isn't noticeable at all.

There is no applause or trophy for doing the right thing when nobody knows you did it.
But perhaps that's the point.

Integrity isn't about being seen to be a good person.
It is about choosing to be one. 

At Fulcrum, integrity is not something that belongs on a website or in a document alongside a list of impressive-sounding values.

 It is something that has to be lived.

It is in the conversations people have, the decisions they make, the way they respond when things go wrong and the way they treat people who have nothing to offer them in return. 

It isn't what people say they believe. It's what they choose to do.