The Price of Not Keeping Your Commitments

I've been talking about structural integrity for a few weeks now (catch up by reading: What is Structural Integrity? and Four Steps to Align Actions And Integrity). Although we could probably do a workshop for five days, all day every day on integrity and still not have exhausted the topic, we haven't yet discussed the consequences of not operating in integrity, or of cleaning up any lack of integrity.

We need to discuss this because no matter how conscious you are or how committed and dedicated you are - you're going to be out of integrity once in a while. There are going to be times when you will have committed to something and a circumstance will pop up to derail actions you need to take to keep your commitment. Or maybe you don't have the resources or ability to deliver a commitment. 

However, regardless of how good your reasons are, there are still consequences when you're not in integrity. An 'out integrity' is still 'out' irrespective of whether it's a valid reason, or it was a deliberate "No, I'm not gonna do that."

There are at least five consequences for integrity that is off or out.

                        _{Photo by Nate Bell on Unsplash}

External Impact

Reputation
When you don't deliver what you've promised (or what people expected from you), you will suffer reputational consequences, especially if you are a repeat or frequent offender. We judge those kinds of people negatively. Our judgments tend to get harsher the more times you are out of integrity.

People start thinking about you in a particular way.  "Don't ask Sally to do that, because she'll say she will, but she won't get to it." Or, you know, "Sally, well, she'll get that done, but in her own time and the way she wants to do it, not necessarily the way you're asking her to do it." The way people interact with your changes.  

If you want to make something impactful happen in the world, your reputation is critical. 

Trust
When you keep your word, you do what you know is right, and you do what you've said you'll do consistently, people trust you. Trust amongst colleagues improves morale, increases productivity, and improves collaboration. Several studies show trust is an economic driver - it is not a soft benefit - for you as well as for your firm. In an Ernst & Young study, "delivers on promises" was the top priority for giving trust (67% of people surveyed said it was the most crucial factor). 

If you want support to start a new business, or get a promotion, or pursue opportunities, or simply to heard as a credible authority - and you haven't created a foundation of trust, well, too bad. You lose so much more than a moment of respect when you do not live from structural integrity.

If you want to make make a difference, you can't do it alone. That means others will have to trust you to collaborate. If you're not trustworthy, the difference you want to make is not going to happen. 

Internal Impact

Confidence in Yourself
If you are a committed conscious person and you do not operate consistently in integrity, you erode your confidence in yourself, your trust in yourself, and your belief in yourself.  The person you know yourself to be is unreliable.

 _{Photo by Michelle Cassar} 

I want to make a caveat here about cleaning it up when you're out integrity - you can clean up your out integrity. Sometimes the act of cleaning up the integrity issue has a better outcome than having kept your word in the first place. However, and this is a big 'however,' people aren't asleep, they will notice if you clean up your integrity more often than you keep your word.  Cleaning up your integrity is not equal to keeping your word. Use sparingly.                                                                                                      

Results
When you're not acting with integrity, the odds of you achieving the results you're committed to are low, and sometimes even nonexistent. You will not consistently have the results of your intentions. This is simple and it changes your experience of your life.

When this is the case, people tend to blame almost anything else rather than take accountability for not having acted with integrity. 

Growth, Learning, and Development 

I consider this one very important. Why we take on big projects or make any kind of promise or commitment in the first place is because we care. We care about making something happen in that area - changing how things are - building something - or making a difference.

The most significant cost is to your growth, your learning, and your development -  to the possibility of transformation IN YOU. You won't get to experience the available growth, or the new levels of mastery you could attain if you are not operating congruently with what you know is right when you know it's right, and in the way that you know it's right.

These are high costs. Are you willing to pay this much to do what you feel like doing when you feel like doing it? Or to offer excuses instead of fulfilled commitments?

Observe your structural integrity this week. When your integrity is off, notice what it costs you. Is the price worth your reputation, the trust of others, your confidence in yourself, your results, and your development?