I’m going to try and bring humor to this blog series, because, let’s face it, some of what we do as professionals is funny (especially when you look at it from the outside). That said, I’m going to start this blog series out on a more serious and philosophical note.
The overall business culture today is teetering on losing two values that are critical to forming real relationships with clients. You guessed it, those values are integrity and communication. I believe it is a reflection of our overall tendencies post-covid to cancel plans, not respond to texts/phone calls, not care well for our coworkers, clients, friends and family, because, at the core of our covid years, we all had some level of fear that we would not survive the pandemic. What does that do to the brain? It puts it into survival mode. In survival mode, put succinctly, we focus on ourselves to the exclusion of others. In that state, we often do not act with integrity and communicate poorly. In my experience, this trend continues to be pervasive.
I’m clearly not qualified to make some of these statements, so if you want to read more from those who are, check out:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8358206/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7308596/
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/lifting-the-veil-trauma/202006/why-survival-mode-isnt-the-best-way-live
- https://mastermindconnect.com/blog/survival-mode-is-killing-you
What’s your point, Sara, you ask? My point is that once we have awareness of something, we can transcend it. Integrity and great communication are critical to professional success. They are the basis for trust, which is integral to any relationship, be it business or personal.
Let’s start with integrity . . . This is an “old fashioned” word, that essentially means an adherence to a code of moral values, conveying that you honor and act in accordance with what you say. If you’re picking up what I’m putting down, you see why I tied these two concepts together. Integrity contains within in the concept of communication!
To act in accordance with what you say, you have to start with what you say. So, now we go to the beginning – First, be thoughtful about what you say and how you say it, because if you are to act with integrity, you must speak carefully and precisely. Words are magical, and I can say that as an attorney who uses them to bind people in contract all day long. Words are also meaningful, because people hear the from you and rely upon them. When you act with integrity in relation to the words you use, that builds trust. Trust is the foundation for every relationship.
Boom! This is why integrity and communication are values that are critical to a successful professional. Plus, more importantly, it’s the right thing to do. It’s the right way to treat people. It’s a way to be in the world that brings growth, positivity, connection, and success to all.
What’s your “aha” moment where integrity has won the day, and/or communication has built or strengthened trust in a relationship? I’d love to hear from you! Until next time, put these values to work in your professional world and enjoy the positive results!
