How to Use Integrity for Professional Success

“Just tell them what they want to hear.” My colleague whispered this to me before a stakeholder readout where our data showed results they would not like. I had a choice: massage the numbers to make everyone happy, or present the truth and risk disappointing key stakeholders. I chose the truth. The stakeholders were not thrilled. But they appreciated the honesty. Six months later, they gave us the biggest project yet. Here is what I learned: Integrity is not just about doing the right thing. It is about building sustainable relationships. Short-term wins built on half-truths become long-term losses of trust. The most successful professionals I know have one thing in common: they tell the truth, even when it is uncomfortable. They deliver bad news with solutions, not excuses. They admit when they do not know something instead of pretending. They take responsibility for mistakes before anyone asks. They keep promises, even small ones. Integrity is not about being perfect. It is about being honest about your imperfections. In a world full of shortcuts and convenient truths, integrity is your competitive advantage. What situation tested your integrity and taught you the most about its value?

We have been interviewing for additional team members.  It’s not unusual for employment recruiters to reach out to pitch their services. One particularly aggressive recruiter contacted me and said they charge 25% of the first years’ salary for any placement they send our way. After explaining that our regular recruiters average around 15%, he said he could match that and promptly sent me over a recruiting agreement to be signed. When I questioned why the agreement stated 20% rather than the 15% we had agreed on, he said “Don’t worry about that.  I just have to show my boss the 20% but I’ll change the number once we get a candidate placed for you.” The good news: his creative number crunching COULD save us $4,000 - $5,000.  The bad news: it WOULD cost us our integrity by doing business with someone who was just trying to make a fast commission and take advantage of their employer. With one of our core values being Accountability, it makes choices like the one above an easy answer. Defining your core values ahead of time can guide you, your family, and in our case the business towards desired results of integrity.  Proverbs 11:3 “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their dishonesty”. When it comes to building relationships and sustaining a successful business, integrity isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s the foundation. Here’s why: ✔️ Trust is Everything: Without integrity, there's no trust. Without trust, there’s no business relationship that can endure. Every partnership, deal, or client interaction is built on this foundational principle. ✔️ Reputation Precedes You: In our hyper-connected world, a reputation for integrity is your most valuable asset. It speaks before you enter the room and lingers long after you leave. ✔️ Long-Term Gains: Short-term gains without integrity are just that: short-term. They don't lead to sustainable growth or lasting relationships. Integrity paves the way for opportunities that aren’t even on your radar yet. It’s also just the right thing to do. And there’s nothing more important than a clear conscience. Integrity might cost you upfront, sometimes even a deal or two, but it pays dividends in ways that will serve you in the long run. 👉 I’d love to know your thoughts. Has a commitment to integrity impacted your business relationships? What’s your integrity worth to you? ------------------------------------- I’m Rusty Fulling, Founder & CEO of Fulling Management & Accounting. We’re passionate about helping business owners gain clarity, grow their profits and gain peace of mind while supporting your growth as a leader. Click the link in my bio to download our new Cashflow Forecast template 📒

A few weeks ago, I was ecstatic to be offered a partnership opportunity with another recruitment agency - a promising freelance gig, exactly what I was looking for while trying to figure out what I wanted next. However, sometimes life throws you a curveball, and you realise that not every opportunity is the right fit for you. From the first day of the collaboration, it became evident that our values didn't align at all. For the four days I stuck with this gig, I couldn't help but feel out of place and, truth be told, embarrassed to have my name associated with this agency. So, why am I sharing this with you? Well, in the world of recruitment and in life in general, your reputation is invaluable. In my years in this industry, I've learned that your reputation is not just about the number of placements you make or the deals you close. It's about the trust and respect you earn from clients, candidates, and colleagues. It's about the way people perceive you, both professionally and personally. When you're building a career, it's easy to get caught up in the chase for opportunities and financial gain, but remember, your reputation is the foundation upon which your entire career is built. It's the sum of your integrity, your ethics, and your commitment to doing what's right, even when it's difficult. In my case, I couldn't jeopardise the reputation I've worked hard to build over the years for the sake of a short-term gig and a paycheck. I value the connections I've made, both professionally and personally, and I know that those relationships are more important than any short-term gain. So, here's my reminder to all of you: It's okay for things not to work out. Sometimes, saying no to the wrong opportunity is the best decision you can make for your career and your reputation. Trust your instincts, hold true to your values, and never underestimate the power of a strong and ethical reputation in the world of work. #CareerAdvice #ReputationMatters #ProfessionalIntegrity

Throughout my career, I have had the pleasure of working with some of the most amazing mentors and leaders in business. What sets them apart from all others is their ability to be honest with each others perspectives and doing what they say. You may be laughing; but you would be surprised by the number of companies that stretch the facts. Being honest in business is crucial for several reasons: 1. **Trust Building**: Honesty fosters trust between businesses and their stakeholders, including customers, employees, partners, and investors. Trust is the foundation of long-term relationships and loyalty. 2. **Reputation Management**: An honest business is likely to build a strong, positive reputation, which can attract more customers and create goodwill. A damaged reputation due to dishonesty can lead to loss of customers and revenue. 3. **Legal and Ethical Compliance**: Honest practices help businesses comply with laws and regulations, reducing the risk of legal penalties and fines. Ethical behavior is also important for maintaining integrity and avoiding a bad reputation. 4. **Employee Morale and Retention**: A culture of honesty promotes a positive work environment. Employees are more likely to feel valued and respected, leading to higher morale, job satisfaction, and retention. 5. **Decision Making**: Honest communication ensures that decisions are based on accurate information. This leads to better business strategies and outcomes. 6. **Customer Loyalty**: Customers are more likely to remain loyal to a business they perceive as honest and transparent. This loyalty translates into repeat business and positive referrals. 7. **Conflict Resolution**: Honesty brings clear and effective communication, making it easier to resolve conflicts and misunderstandings quickly and fairly. In summary, if you can remember this: “honesty in business is essential for building trust, maintaining a good reputation, ensuring compliance, boosting employee morale, making informed decisions, retaining customers, and resolving conflicts efficiently.” It’s not the same as trying to make everyone happy. 😃

The fastest way to torpedo your Hollywood career? It's not bad writing or poor networking. It's lying about your experience, credits, or connections. I see this more than I'd like to admit. Here's why you should never do it. 🧵⤵️ The pressure in this town is intense. Everyone seems to know someone, have credits you don't, or connections you're desperately trying to build. The temptation to... embellish... is real. But, there's a huge difference between putting your best foot forward and flat-out lying. And crossing that line will destroy your career faster than any bad script ever could. Reason #1: It's impossible to keep track of your lies. You'll contradict yourself eventually. Trust me, I've watched it happen in real time during meetings. The second-hand embarrassment is painful. Reason #2: You WILL get found out. Hollywood is a small town disguised as a big city. Someone always knows someone who knows the truth. And when they do? Your reputation is toast. Reason #3: This industry runs on trust, and there's already enough BS floating around. Don't add to it. Once people think you're dishonest, good luck getting anyone to take a meeting with you. Reason #4: Just be a good person. Seriously. Even in Hollywood, integrity matters. The people worth working with value honesty. The ones who don't? You don't want to work with them anyway. Also, remember: authenticity is actually a competitive advantage. While others are spinning elaborate fiction, you can build real relationships based on who you actually are and what you can actually deliver. Your genuine story - even if it feels "boring" compared to someone else's - is always more compelling than a lie that'll eventually unravel. People can sense authenticity, and they're drawn to it. Bottom line: shortcuts that compromise your integrity aren't shortcuts at all. They're detours that lead nowhere good. Build your career on solid ground. What's your take on this? Have you ever felt the temptation to embellish in your own journey? Or know someone who told a lie and got burned? I'd love to hear your thoughts below.

What's the #1 character a remote worker should have? Let's find out. I say "character" and not "skill" because anyone can learn the right skills. But not everyone can build the right character. Sure, the freedom of remote work can be a perk. But it also demands a strong internal character... INTEGRITY. (This is a reminder to myself and fellow leaders as well.) Without the physical presence of a manager, the burden falls on individual responsibility and self-discipline. Being honest about your work hours, productivity, and how you handle data is important. Perhaps more than you might realize. So, why is integrity important? For YOU, it: Builds trust with your employer. My experience has taught me that integrity can either cement or fracture a work relationship. Boosts self-esteem and fulfillment from meeting goals through honest effort. Reduces stress and anxiety by avoiding the burden of keeping up appearances. (Hard truth: Dishonesty is a recipe for burnout no one wants to talk about!) For your EMPLOYER, integrity: It creates a culture of trust and openness that leads to a positive and productive work environment. Reduces the reliance on invasive monitoring tools. Honest work encourages a sense of respect and autonomy. Allows them to focus on meaningful work and strategic initiatives instead of micromanaging. On the flip side, lack of integrity can lead to: Damaged trust relationships with peers and employers. Loss of professional credibility and potential career repercussions. Heightened stress and worry over the possibility of being discovered. Integrity isn't just about doing the right thing when no one is watching. It's also laying a groundwork of respect and trust that benefits all involved. Based on your own experiences, how has integrity (or the lack thereof) impacted your work environment? #remotework #integrity #workfromhome #employeerelationships

What makes a great leader? I really like this Harvard Business Review from last year and agree with so much of what it says, but something is missing. I continue to see countless posts about what qualities make for great leaders, and most of them tend to miss one major leadership trait that, in my opinion, is the one of the most important: integrity. So how can leaders and founders build - and maintain - integrity? When I think about integrity, one of the first things that comes to mind is your reputation. What are you known for today (colleagues, managers, friends) and what do you want to be known for? Ask those questions of yourself and figure out honest answers. That’s what starts to build trust among your relationships, your colleagues, your employees and beyond. Be accountable. Own your mistakes. Build your team up, not just yourself. As Katie Koch said in her latest LinkedIn post, be a "force multiplier." You are accountable for the actions of your team, not just yourself. Accountability and ownership go a long way in evaluating the integrity of your leadership. Be original. Whether you’re in the traditional workforce or in entrepreneurship, make sure you are not taking credit for someone else’s work. Do not “borrow” ideas from a peer or colleague. Sure, two ideas can happen simultaneously, but you need to do the work. Stand out for what you contribute, your impact, what you (and/or your business/team) brings to the table. Throughout my finance career and now as an entrepreneur, I see a lot of "copycats" which still amazes me. Last, and perhaps most importantly, listen. Don’t be afraid of feedback. Have open one-on-one dialogue with the people around you. Get to the truth of how your team, your leaders, your peers, your customers, perceive you, which further informs how they view your team . And when you get those answers, adjust accordingly so you can work towards improvement. Integrity is essentially a commitment to business ethics, and to people. Don’t take the easy way out. Be honest, accept feedback, do the right thing. At some point throughout your career, someone will likely claim credit for your idea. If you’ve been guilty of this, own up to your mistake(s) and vow to do better next time. Learning from our mistakes is a sign of true integrity. https://lnkd.in/gVsaBbCE