Integrity Isn’t About Being Perfect

Many of us confuse integrity with perfection. We think, “If I mess up, it means I’m not a good person.”

But integrity isn’t about never falling short. It’s about how you respond when you do.

The Trap of Compliance

Sometimes what looks like “integrity” is actually fear in disguise. Following the rules because you don’t want disapproval isn’t self-leadership—it’s compliance. True integrity requires courage: the willingness to act according to your values even when it costs you approval.

The Perfectionist Illusion

Perfectionism tells us we must always get it right. The result? Constant self-monitoring and guilt. But real integrity isn’t fragile—it bends, repairs, and grows stronger with practice.

What Integrity Really Is

• Clarity of values: knowing your non-negotiables.

• Courage in conflict: staying aligned even when others disagree.

• Repair when necessary: apologizing and making it right, instead of pretending to be flawless.

• 
  

Practicing Bulletproof Integrity

Start small:

• Notice when you act from fear vs. principle.

• Clarify two core values that will guide you in hard moments.

• Practice repair instead of shame when you stumble.

The Takeaway

Integrity is not about never failing. It’s about knowing where you stand, returning to your compass when you drift, and choosing values over approval again and again.