Challenges to Integrity

From the Leadership Excellence: Ethics and Integrity Training Program

When integrity lapses, there will be a failure in either ethics or morality. Common challenges to integrity include:

Relativism
• Someone else does it.
• Other people do it all the time.
• It is okay in other environments.

Sense of Invincibility
• Previously has gotten away with an ethical or moral lapse.
• Little or no penalty for prior offenses.
• Organizational position has little control or supervision.
• Well thought of and valued in the organization.
• Enforces laws and codes.

Alcohol and Drugs
• Loosens the tongue and integrity.
• Silences the little voice of good.
• Lubricates away many inhibitions.

Group Think and Peer Pressure
• No one wants to be the lone dissenter.
• Feeling of safety within a group.
• Self doubt about value system when in a minority position.

Sense of Invisibility/Sense of Isolation
• Will never get caught.
• False sense of power based on organizational position or value.
• Geographically isolated or remote.
• Too much available time and resources.