Masonry Magazine April 2002 Page. 29
Bill, a vice president with a large association, faces a dilemma. His boss, Elizabeth, who can be both charismatic and autocratic, has just asked him to work over a weekend - for the third time this month. He is concerned that what at first seemed like an unusual request is now becoming a habit. If he refuses to work the extra hours, Bill is afraid he'll upset his boss, and he is easily intimidated by people like Elizabeth.
On the other hand, Bill has worked his way up, coordinating logistics for the association's large conference to get where he is now, and he would like to be further promoted. Being a team player by working overtime could help his career.
But Bill's daughter is having trouble at school. As a single father, Bill feels he should be available for his daughter as much as possible. He's already feeling guilty about working such intense hours. Whatever he decides to do will have consequences at work as well as at home.
The Integrity Moment
THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE of an everyday situation that requires a decision in the face of conflicting values and principles. Integrity is about acting consistently with core values and principles. Real life rarely presents completely straightforward choices for acting with integrity. As with Bill, sometimes one's most deeply held and cherished beliefs compete, confuse, and confound us.
These types of situations and choices represent "The Integrity Moment"- decision points in everyone's life when who you are, what is important to you, and how you want to be in the world are at stake. The manner in which specific integrity moments are resolved, in turn, helps establish, refine, and reinforce self-image.
Everyone resolves integrity moments in their own way. For example, how would you advise Bill? Decisions in these and similar situations depend upon individual values, interpretation, and evaluation of the consequences. As you can imagine, your choices may differ from those of your colleagues, your mother, and your neighbors.
The integrity moment may be resolved myriad ways, including ways that leave the individual with a sense of having integrity or a sense of lacking it. Making a decision with integrity is about acting with intention and choice. Decisions made with integrity are consistent with what is important and deeply satisfying to the individual. Consequences of choices are instructive as an individual moves forward through life and encounters similar situations.