Mentor’s Comment:

Explain the value of integrity and what it leads into a person with example. Mention what integrity helps a person to be. Mention example of a person with highest integrity like Ashok Khemka, Mahatma Gandhi etc.

Mention what compromising with integrity will lead to by supplying example. And conclude with showing its utmost importance in all circumstances in every individual’s life.

Model Answer:

Introduction:

• Integrity is a term used to describe a person’s level of honesty, moral commitments, and willingness to do what’s right. For example, we expect our doctors to be honest with us about diagnoses, won’t try to prescribe medications we don’t need, and will generally work in the best interest of our health and well-being. We expect this because, in most societies, doctors are perceived to be people of great integrity with strong moral compasses.

How integrity helps?

• Integrity helps a person to be loyal with his/her organisation, to serve utilitarianism, to have love, empathy, compassion for the vulnerables, not to abide to any illegal offer etc. One of the best real life example is Mr. Ashok Khemka (a 1991 batch IAS officer of the Haryana Cadre) who has been transferred 51^st times in his 24 years of Civil Service career. He is being awarded the S R Jindal Prize in 2011 for ‘crusade against corruption’ for his effort in exposing corruption in high places.
• Compromising with integrity undermines the work ethics and puts public resources in danger. This brings reputation of individual and institution in danger downgrading public perception. Mahatma Gandhi worshipped truth and non-violence throughout his life. To maintain integrity with his principle he cancelled the Non-Cooperation movement. The refusal to continue movement was good in his perception rather than compromising with integrity even if many were against his decision to drawback the movement. He maintained the truth and integrity with his principles even in crucial times.
• The nut and shell of the above discussion is that integrity is of utmost important in all circumstances in every individual’s life.

Conclusion:

• Leaders with integrity may not be the most famous or flashy of leaders, and they don’t care. Integrity means doing the right thing because it is the right thing to do. And that’s what makes success.
• There should be no exceptions to honesty and integrity. Integrity is a state of mind and is not situational. If you compromise your integrity in small situations with little consequence, then it becomes very easy to compromise on the other situations as well.
• Leaders with integrity always err on the side of fairness, especially when other people are unfair. As a matter of fact, the true mark of leadership is how fair you can be when other people are treating you unfairly.