Resilience from integrity

The speaker shares a personal experience of working in a financial services organization where unethical practices were prevalent. The tension between integrity and security is discussed, as the fear of losing income prevented the speaker and others from leaving. The importance of integrity in building resilience is emphasized. The speaker provides six tips for strengthening integrity and developing resilience, including establishing trust, being truthful about situations, finishing what you start, learning from mistakes, personal and professional growth, and recognizing the importance of others. These tips are seen as crucial for making a difference in life and finding purpose. Hello, Jeremy Dees here, and welcome to the Insight Postal, 15th of November, 2023. Six Ways to Build Resilience from Integrity. I worked as a trainee salesman in a financial services organisation many years ago. However, I began to doubt the organisation when I realised that the practices adopted by some senior sales executives were verging on unethical. These practices were not unlawful, still the fact that we were remunerated by commission allowed more experienced sales executives to make more money than they might have. The tension between integrity and security. At first, these seemed minor adjustments to the sales process we were required to follow, the effects being negligible and not worth worrying about. However, as the team began to fry bigger fish, the impact became more pronounced and our integrity came under strain. One thing stopped me and others from leaving. We had an income, and as most of us live hand to mouth, we didn't want to risk our income disappearing. As time passed, the tension between integrity and security grew, and the situation came to a head when the director stepped in and wound up the team. Not good. Like all these experiences, it was not fun at the time, but it taught me that integrity is an integral part of resilience. I would have had no qualms about leaving earlier if I had resilience and cash to tide me over the gap before I found another income. Integrity is central to resilience. Integrity is an essential element of our resilience. Without integrity, we are vulnerable to forces beyond our control, and as my story shows, money is a necessary part of integrity, but not the only part. So here are six tips to help you strengthen your integrity and develop your resilience. 1. Establish trust with others, or you won't be invited to join the teams that make 1 plus 1 equal 3 and develop your resilience. 2. Recognise and tell the reality of situations, even if it does not benefit you. Be as exact with the inferences of facts as with the facts themselves. 3. Finish what you start. Don't leave others in the lurch by walking away before you finish the job. 4. Be open about your mistakes and use them as a source of learning and growth. 5. Take active steps to grow and develop personally and professionally. And 6. Don't act like a god and expect others to bow down to you. Recognise and accept that some things are more significant than you. So take action around these points to build your integrity and resilience. You can see from the other person's point of view how important these are, especially if you are looking at a new purpose in your life and want to make a difference amongst other people.