Ever Increasing Integrity

Integrity was the center of everything my father stood for. Through life lessons, he developed admirable integrity from an already moral center. If there was a word that I would use to describe him, it would be “good”. He was a good person in the purest form of the word. He truly cared about people and cherished life and all the wonderful things that complemented it. He treated people with respect, kindness, and consideration, and although throughout his career, sat in the seat of considerable power within an organization, held a posture of great humility and gratitude. He practiced many of the creative states building ever-increasing integrity. Speaking the truth doesn’t always fall in line with being nice – it reminds me of something I have said many times to friends and my son. Simply because someone is nice, doesn’t mean they are good. My father was not always nice, but he was good. I would rather a good person look me in the eye and tell me the brutal truth than have a bad person be nice and tell me anything else at all. I found that some people would rather be lied to – for they would rather be in ignorant bliss than face the reality of an ugly or uncomfortable truth.

There had been times when the strength of his integrity was tested. My father and his boss had a good working relationship; one built on respect and ethicality. They worked in an organization whose management carried a normal state of doing business, and the tyranny of competence reigned. In the midst of the comfortable and never-changing work environment, my father and his boss ran the department with a corporate culture contrasting that of the rest of the organization. The employees and management of his department reciprocated many of the creative states promoting ever-increasing integrity. My father encouraged responsible freedom; heartened employees to be spontaneous and expressive, but expected them to be self-disciplined, responsible, and consider consequences. They were creative with their work solutions, became more efficient with their usage of time and processes, and were allowed to leave early for the day when work was completed.

Individuals were motivated to initiate and lead change as long as they fell within set principles. Employees nurtured an environment of respect, truthfulness, open communication, and hard work. He also had a grounded vision that held a factual but hopeful vision and direction of how the organization would move forward. With the articulation of expectations and visible action that resonated with his commitment to employees and the organization, and with the collaboration of employees, new ideas materialized and all involved felt as though they were an integral and important part of the organization’s future success. They were empowered which led to emergent organizing. He was creating a network of converts that started a social movement of change.

My father had adaptive confidence that reflected his flexibility with the unexpected turn of events and was confident enough to enter unknown territory with the mindset that with each new uncomfortable circumstance, whether positive or negative, came chances to learn, grow, and adapt. It was contagious. The train was moving full force and not much could stop it – reaching irreversible momentum – though those who clearly were unwilling to grow in the change process sought to manage change instead of lead or support it. Management from other departments took notice. They made efforts to stymie progress in the name of protecting their existence in a slow death. He became a metaphor that brought about a metamorphosis in the people around him.

One particular day, my father was called to a meeting. I believe he was the finance manager at the time. Upper management, in an effort to sabotage my father’s boss, tried to coerce my father into defaming him. My father’s integrity and allegiance to his boss never waned. He stood firm, against the nefarious group, a mere mouse facing lions, and would not bend. I am not certain what happened after that event. But it appeared that integrity won the day. He taught me to stand by the truth and that it will keep me safe. He suffered for his integrity which often went against the grain.

I have struggled with living my life in pursuit of ever-increasing integrity. I feel I am an oddity and should have lived in a time when or a place where the meaning of life involved human progress, both on an individual and societal level. I have wondered quite seriously, “Why can’t we just live in the universe of Star Trek?” The betterment of human life, all life, and ourselves should be our pursuit and purpose. If we could only understand that we are all one human race, on one planet, that was built to miraculously sustain itself, maybe we would follow a path of ever-increasing integrity without hesitation, deviation, or doubt.  

I do miss my dad; he was always enthralled in the melodrama of the workplace. He was fascinated with the possible conspiracies and the ways human relations played out. He would excitedly ask me with wide-eyed anticipation, “So what happened today at work?” As a retired man, I realized he lost a piece of himself when he had to retire early after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s. He lived vicariously through my work experiences. I continue to emulate him and hope my son will follow – his wisdom, integrity, human kindness, his high level of emotional intelligence. I still hope to be like him when I “grow up”. I am still growing after all.

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Be good and do good. And remember, express yourself in any way that brings you joy and relief and share it with the world. You don’t owe it to anyone but yourself. Stay happy, healthy, safe, at peace, and happy graphics, my friend.

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