During these very challenging times in the construction industry, amidst rising material and labor costs, labor shortages, and supply chain issues, let’s talk about how integrity must be the twin brother of trust. Strong foundational trust can only be built on integrity, otherwise, it becomes a higher, more advanced level of manipulation.
Let’s first define integrity. There are many definitions or descriptions of integrity, but they all include honesty and trust. Other characteristics of a person with integrity are:
There are many others, but this gives you a strong idea of how we define integrity. You may ask why this is so important in present times. All people have been affected by the pandemic in some way. We are all faced with:
You may have noticed there seems to be a population-wide diminished focus, lack of respect for one another, increased angst about our political situation, more difficulty communicating well with one another, and a continued feeling of uncertainty that can drive negative behaviors. The truth is that we do not know what each other’s journey has been over the past two years, and we are each motivated by our own experience and present perceptions and needs.
Many of us have spent the last two years through the pandemic with trust levels shaken by the media and the seemingly ever-changing reports by the so-called experts. We became unsure of who to trust. Because of this new perception many of us have, we must act with integrity. One of my favorite descriptions of a person with integrity is “a person with integrity does the right thing even if nobody is watching.” The ironic thing about behaving with integrity is that it provides a good feeling from within for the person who practices it and a good feeling for the recipient.
This mutual feeling creates a positive environment for a relationship to blossom and evolve. One might say that “good feelings don’t pay the bills,” and while that is true, the strength and stability of an organization (like in a family) lies in the integrity of the members of that organization. Longevity comes with integrity. Short-term profits without regard for how they are acquired only pay the bills in the short term. Integrity provides consistency in a world where strength in character is at a premium.
When a team is built on integrity, the details work themselves out. Not knowing when materials will arrive is a challenge we all face in construction right now. Because of this, it becomes all the more critical, to be honest, on all fronts during the entire course of a project. The only thing that is consistent right now is a person’s character—having a team with integrity allows for innovation and a concerted effort to find solutions that benefit the whole, not just ourselves. Scheduling and sequence of work have been turned on its head since the pandemic.
Constant adjustment is now a requirement that everyone must participate in to have a successful project. Flexibility, patience, and understanding are generally not built into a contract but with a genuine effort by all constituents to provide an atmosphere of teamwork that can find solutions.
Because there are many moving parts in any construction project, and all depend on one another to get accomplished. It is imperative we must do what we say we are going to do and communicate any changes as soon as we know they are about to occur.