Every company experiences challenges, with theHRDirector magazine highlighting the tests that companies had anticipated for 2022, including employee turnover, absenteeism, and the loss of productivity. 41% of UK employees reported considering quitting, or have already quit. On the other hand, absenteeism is an expensive problem, having cost UK businesses £14 billion in 2020 alone. Neglecting the employee experience and forgoing workplace engagement typically causes these problems. If left unaddressed, these challenges may result in unmet goals and a huge number of employees leaving.
Fortunately, there’s a way to tackle these issues. LHH notes that company leadership must focus on integrity as this results in the growth of organisations. By focusing on building trust and gaining respect from one another, a company will be able to work well with the knowledge that everyone’s strengths and opinions are acknowledged. Further, this displays confidence in one another, allowing for a better working environment. On that note, let’s take a look at how organisational integrity can be encouraged within an organisation.
What is organisational integrity?
Organisational integrity refers to honesty within the company. Moreover, it is also about each employee—even those in top positions—upholding this honesty and working in accordance with the company’s vision and values. If a manager instructs an employee to act a certain way, then they, too, must practice what they preach.
As one of its four strategic pillars, Engage For Success explains that ‘Organisational Integrity’ helps build trust resulting in high performance and high engagement. When everyone trusts one another, they work more efficiently because no second-guessing is needed. In a company with organisational integrity, everyone upholds trust and accountability, which leads to a better overall workspace.
How to foster organisational integrity in the workspace
Practising accountability
Following through with your words and owning up to your mistakes displays an immense amount of responsibility and high sense of maturity. It shows that you can be trusted both by keeping your word and owning up to your shortcomings. This can also be practised within teams as members can hold each other to account. In order for accountability to work, every level of the organisation must be made accountable for their actions. If senior management doesn’t hold itself accountable for their shortcomings, then there is no reason for their employees to do so. Accountability starts at the top.
high Engagement for high-quality work
People are a company’s greatest asset and that without a good company culture good work cannot be produced. A company that actively engages with its employees will increase productivity by 17% and lower absenteeism by 41%. If your employees feel like they are working for a company that has their best interests at heart, and are well looked after, they will be compelled to produce a high-quality output. Trustworthiness and reliability within the company is a two-way street, and companies need to engage the workers to avoid mediocrity. Coming together will lead to better work and improve the overall integrity of the organisation.
Communicating transparently
Open and transparent communication is one method to promote organisational integrity. TrainingZone believes that this increases integrity and trust because transparency promotes participation and fairness. If you can’t act on your promises, don’t make them in the first place. When you fail to deliver, explain your shortcomings. This lets others know what truly happened so they don’t have to doubt you or worry that it will happen again. For example, failing to turn in a report must be accompanied by an explanation so others know what happened and what you can do to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
Asking for feedback
Asking for feedback displays your commitment to continuous improvement. Others can trust you, knowing that you are always finding ways to produce better results and that you’re motivated to succeed. Regularly ask your manager and fellow team members for areas of improvement. Ensure that you consciously put their feedback into practice to avoid making the same mistakes.
to conclude…
Organisational integrity builds trust for a healthy working environment. Do this today by staying true to your word, taking responsibility for your actions, engaging your employees, and actively seeking their feedback. In turn, problem will have less room to fester due to a more productive workforce and a space where trust is encouraged.
Author: Dylan Holden – Freelance writer
Photo credit: Kindel Media
