Integrity as Your Business Compass, More Important Than Ever

Let’s talk about integrity

Do you know when you are experiencing the beauty of integrity in your business?

Do you know when you are behaving with integrity?

Integrity is an interesting concept. It’s easy for “integrity” to become a buzzword. You know, like “authenticity” and “vulnerability.”

I am talking about true integrity — not the buzzword — what it really means when it shows up in your business.

The word integrity comes from the Latin adjective integer. This word means “whole” or “complete”. It’s the idea that something is unimpaired. Sound. Grounded. True.

It is in this spirit that here at SECO, integrity is our guiding light. It’s one of our eight core values, and it brings a sense of wholeness to everything we do.

How we Practice Business Integrity at SECO

Here’s some of the ways SECO does integrity:

• We don’t settle for surface-level sound bites or memes as a replacement for critical thinking (even though we love a good gif).
• We refuse to use or teach shady, manipulative marketing tactics that remove agency from buyers.
• We call others into their best selves, asking the tough questions that encourage growth beyond comfort zones.
• We choose self-awareness, even when it stings, so we can respond to traumas in ourselves and others with care.
• We work to repair instead of working to be perfect.

Integrity is about more than “doing the right thing.” It’s about alignment — showing up in a way that reflects your values, even when it’s hard or wildly inconvenient. It’s about bringing our beliefs together for a sense of completeness.

But how does one actually do integrity? How do you make it a daily practice in your business?

Establishing a Culture of Integrity in Your Business

Here are five practical ways to get you started in your daily practice of doing integrity:

1. Know your values, look at them daily. What do you stand for? Seriously. Is it honesty? Creativity? Building meaningful relationships? Get clear on what matters most to you in your work. Write it down, revisit it often, and let those values guide your decisions.
2. Be direct with your communication. People can spot BS from a mile away. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Don’t overpromise, sugarcoat, or dodge hard conversations. Integrity thrives on honesty, so speak clearly—even when it’s uncomfortable. Passive aggression or expecting people to read your mind leaves too much room for false narrative and puts too much pressure on others.
3. Follow through on your word – even if it takes a long time to do so. Say you’re gonna do something? Do it. Show up, deliver, and be consistent. Trust is built not with flashy marketing or sound bites, but with steady, reliable actions that build true relationships with people. If you realize that you can’t follow through because you said yes before you thought fully about it? Welp, that was a mistake. And mistakes happen. Tell the truth and release quickly. Which brings us to…
4. Own your mistakes instead of working to avoid mistakes. Nobody’s perfect. In fact, striving for perfection is the opposite of living in integrity. Integrity isn’t about avoiding missteps — it’s about how you handle them. When you mess up, own it. Apologize, fix what you can, and take steps to do better next time. Work to repair things that get messed up, rather than working to prevent messing up in the first place.
5. Stay aligned with your goals – remembering that comparison is the thief of joy. The world is FULL of shiny trends and “quick wins,” but integrity means asking, “Does this align with the business I want to build?” If the answer is no, let it go. See some trend on the internet? Bombarded with ads for how to be a better [insert thing]? When you start to feel that panicky version of “uh-oh, maybe I should…”, walk away, breathe, and reset your intentions.
6. Bonus Tip: Release the need to be understood. The constant desire to be understood by others becomes an exhausting burden, tethering our peace of mind to external validation. When we release this need, we discover a profound sense of freedom — the freedom to simply be, without explanation or justification. We are whole. And in our wholeness, we make better decisions more quickly, say “no” and “yes” more intentionally, and operate from… you guessed it… integrity.

When you lead with integrity, you build wholeness — not just with your clients, but with yourself. You feel more confident in your choices because they come from a place of self-awareness, self-loyalty, and peace.

Integrity isn’t an easy road. Still, it’s the one that leads to sustainable, meaningful growth.

Leading with Integrity: Make the Commitment

In a world where it seems that those with the least integrity make the most money, we at SECO are committed to believing your business can thrive and align with the value of integrity.

So here’s our challenge to you: What’s one way you’ll lead with integrity this week? Drop it in the comments on the blogbelow, answer us back in thisan email, or journal it out on your own.

Let’s continue to build businesses that feel as good to us as they look to others around us.

All My BeastyBoss,

P.S. One way to lead with integrity? Have a transparent and well thought out inquiry/enquiry process! Grab our ebook The Art of the Inquiry for 50% off until the end of December 2024:

Use this link to get the book at half price this in December 2024 and be sure to use the code HALFOFFMYBOOK

FAQ

Q. What is business integrity?	A. Business integrity is the practice of aligning actions with core values and ethical conduct in all business dealings.
Q. Why is integrity important in business?	A. Integrity builds trust and credibility, leading to sustainable and meaningful business growth.
Q. How can a business maintain integrity?	A. By knowing values, communicating directly, following through on commitments, owning mistakes, and aligning with goals.
Q. What are practical steps to lead with integrity?	A. Know your values, communicate clearly, follow through, own mistakes, and stay aligned with your goals.
Q. How does SECO practice business integrity?	A. SECO avoids manipulative tactics, promotes self-awareness, and aligns actions with core values.