By Uttiya Bhattacharyya
The English word ‘integrity’ is derived from the Latin word ‘integritas’ and generally denotes anything that is still as it should be in undiminished or in unimpaired condition. In other words anything that is in any way worse than it is supposed to be or has become weaker than its original power is considered to have lost its integrity. However, this is purely a descriptive meaning of the word. The word integrity has a strong normative content of ‘what we should do’ or ‘what we must do’, the rules that we are supposed to follow in the society. Adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty are some of the practice that are associated with the term ‘integrity’. Regarding losing parts of its original powers and divergence to a situation that is weaker or any way worse than it is supposed to be is explained by Mahatma Gandhi in his seven maxims, Wealth without work; Pleasure without conscience; Knowledge without character; Religion without sacrifice; Politics without principle; Science without humanity and Business without ethics. Integrity, whether personal, moral, cultural, religious, national, scientific or in business contains the value of fairness based on belief (B) and obligation (O). Whatever may be the form of integrity under discussion the core proposition and control is with ‘self’.
Actions by individuals participating in a team work as seen in organizations should be analyzed in terms of a process. In an organization we are entrusted with some responsibility and are supposed to perform as per the laid down policies with fairness. Often it is the ones that are active and eagerly taking action that are under scrutiny whose those passing the buck are rewarded. To dispel such misconception it is pertinent to discuss the subject ‘integrity a way of life’ in the light of ancient wisdom and learning from world leaders.
It is mentioned that action is better than inaction. No accomplishment is possible in a state of inertia. We have to perform our duty at all times. Work is essential for survival and that is seen in nature too. Our body is constantly working to stay alive and fit. Without physical and mental activity our bodies and minds become a burden after sometime. A weak and diseased body due to inaction becomes a burden to self and to the family that sustains the relationship. When idleness hypnotizes the ego into inactivity, it may bring no apparent trouble, whereas evil actions may swiftly result in dire miseries. Similarly in an organization, action by the employees is essential for a healthy work environment, sustainability and growth. Inaction by any employee not only acts against the growth of the organization but also on the self. The habitually idle man and the unscrupulous business man, however, have one obstacle in common- both find it difficult to change their respective habits and so remain enslaved. Just as wrong business exploitation is a social crime, idleness is a spiritual crime that debases the human being. The nature of right action is in performing all works as an obligation. To make anything a way of life, that life has to be alive and kicking. Oprah Winfrey once said “Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not.”
The next question that arises is what should be the way to work or how actions need to be performed. The answer to this lies in the very original concept of selfless work. We have to detach our ‘self’ from the work. The work has to be carried out on its merit and we need not get involved through self attachment or desire. The objective or target would be met only when we work without any personal attachment. Action without self attachment is the way to work. So, action is better than inaction and action has to be carried out without any self attachment and only then the objective of the organization would be met. Therefore we conscientiously have to perform good material actions and spiritual actions without attachment. By doing so one obtains the highest goal. Material actions performed with desire leads us away from the target. But to achieve this objective leadership plays an important role in meeting the objective.
Example speaks louder than words. It is said that what the leaders do the followers emulate. By his mere presence one who has reformed himself is able to reform thousands. Whatever the leader considers as authentic and as an important duty the follower also would tend to consider the same. The reference of leaders and followers are relative. A follower in the organization in any department may be a great leader at home or the society beyond the organization. In fact all of us are leaders at some level. As leaders we should remember the fundamentals that what ‘Leaders do others observe and follow.’ The importance shown on a subject or activity by a Leader is taken in the same spirit by the followers. If the mind indulges in moods or anger, the senses will exhibit gloom or wrath; but if the mind is blissful, the senses too will register bliss. Whatever the mind sees and stresses will be blindly followed by the inclination, moods, desires, and habits. If integrity has to be made a way of life, the Leaders have to make it a way of life so that others can observe and follow. Here Leader- follower relationship would be changing from one action to the other but the common understanding would be that in any action integrity must be made a way of life by the Leadership position for the follower to also make it a way of life. Dr APJ Abdul Kalam said, ‘Let me define a leader. He must have vision and passion and not be afraid of any problem. Instead, he should know how to defeat it. Most importantly, he must work with integrity’.
This is understood when we are discussing the relationship between Leader and follower in the individual capacity. Leaders relinquish all activities to the core values and are devoid of egotism and expectations. In a large and diverse organization how should the flow take place? Who would actually be the Leader so that the whole organization follows the objective? Is it only an individual or a group of individuals for all to follow or something much greater to guide the organization as a whole? Here come the core values of the organization. The core values of the organization drives the vision and the vision fuels the business. The core values of the organization are supreme and we all work like followers to that. Hence with our conscience and knowledge all employees should surrender to the core values and work without any desire and fear. Actions are to be driven by core values and followed by all to compete in the market place. Competition is to be fought as a team being driven by the core values; that would make integrity a way of life. Sincere achievers do not renounce true duties. They overcome egotism and are responsible as doers and receivers of good and bad actions. A true performer feels that since the organization has entrusted him with the objective, he alone is responsible for all the activities. He works to achieve the target without worrying, knowing that it is the core values that are working through their soul faculties.
The actions of selfish men spring from desires born of ego. A dedicated employee works neither at the dictates of egotism nor from selfish desires. He is devoid of “I-ness”. Since he is working for the organization he has no individual desire, nor does he hope to attain any material goal.
What are the hindrances in making integrity a way of life and who our enemies? Once we understand those then practicing integrity as a way of life would be natural. When greed is unmet it transforms into anger. Hence greed and anger are synonymous. Material wants at times engulf us so much that vision is blinkered and narrow. We have to consider them as our enemies. Desire and anger can never be appeased by fulfillment, not even by control over all matter. Every material desire leads man farther away from bliss, delaying his task of finding the way back to his native state of absolute peace. The real enemy is within us in the form of desire and anger. The inner weakness needs to be overcome to make integrity a way of life. The process is not difficult and has been guided very well by the wise. The Bhagavad Gita says first we have to control our senses or the ‘ Indriyas’ and kill the destructive desire or ‘Kama’ within. It calls for destroying the material want within by controlling our senses and becoming free from within.
Therefore, first discipline the senses, and then destroy desire, the simple annihilator of wisdom and self- realization. Sense acts create sense habits. Sense habits create sense desires. Sense desires create sense acts. This vicious cycle must be avoided. The self-disciplined employee who does not enslave himself to the inordinate demands of, for instance, his gustatory servant, the appetite, finds that his desires for food remains normal, obedient to his wisdom. But if he indulges in a constant desire to eat an unnatural state is created in which the evil desire is repeatedly fed by fresh acts of greedily swallowing food. Pride, power, greed, anger, possessions have to be won over by self-control to attain peace and wisdom to make integrity a way of life. The inspiration may be drawn from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam who said “No matter what is the environment around you, it is always possible to maintain the brand of integrity.”
(The writer is Chief General Manager, Head of Indian Oil marketing in the North East & SLC Assam)