“To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity.”

Companies that come together talk about integration challenges and opportunities.  The challenge part is under-weighted way to often and companies make one mistake after another trying to integrate people, cultural norms and processes.  And then we wonder why so many acquisitions fail.  The same integration challenges occur with new people into a company or team.  We need to think about the word “integration” in the most holistic of ways we can and then pay attention to each and every detail, that is if we think we are going to succeed at ever making one plus one equal even two.

I was given a really interesting group of writings from The Centre for Marketplace Theology.  This notion of integration was explored as it relates to our personal integrity.  Gunter Krallman was quoted from his book, Mentoring for Mission: “Persons of integrity will shun hypocrisy, partially or hidden agendas, scheming and shady financial dealings; they will not break promises or other commitments, neither rationalize personal failure and guilt or take advantage of others.”  I read that and thought to myself, this is one of the best definitions of integrity for true integration into all parts of our work and lives that I have ever read.  And I also thought, how hard it is to live up to this standard! But then, we also know that Jesus exemplified this for us throughout His life of pure integrity and He is there is to help us if we do make the attempt.

Reference: 2 Samuel 22:6 (New Living Translation)