It’s About Time You Test Your IQ
No, not Intelligence Quotient IQ, but IQ — your Integrity Quotient.
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Many of us are conversant with IQ (Intelligence Quotient) tests.
Companies, schools, and organizations use IQ tests to gauge how well a job applicant or candidate will perform if allowed into their companies or institutions.
The purpose of these tests is to evaluate individuals' abilities to use information for answering questions or making decisions and predictions. IQ tests are also used to determine people’s problem-solving abilities and how quickly they can recall and use the information they’ve heard, seen, or learned.
Have you taken your IQ (Integrity Quotient) test?
First, what is integrity?
There you have it.
As applied to human daily interactions, choices, and decisions at all levels of civic society, governments, and institutions, integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.
The similarities end with their names’ common abbreviation — IQ.
Also, integrity is not a trait you flip ON or OFF depending on your circumstances or environment. Integrity is a quality you can cultivate and grow in.
Putting it more succinctly in his Medium story,
explained integrity as follows.
Integrity, first and foremost, is an aspiration, a striving towards a higher ethical ground. It is a dedication to the principles of truth, honesty, and honor, in both private and public life.
The person of integrity treats others with respect, consistently acts according to their moral compass, and remains unwavering, even when challenged or tempted.
They’re often viewed as a beacon, guiding society toward the pinnacle of moral and ethical standards.
People reveal their integrity, or lack thereof, through their actions or inactions when no one is observing.
The true measure of your integrity is how you act when you’re certain your actions will remain undiscovered.
Initially, your integrity may be challenged through small tests when the stakes are low or inconsequential.
Why?
Because, “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.”
If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. ~ Luke 16:10
~ Holy Bible (NLT)
A recent story in Business Insider tells of a junior-high school principal in Japan who was fired due to his lack of integrity. He was caught dispensing more coffee than he paid for at a convenience store. As reported by the local media, he would pay for a $0.75 cup but pour himself a $1.25 cup.
As troubling as the loss of integrity is, there remains a bright resplendent ray of hope.
Integrity is self-reinforcing.
A single seemingly insignificant act of integrity can fortify your determination to consistently conduct yourself with greater integrity.
The good news about integrity is that it’s a choice. It’s not done to us, we choose to have it or not. The only way to bridge all the many divides and re-set the direction of this country is for more of us to choose to increase our IQ score, starting today.
~ Chris Colbert
Key Takeaway
Never lower your (IQ) integrity quotient in other to please others or meet their expectations.
Always do the right thing. Do not act contrary to integrity.
Why must you never for once compromise on doing the right thing?
Because, as Professor Clayton Christensen wrote, “it is easier to stay true to your convictions 100% of the time than it is to stay true to them 98% of the time.” This is because you never can tell where or how far you will go down the drain marring your integrity after that first, initial, “Just this one time only” act of compromise.
Integrity, let’s go for it.
It is easier to stay true to your convictions 100% of the time than it is to stay true to them 98% of the time.
~ Professor Clayton Christensen
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Sources
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The author originally published this story on Medium