Throughout my entire career I have always held onto the belief that integrity is the most important value a business and an individual can have.
It has formed part of the value set at the two predominant organisations I have worked for: Skewb and the British Army and has been a key part of my approach to work life.
My view is that integrity is more than just telling the truth. It is that quality which ensures people trust in you. That they believe you when you talk to them. That they want to work and collaborate with you. And that they know you always have their best interests at heart, without fear of self-interest.
This is especially important in people businesses, like Skewb, where relationships, trust, and collaboration are not merely desirable but absolutely essential. At Skewb it is our expertise, advice, and partnership that makes our clients value what we deliver, all of which would be nothing without implicit integrity. That is why integrity is not just a virtue, but a strategic necessity.
Defining Integrity in Business
Integrity, at its core, means doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. It is about being honest, transparent, and consistent in words and actions. In practice, this means being truthful with clients about what can and cannot be achieved, being honest about mistakes, working hard to recover them, and always placing the client’s best interests and their desired outcomes at the heart if what we do. It also entails a commitment to ethical behaviour, fairness, and respect within teams and towards every stakeholder.
Client Trust
For consultancies like ours, integrity is the foundation upon which client relationships are built. It is core to our partnerships with all of our key clients. Clients come to us to help solve complex problems and implement transformational change through services and products. When you think about it objectively, our clients are entrusting their business outcomes and reputation to the advice and support we provide. Without integrity, this trust is impossible to earn or sustain.
Our clients want us to be upfront about risks, limitations, and challenges, not simply what we think they want to hear. This is a common mistake we can fall victim to. I have lost count of the number of times Nic has told me and others to challenge the client’s thinking and push for what we believe is right. We are there to use our brains, make a difference and act with integrity.
When we show integrity, it reassures our clients that their interests are being prioritised, that outcomes promised are realistic, that the journey towards those outcomes will be handled with transparency and professionalism, and ultimately that these outcomes will be achieved! This helps us gain loyalty, repeat business, and positive word of mouth, all of which are invaluable in an industry driven by reputation and relationships. And for us, it has inevitably been a huge contributing factor to our high CSAT and continued growth.
Integrity Within Teams
Integrity is equally critical inside Skewb and inside our teams. Teams that operate with honesty, respect, and a shared commitment to ethical behaviour are more collaborative, resilient, and high performing. My honest belief is that the importance of integrity cannot be overstated. Without it we do not have a team.
When colleagues trust each other to act with integrity, they are more willing to share ideas, admit to mistakes, and support one another through challenges. This creates an environment where innovation thrives and collective problem-solving is the day-to-day norm.
Furthermore, Leaders who model integrity set the tone for the entire organisation, encouraging openness and fostering a culture of accountability. At Skewb, I do believe we are fortunate to have a raft of high integrity leaders, but there is always more we can do to gain and keep each other’s trust, call out poor behaviours and ensure Skewb remains a positive, collaborative and enjoyable place to work.
The Business Case for Integrity
While integrity is a moral imperative, it is also a commercial one. A reputation for integrity is key to ensuring we continue to attract and retain our clients and helps to create a competitive edge that is hard to replicate. Conversely, a reputation for poor integrity would be exceptionally damaging for us. In a sector where news travels quickly and transparency is demanded, our reputation is everything, something Shashi consistently reminds us of.
‘So What’ for Skewb?
Integrity is, and should always remain, one of our core values. It is one of the foundation stones of the business’ success and will continue to help us power growth. As I have said, integrity is high in Skewb, but we can do more to hold each other accountable for the behaviours we display day to day, at all levels (me included!).
We should continue to challenge our clients and challenge the norm. Without it we will not be able to deliver the fantastic, transformational results we all desire and which we are so proud of. And as a team, we must pull together to ensure we all work with integrity. After all, it will help us to create a collaborative and trusting environment, working towards clear, collective goals, and helping develop a team that is significantly greater than the sum of its parts. Integrity is key to our growth, and a value we must always live by.
By Jack England
Jack England is Director of Product Deployment and Change at Skewb. To speak with him about this topic in more detail, you can connect with him on LinkedIn.
