Integrity Matters
December 22 , 2004
Postal worker’s honesty receives
high scores
Question: (E-153)
Dear Jim:
Yesterday, a postal employee phoned my office to tell
me that I had overpaid the local United States Post Office
by $10 for shipping a package. It turns out that I had
used a $20 bill, not the $10 bill that I assumed. The
gentleman behind the counter asked me to accept the larger
amount of change (he thought I had used a $20 bill) and
I said I was not comfortable unless he was certain. Well,
seven hours later the call came, and so did the confirmation
that integrity matters – at our Post Office. I
drove to the Post Office. I drove over, and there waiting
for me was my $10. What do you think?
Response:
Integrity is everywhere, especially when folks like
you allow others to demonstrate their higher values and
more constructive behaviors. The answer to your question
is predictable: Most people go to work every day and
do their jobs, responsibly. Restaurant employees bring
food to tables on clean dishes and they help their colleagues
deliver customer-friendly service, over and over. A large
number of well-trained physicians listen, with care,
to their patients who describe thousands of aches and
pains. Often these doctors sacrifice personal income
just to spend extra time with those who are confused
and frightened.
Your own example is powerful and reassuring. A postal
employee was willing to take the time and make extra
effort to assure you he would never take advantage of
you, even for an easy $10 that you would never be able
to trace. The message here is simple: Good people are
all around us, and we ought to stop and remember them
more often. A piece of wisdom, certainly brought home
by your illustration, is this quote from M.H. McKee: “Integrity
is one of several paths; it distinguishes itself from
the others because it is the right path and the only
one upon which you will never get lost.”
The postal employee you described understands one clear
definition of character; which is what people do when
no one is watching. Some who have been reading our columns
are familiar with an expression called “verbal
handshake” – a straightforward approach for
conducting business between and among those in the produce
industry. In the fast-paced world of buying and selling
perishable fruits and vegetables, members of this global
agribusiness community are able to transact deals, often
involving large amounts of money, simply on the basis
of oral promises, no written contracts required.
Your question confirms that the mission for each person
ought to be helping r estore integrity throughout our society.
Each time a person singles out a positive example of integrity,
he or she is helping to build and sustain a world in which
people do what they say, are forthright in their communications
and a handshake solidifies any promise. Let’s keep
telling stories like this one and encourage those who do
things right, because they too know that integrity matters.
