The corporate world nowadays has been evolving. Different industries have their unique ways of attracting talent. Some invest in competitive compensation and benefits, others offer better opportunities for learning and development, and the rest provide a flexible working arrangement. These attractive perks aim to get the best employees to work in a company, which would eventually help it achieve success.
In one of our sessions on Integral Human Development, we were joined by Dr. Cristine Atienza. She is the founder of Integrality and Positivity, Inc. (IPI). The company began from Dr. Atienza’s strong desire to inspire people to lead whole and purposeful lives. They conducted trainings and consultations to create a positive impact and lead more connected and committed people and organizations to their purpose.
IPI has reached numerous international and local, private and public, and academic and non-government organizations, bringing hope and happiness to people amid the pandemic with the growth of positive psychology.
In Dr. Atienza’s talk, she discussed integrality in the workplace and how it contributes to its success. More than technical skills and expertise, companies need a certain level of integrality.
A combination of authenticity and integrity distinguishes an individual from the rest. She illustrated the compartmentalized life wherein an individual has different personalities regarding professional, personal, private, social, Christian, married, public, etc.
Integrality starts with being authentic to oneself. It is achieved by and from the person’s inner self by harmonizing all aspects of human development. Inner wholeness or personal integration is when one feels he is not at a loss of himself.
When we walk our talk, it creates a genuine connection with our colleagues and employers. It helps build a supportive work environment. This relationship results in better collaboration, teamwork and overall performance.
Dr. Atienza also discussed integrity, which implies honesty, fairness, ethics, and moral character. It means being consistent with ethical principles and values under challenging situations, even if no one is looking. Leaders with integrity become role models and inspire team members to follow suit. Having integrity in the workplace promotes a culture of transparency, accountability, and excellence. These are essential ingredients that contribute to an organization’s success.
Before Dr. Atienza ended her lecture, saying: “Selfless self-preservation, not selfish self-destruction, will bring about integrality.”
This quote resonated with me, helping me recognize that I have the power to choose wholeness.
Reflecting on the topic of integrality in the workplace made me appreciate the efforts of our organization to drive information about the company’s core values, including integrity, teamwork, innovation, responsibility, and service excellence. The various company activities and events always emphasized the relevance of aligning our personal values with the company’s, making me realize people’s vital role in the organization. Team leaders should be responsible for fostering a positive work environment.
One of the ways to do it is by embracing diversity and inclusion, which encourages respect and appreciation of differences. Diversity and inclusion can unlock the full potential of team members, which is instrumental to attaining company goals and objectives.
As a team leader, I recognize how powerful integrality is in the workplace. Knowing its benefits, I will build trust, collaboration, and a culture of growth. I will continuously reflect and remind myself about my life purpose and mission – to empower others and make a lasting positive impact not only in the teams I work with but also in the whole organization. So, at the end of the day, I could say I became the person I ought to be and helped unlock success in the workplace.
The author is an MBA student at the Ramon V. Del Rosario College of Business of De La Salle University. She wrote this reflection paper for her class on Integral Human Development. She can be reached at ma_cheleen_santiano.
The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty and its administrators.