Further Understanding Your Assessment Results

Before you scroll down to see further narrative on your assessment range score, it is helpful to remember a number of elements to consider regarding the nature of your score. Your assessment score is a reflection of your current own assessment through the lens of all of your present life conditions. This score encapsulates any conscious or unconscious biases you may bring into the assessment, stemming from your unique set of life experiences and perceptions.

It is important to note that this assessment is not meant to be a definitive measure of your integrity. Integrity, even if it could be, is not an object to be measured.  It is an essence to be lived. While often said, it is inaccurate for an individual to say, “I have integrity” or make a judgmental statement of others, “they have integrity” or “they do not have integrity.” In reality, everyone lives in some degree of integrity in any given moment on any given day, in each and every relationship and in every choice or decision.   One-by-one.  Not overall. There is, however, no question that the degree of one’s integrity is fueled by a number of factors.  This assessment is focused on those critical factors.

This assessment is exploring your current level of awareness, your depth of understanding, and the conscious level at which you consistently and systemically live into the essence of integrity in your day-to-day life. Your score is not a comparison to others.  Your score stands on its own. To reflect the importance of a very broad awareness, a very deep understanding and a consistent and systemic level of consciousness, the assessment sets a very high bar.  The perceptions you hold and the responses you provided may not fully account for the deeper nature of core values and how they differ from behaviors, wants, needs, opinions, and beliefs. A majority of the scores will fall below the 50% mark. Some well below.  This is not a problem, but rather an opportunity for self-reflection and growth, inviting you to explore, deepen your understanding and ultimately reimagine the very nature of integrity and the potential that it holds for you. The upside could be significant not only for you, but for all who know you in the various arenas of your life.

Integrity, in this context, is not simply about honesty or moral compliance; it is about being whole, entire, and undiminished — integrating your personal core values into every aspect of your life. This journey is continuous and ever-evolving. Use your score as a starting point to further explore and enhance your commitment to living with integrity, both personally and in all your relationships.

Other factors to consider:

• Self-Assessment Limitations: Self-assessments can be influenced by various factors, including current mood, recent experiences, and self-perception biases. Understanding this helps contextualize your score as a momentary snapshot rather than a fixed measure.
• Growth Mindset: Viewing your score through a growth mindset lens encourages continuous learning and improvement. Regardless of your current score, there is always room for deeper understanding and enhanced practice of integrity.
• Reflective Practice: A regularly established practice of reflection on your personal and organizational core values can significantly enhance your awareness and alignment with integrity. This assessment serves as a tool to prompt an enhanced awareness.
• Holistic View: Recognize that integrity is multi-faceted. It involves a holistic integration of values into all areas of life, fostering coherence and authenticity.

By keeping these points in mind, you can use your assessment score as a meaningful starting point for a journey of deeper self-awareness and integrity. Embrace this opportunity to explore and expand your understanding, knowing that the path to living with integrity is both profound and rewarding.

You may want to also consider Return On Integrity: The Individual’s Journey to the One Essential Thing. It is immediately available on Amazon. You may find it to be a great guide for your journey. The following is from the Opening Thoughts of the book:

Six years ago, I sat on this same stone bench in the Spruce Plot of the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois, contemplating a concept. Maybe it would be more accurate if I said I had sensed the existence of a void, and I was trying to determine what the void was. It was not that I felt something was missing, something we’d once had that was no longer available to us. Rather it was something we were overlooking, and, therefore, we were not benefitting from the value it could offer us.

It wasn’t about creating another solution. Even great solutions only seem to go so far, until yet another is needed. Nor was it like a resolution. It was more like a realization, an invitation. This sense didn’t entail new skills, behavior modifications, stretch goals, or fulfilling a need.

The most confusing part was that it wasn’t about something new. Nor was it about something unheard of. Rather it was about something unknown. It wasn’t about something we had to go get. Oddly enough, we already have it. I realized that we all have something lying dormant within us, inviting us to plug into it.

This “something” is our core. More specifically, it is our core values. Our core values are not what we value. Defining core values in this way is a trap that simply leads to more empty behaviors, wants, needs, opinions, and beliefs. Our core values are our values.

As I sat on this rough stone bench on that cool spring day, this sense felt as overwhelming as the plethora of towering pine trees reaching over me and as far as my eyes could see. At the same time, this sense was reaching for me.

I began to scribble down what would become the “Opening Thoughts” section of my book “Return on Integrity: The New Definition of ROI and Why Leaders Need to Know It.” It took almost four years of contemplating great questions and having endless conversations to evolve those initial thoughts into a manuscript, written specifically for the leader at the top—the chairman of the board, CEO, president, executive director.

I was certain that those leaders were the linchpin to this “plug-in.” First they would plug into their own core, and then they would guide the plug into the core of the organization they led, ultimately building a return on integrity—the ROI—that they needed the most. I am still certain of their responsibility.

Yet as I return to this same stone bench six years later, I am more certain of something else. Everyone—each and every person—is equally the linchpin to the integrity of their own core and the core of the organization and all that flows from it.

Integrity is the fabric of the values at your core, and you are a thread of the integrity of any group you weave into: an organization, a division, a team, your family unit, and your social group. Your thread goes wherever you go. The individual contribution you make to the collective return on integrity is determined by the substance of your thread.

The pages that follow will be much more of a personal journey than an organizational strategy. Yet it will be the most strategic contribution you will ever make moment-to-moment and day-to-day in both your personal and professional lives. It will make everything else you do exponentially more valuable.

This integrity within you is reaching, ready to be rediscovered. Are you ready?

In the meantime, below, you can find your assessment score and the description for those who fall in that range.

 

Critical Awareness Needed: 0-48

Your current score indicates a critical need for increased awareness regarding integrity in your personal life. This range suggests that there may be significant gaps in understanding and applying the deeper principles of integrity. While this may seem daunting, it also represents a tremendous opportunity for personal growth and transformation. By embracing the journey to reimagine integrity, you can begin to uncover the core values that truly define you and start to integrate them into your daily decisions and actions. This is the first step towards a more authentic and fulfilling life, where your actions align with your deepest values.

High Awareness Needed: 49-66

Your score suggests a high need for awareness in the realm of personal integrity. While you may have some understanding of its importance, there are likely many areas where deeper reflection and growth are necessary. This is a pivotal moment for you to explore and challenge your current beliefs and behaviors. By committing to a path of self-discovery and personal growth, you can begin to close the gap between your current state and the potential for a more integrated and meaningful life. The journey ahead is one of profound transformation and endless possibilities.

Gaps in Awareness: 67-84

Your score reflects noticeable gaps in your awareness and practice of integrity. You may have started to recognize the importance of core values, but there is still much work to be done in integrating these values into your daily life. This range highlights the areas where you can focus your efforts to achieve greater alignment and authenticity. Embrace this opportunity to dig deeper into your beliefs and actions, and to make conscious choices that reflect your true self. The potential for positive change is immense, and each step you take brings you closer to a life of integrity and fulfillment.

Inconsistent Awareness: 85-102

Your score indicates inconsistent awareness in the application of integrity. There are moments when you align well with your core values, but there are also times when you may fall short. This inconsistency can lead to inner conflict and a sense of disconnection. Recognizing these fluctuations is the first step towards creating a more stable and integrated approach to integrity. By committing to regular self-reflection and seeking honest feedback, you can begin to build a more consistent practice that aligns with your deepest values. The journey towards greater consistency is filled with growth and self-discovery.

Developing Awareness: 103-120

Your score suggests that you are in the process of developing awareness around integrity. You have a foundational understanding and are beginning to see the importance of living in alignment with your core values. This is an exciting stage where you can build on your current knowledge and continue to grow. Embrace the opportunities for learning and self-reflection that come your way, and seek out experiences that challenge and expand your understanding. Your commitment to this path will lead to a more authentic and integrated life, where your actions resonate with your true self.

Emerging Awareness: 121-129

Your score reflects an emerging awareness of the deeper aspects of integrity. You are on the right path, actively engaging with your core values and striving to integrate them into your daily life. This range suggests that you are becoming more conscious of the importance of integrity and are taking steps to live in alignment with your values. Continue to nurture this awareness through ongoing reflection and intentional practice. The journey ahead is one of continuous growth and deeper understanding, where each step brings you closer to a life of greater authenticity and fulfillment.

Aligned Awareness: 130-138

Your score indicates a well-aligned awareness of integrity. You have a solid understanding of your core values and are making conscious efforts to live in accordance with them. This alignment brings a sense of coherence and purpose to your life. However, the journey doesn’t end here. Continue to challenge yourself and seek out new ways to deepen your understanding and practice of integrity. Embrace the opportunities for growth and transformation that come your way, and remain open to the evolving nature of your values and beliefs. Your commitment to this path will lead to even greater fulfillment and authenticity.

Integrated Awareness: 139-147

Your score reflects a high level of integrated awareness. You have successfully woven your core values into the fabric of your daily life, creating a strong foundation of integrity. This integration brings a profound sense of alignment and purpose. However, the journey of integrity is ongoing. Continue to explore and deepen your understanding, and remain open to new perspectives and experiences. The potential for exponential growth and impact is immense, and your commitment to this path will continue to yield transformative results.

Transformative Awareness: 148-156

Your score indicates a transformative level of awareness regarding integrity. You have not only integrated your core values into your life but have also experienced significant personal growth and transformation as a result. This range reflects a deep and authentic commitment to living with integrity, which positively influences all areas of your life. Continue to embrace this journey with an open heart and mind, and seek out opportunities to share your insights and experiences with others. Your leadership and example can inspire profound change in those around you. Scroll just past the “range of scores” to see some “reflective questions to consider” to get your started.

Exponential Potential: 157-165

Your score reflects an exceptional level of awareness and practice of integrity, positioning you at the forefront of personal and collective transformation. You have a profound understanding of your core values and consistently live in alignment with them. This range indicates that you are well-prepared to dive even deeper into the journey of integrity, exploring its unlimited potential within you and around you. Embrace this opportunity to further expand your awareness and impact, and continue to lead with authenticity and purpose. Your commitment to this path will not only enrich your life but also inspire and elevate those you encounter. Scroll below to see some “reflective questions to consider” to get your started.

 

Reflective Questions to Consider

 

An individual’s journey to the one essential thing always begins with a first step … which may entail going nowhere, but stopping a reflecting on right where you are.  To encourage you to begin, the following questions may prompt those initial moments of reflection. While there are seven questions, perhaps after reading each of them, you might choose to pick three of them that speak to you and are worth considering.  You may find that each of them would be helpful and so you might consider reflecting on just one of them a week. Or maybe these questions are simply a prompt to deeper questions that come to you as you read them.  Pay attention to those questions that surface and use those as your guide. It is not a short transactional journey of quick outcomes, but rather a long, slow and meaningful journey of transformation.

Living in Degrees of Integrity:
Consider the idea that you live in degrees of integrity in any given moment. How does this perspective change the way you view your daily decisions and interactions?

Exploring Fears:
What fears do you have about exploring your core values more deeply? How might these fears be holding you back from living a more integrated and authentic life?

Facing Truths:
Reflect on a time when you discovered a truth about yourself that was difficult to accept. How did this discovery impact your understanding of your core values and integrity?

Connection to Others:
How do your core values influence your relationships with others? Are there any relationships where you feel a disconnect, and how might understanding your core values help bridge that gap?

Continuous Growth:
How open-minded are you to continuously growing and evolving your understanding of integrity? What practices can you implement to support this ongoing journey?

Fabric of Core Values:
Reflect on the idea that integrity is not a core value in itself, but the fabric that weaves all your core values together. How does this perspective shift your understanding of integrity, and how might it influence the way you live out your core values daily?

Unity and Division:
Consider the premise that true core values never divide, whereas behaviors, wants, needs, opinions, and beliefs can. Can you identify instances in your life where confusion between these elements led to division? How might a clearer distinction between them foster greater unity and coherence in your actions and decisions?