Joining the Integrity Generation: Small Moves That Actually Add Up
By now, you’ve probably seen some version of these scenes:
The quiet email that asks you to “manage” something off the books.
The queue that dissolves the moment “my person” walks in.
The report everyone knows is cooked, but still gets signed.
You’re not shocked anymore. You’re tired.
Tired of the gap between what we say we want (fairness, opportunity, good governance) and how we actually behave when pressure shows up.
If that’s you, then you’re exactly the person I have in mind when I talk about The Integrity Generation.
So who are The Integrity Generation?
They are not perfect people. They are not saints.
They are:
Young professionals who live in crooked systems,
understand how those systems work,
and are still quietly deciding to build careers and lives they won’t be ashamed of.
They want to be street-smart and straight at the same time.
They know integrity is not easy, but they are tired of acting as if it is impossible.
Here's an article that offers insight on being street smart to maintain your integrity and not ruin your career. Click HERE to read:
Why does “belonging” matter?
Because identity changes behaviour.
When you say (even privately), “I am part of The Integrity Generation”:
Integrity stops being a personal quirk and becomes a shared project.
You stop thinking only, “How do I avoid being cheated?” and start asking, “How do I avoid cheating others?”
You begin to care about the story your decisions will tell in 5, 10, 20 years.
It gives you language to resist pressure:
“Maybe this is how things are done here. But this is not how we do things in The Integrity Generation.”
5 small moves that actually add up
You don’t need a revolution to start. Just a few stubborn habits.
1️⃣ Draw one clear red line
Pick one thing you will not do, no matter how “normal” it is:
Falsifying dates.
Lying to regulators.
Taking money tied directly to your official decisions.
Jumping queues using “connection”.
Write it down. Let it be your anchor.
2️⃣ Choose one “clean habit” for daily work
For example:
Always confirming sensitive instructions in writing.
Logging exceptions properly in the system.
Keeping a clean, explainable paper trail.
These habits build an integrity moat around your career.
3️⃣ Retire one personal-sector behaviour
Stop doing one thing that feeds the “who do you know?” culture:
No more calling to jump queues.
No more sneaking CVs past fair processes.
No more expecting special treatment because of your name, tribe or network.
Still help people, but in ways that respect the process rather than destroy it.
4️⃣ Build a micro-circle
Find 2–5 people who:
feel uneasy about “how things are done”,
want to make better choices,
and are willing to talk honestly about pressure.
Agree to check in, share dilemmas, and support each other.
Integrity is easier with company.
5️⃣ Share one story, honestly
You don’t need to name names.
But you can:
Tell a mentee about a time you compromised, and what it cost.
Share a refusal you’re proud of and how you survived it.
Talk honestly with a friend about the “knot in your stomach” moments.
Stories recruit people into better behaviour more than lectures.
A simple pledge
To close this first series, here’s a short pledge you can adapt:
“I live in a system that often rewards shortcuts. I understand how it works, but I won’t let it rewrite who I am becoming. I will take small, deliberate steps to make sure my success is something I can explain without shame. I am part of The Integrity Generation.”
If this resonates with you, I’d love to hear:
👉 What’s one small move you’re committing to this week as a member (or aspiring member) of The Integrity Generation?
