The principle of matching/mismatching is an index of coherence and authenticity and provides a key insight into the degree of a person's integrity. If you meet a player who does what she says, embodies in every fibre of her being what she espouses, you will find a player of integrity. She will be the kind of person you will want on your team, as a colleague and a friend. But the world is much filled with people who do not 'walk their talk.' You can see them everywhere: the expert on health who is an obscene slob, the lawyer who takes advantage of his clients, the priest who abuses children. When in a negotiation you pick up that a party is not holding up their part of the bargain, says one thing and does another, you have a clue. Simply observe. If the clue is confirmed in other instances of mismatching, you know you may be dealing with a person with a serious integrity flaw. It will reveal itself in a troop of related behaviors -- a grasping nature, a certain shiftlessness, an unsteadiness during storms.
The impression of matching and mismatching will endure long after the content of what a person says is forgotten. Despite the U.S. economy's impressive performance in 1994, President Clinton's overall approval ratings, based on polls taken in 1995, remained quite low. The problem is not so much with his policies or politics which are not too dissimilar from those of his opponents. When those interviewed were asked to explain their reasons many responded that President Clinton breaks his promises, is weak and vacillating, and is dishonest.
Matching and mismatching goes to the heart of character, which is another term for integrity, and character is destiny.
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