Honesty In Business

vs. deception

Being truthful in what I say and do

To practice Honesty, I will:

• tell the truth
• encourage others to be truthful
• not cheat or steal
• admit when I am wrong
• not exaggerate to make things seem different from what they are

On Earning Trust

by Mary Andres Russell

When we think of a person with good character, honesty is one of the foundations.  It is not possible to have integrity, to earn trust, or to have great relationships without being truthful.

Case in point — have you ever worked with someone or had a family member who habitually lied, cheated, or stole?  What happened to the relationship?  How did you feel about the person after realizing you could no longer trust them?  Did you confront them with the truth?  Did you keep your distance?  Did you start protecting your property?  The lack of honesty can seriously damage relationships.

What can each of us do to build a foundation of honesty in our homes and in the workplace?  The first step is to ensure that we ourselves are operating with honesty, even when the truth is difficult to say or hear.  We can point children to the truth when we observe exaggeration to prevent them from developing a habit of lying.  We can set realistic expectations for coworkers so they don’t feel tempted to distort the truth to gain approval. And if we are dealing with habitual lying, we can point out the truth clearly and interject doubt into their story to communicate that we are not buying in.

This month, build strong relationships and enjoy the freedom of a clear conscience by speaking honestly  with gentleness, tact, and grace.