Be Honest Sometimes it's hard to tell the truth, but at work, honesty really is the best policy.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
After spending over a decade training staff at numerouscompanies including American Express and Marriott, author andspeaker Steven Gaffney shares his research and observations inHonesty Works! Real-World Solutions to Common Problems at Work andHome. Here, he discusses how to achieve honesty.
Entrepreneur: Why is being honest at work sohard?
Steven Gaffney: The number-one reason I found people arenot upfront and actually withhold information and ideas is fear. Agood example is when a company needs to lay off employees orreorganize. Executives tend to withhold that information, and whenpeople find out the truth, they feel betrayed. Employees losemorale and momentum and reduce their productivity. Honestcommunication and not withholding information are not just nicethings--they're critical to success.
Entrepreneur: How would you create a more honestworkplace?
Gaffney: The first key to improving honest communicationis raising awareness that dishonesty is prevalent. We all [tellwhite lies] and withhold information, but it's a slipperyslope.
Second, you need to not only say you want honesty--you need todemonstrate and reward honesty. You can do that by providing fulldisclosure of information, encouraging feedback and positivelyreacting even when the feedback isn't positive. You should say,"Thank you, I appreciate you giving me this information."If [you] do act defensively, apologize.
Talk to others the way you want to be talked to. Focus onsolutions. If I bring up an issue, I should have some ideas in myback pocket to suggest. [Acknowledge] that your opinions are justopinions. Those who think their opinion is fact end up shuttingdown relationships. Last, share positive [feedback]. If people feelappreciated, they can hear the more difficult things.
Entrepreneur: What are the benefits ofhonesty?
Gaffney: I often challenge executives and managers byasking, "How often are you hearing crazy ideas?" Weshould want all kinds of ideas. There's an innovativeadvantage--a competitive advantage--to being upfront. Ifeverybody's agreeing on an idea, somebody's probablylying.
