Well, the truth is .
Well, if you really want me to tell you the truth .
If Im being honest .
Nattapong - stock.adobe.com
To tell you the truth .
How many times have you heard these phrases?
Probably too many times to count.
Its a fact of life that people lie.
Lies arent restricted to peoples personal lives, either.
Lying, likehypocrisy, happens often in the business world and sometimes makes headlines.
Two famous examples oflying in businessare the Enron and Theranos scandals.
In light of this reality, what are business owners to do?
Acknowledging that dishonesty exists.
It goes both ways.
Being more honest shouldnt equate to being mean.
But it should equate to being authentic in business matters.
Share the full extent of your thoughts usingconstructive criticism best practicesto guide you.
Theres weight in the saying, An ugly truth is better than a pretty lie, and its variations.
The Rolling Stone Culture Councilis an invitation-only community for Influencers, Innovators and Creatives.Do I qualify?
Its not enough to tell employees to be honest and to tell them that they shouldnt lie.
One common example Ive observed goes back tobig egos in business.
Fearing being reprimanded, employees learn over time that they have to conceal their true thoughts.
That lack of candor is to the detriment of the business.
Workplace policies are another reason why some employees might feel compelled to lie.
And with time, employees will likely become more honest.
However, that does not mean that people arent responsible for their actions.
Even if an environment encourages lying, lying is still a choice someone makes.
A business owner can create an environment that embraces and encourages honesty, and team members might still lie.
Creating a culture of honesty does not start and end with business owners.
Everyone has to do their part.
By answering that question, business owners can set expectations and boundaries for what they will and wont accept.
Lying wont disappear from our professional or personal lives.
But we can combat it through every choice we make.
