WHAT APPEARS TO BE
To tell the truth or not to tell the truth? If you don’t tell the truth in the court of law “you will pay the bill, the big bill,” my friend, Eziquiel, says.
When decisions are being made, when the “big boss” has their own agenda, are you willing to tell the truth? And what price do you have to pay when you don’t tell the truth?
What percentage of people do tell the truth in the workplace?
Here is the common lie…
WHAT MIGHT BE
“We can’t tell the truth here, because if you do, you will be haunted by your words,” shares one reader. Yet, as this person confesses, after not telling the truth, they then spend precious time lamenting to others the conditions they must endure, the circumstances they must work in, and the “what if” strategy of execution. In other words, they’re miserable.
This approach is illogical. And it’s worse than not telling the truth.
WHAT CAN BE
Here is the “Truth Telling Paradox”: If I tell the truth, there are potential consequences. If I don’t tell the truth, I live daily with consequences.
Isn’t it ironic? The consequences we create for ourselves are nearly as terrible as the consequences we imagine we’d have to endure if we told the truth. In addition, consider that we have not earned the right to complain about workplace injustices if we have not done anything about them, if we have not told the truth. If we don’t speak up and tell the truth we are agreeing with what’s being said.
It was Twain who said, “Always tell the truth; then you don’t have to remember anything.” Given all the things my work requires of me, telling the truth sounds like a bargain.
What is the difference between what “might be” and what “can be”? You decide.
I admire the brave soul who tackled this subject. I lie. There it is; it’s out. Sometimes I bend things to fit my argument. Especially when I know the person I’m debating is doing the same. The “what can be” is essential. I don’t see the people I bend things with that much. But I spend all day with me. I need to rememebr that.
Finally, we need to have the courage to be different here. People will get on us some here when the truth is out. But I need to man up and overcome it. I need to set an exapmple for myself; get a move on.
As is said – Dog’s don’t bark at parked cars.
Mike – your comments strike a chord. I especially appreciate “I need to set an example for myself.” If our ability to tell the truth is conditional on whether other people are telling the truth or not, than we’re a parked car, as you say. It is in our accountability to ourselves where we truly live our own values, isn’t it?
Thanks for standing with the tall guys –
Craig