Leadership Thought #343 – Lying Almost Always Has Consequences
Lying eventually catches up with you.
There is a great saying, “If you don’t want to forget what you did, then always tell the truth.” I also like the familiar refrain, “The cover-up is often worse than the crime.” Honesty matters! If people feel they should regularly question what you are telling them, they won’t trust you. Many of our current (and past) political leaders must deal with this problem, which they created. All you need to do is turn on the TV, read a newspaper, or read a magazine, and there is ample evidence of individuals dealing with the consequences of being caught in a lie.
It isn’t easy to lead GOOD people if they don’t trust you. There are entire industries now that are held in low regard because of the painfully obvious dishonesty of leadership figures. It gets to the point where you feel the level of deceit and corruption is systemic. Once you embrace an “ends justify the means” mentality, it is a slippery slope, especially if your primary end objective is power and/or money. Everything comes at a cost. Are you willing to pay the price?
It is also helpful to avoid doing things that require lying. Never forget that behavior is a choice, even in difficult situations. If you find yourself being deceitful, it indicates that you don’t want scrutiny of your actions. We all know when we do something we shouldn’t. A person’s character should shine, not wither under the spotlight.
Eventually, any government, industry, company, organization, or system will undergo internal decay and collapse due to a lack of honesty and integrity. History is littered with examples of leaders who failed to grasp this fact. Actions always have consequences. More often than not, you reap what you sow individually or collectively.
Lastly, at a more micro level, in your personal or professional life, I’m sure you have seen the damage that dishonesty can create. The truth should never be optional. We are all human beings, and as such are imperfect and prone to error. We will make mistakes and have moments we aren’t proud of. However, when you stumble or fall, own up to what has happened rather than lie about it. Limit the damage as best you can. The sooner you embrace reality, the easier it is to fix the problem. The truth will set you free, or the lack of it will box you into a corner. I’ve known people who have held onto a significant lie for many years, and all it did was eat them up inside and make them bitter—guilt is a resilient emotion.
You should ask yourself, “Why are you lying, and what are the long-term consequences of not telling the truth?”
Related articles
- Some Thoughts About Lying and Trust (counselorcarmella.wordpress.com)
- Five Key Forces Behind The Pressure to be Dishonest (socyberty.com)
- When Leaders Lie — Bad Things Happen (forbes.com)
- Lies in a Mirror: An Essay on Evil and Deceit by Peter Charleton (oconnellpadd13.wordpress.com)
- Tangled webs and leaps of faith. (pollyannapapers.wordpress.com)
- The Myth of the Greater Good (libertyorequality.wordpress.com)
- Tired People Tell The Truth (capacity-building.com)
