It’s the foundation of our business. When it comes to professional communications, honesty truly is the best policy. Telling the truth about anything in business — your product, a supply problem, an internal structure shift, a marketing claim — sends consistent messages about your brand, creates a positive and trusting relationship with your audience and enhances your corporate reputation – especially if you’re known for righting your wrongs.
The same holds true for personal and workplace communications, on issues big or small. Office conflict, a quarrel with a friend or family strife can all better be resolved with respectful, truthful communications that directly engage the individuals involved. Because when you talk to someone instead of about someone, the results are always better.
So if truth is such a powerful tool, why do we hesitate to use it?
Fear. The other F word. 
We’re afraid that if we tell the truth in a difficult situation then we risk not being understood, admired or respected. We’re afraid of losing friends, of losing face, or just afraid of losing. Some folks are so afraid of not “being right” that they forget to do the right thing.
Companies and organizations are no different. Everyone wants to be liked. The irony is that when individuals or organizations are caught erring on “truthiness” (thanks Stephen Colbert) or telling an outright lie, then the affection and admiration they hope to preserve evaporates in a cloud of mistrust. If you’re afraid of your own truth, then you definitely have a problem.
Along with fear of admitting our mistakes, we humans also have a fear of change. (Doesn’t anyone read Darwin anymore? Apparently change is good.) Every change we encounter results in things being different, and different can be scary. Even when the need for change is obvious, when the status quo isn’t delivering the results you need, it can still be difficult for organizations, workforces and stakeholders to embrace change. But a truth-based organization will realize that holding onto the status quo is only holding back new and positive opportunities that honesty will help you discover.
Fear is also shows up when a situation makes us feel vulnerable. Vulnerability has been interpreted as a weakness in our culture but the tide is turning. Being vulnerable allows us to be real, true and honest. In times of conflict or crisis, our steely confident exteriors may need to be peeled away to allow for an authentic and sincere truth to be told. It’s a characteristic that people are respecting more and more as we move away from the model of the soulless corporation. Vulnerability allows for the compassionate corporation to take its place.
Living and speaking our truth becomes a lot easier once we realize that change is inevitable, everyone is vulnerable and the respect and admiration that we desire are earned through actions that are respectful and admirable.
Kick fear to the curb. Live your truth. Amazing things will happen.
– Mo Douglas
