In today’s world, it’s hard to escape deception. If you listen to the news, scroll social media, see advertising or stream your favorite show, the likelihood that deception plays a role is high. Now, imagine a world where truthfulness was at the heart of all matters.
Truthfulness is the foundation of all human virtues. Without truthfulness, progress and success, in all the worlds of God, are impossible for any soul.
– ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Son of the Prophet-Founder of the Bahá’í Faith
Truthfulness and the Virtues ProjectTM
Virtues are the essence of who we are. They’re described in the world’s sacred traditions as the qualities of the Divine and the attributes of the human spirit. They’re the content of our character and the basis of genuine happiness.
The mission of The Virtues ProjectTM is to inspire the practice of virtues in everyday life by helping people of all cultures to discover the transformative power of these universal gifts of character. The virtues are spiritual life-skills that help us to live our best lives. As a Bahá’í, I also work to acquire these divine qualities because I believe we’ll need them in the life to come.
Why Truthfulness Matters
There’s little controversy that truthfulness is a virtue. It’s an excellence of character. Also, studies show what we all know intuitively — that truthfulness and its close cousin, honesty, promote trust, foster healthy relationships, strengthen organizations and societies, and prevent harm.
The study referred to by Psych highlights how honest behavior can lead to better outcomes in social interactions and institutions, reinforcing the importance of truthfulness in maintaining functional and cohesive communities.
Truthfulness is crucial because it:
- Demonstrates integrity
- Builds trust
- Leads to better solutions
- Creates stronger relationships
- Promotes personal growth
Leaders Facing the Truth: Two Examples
Let’s look at two leaders who face tough choices about being truthful. Samantha and Sam are both in charge of important projects at their companies. They’re good at their jobs, but sometimes things don’t go as planned.
When challenges arise, which is inevitable, they must decide: should they tell the whole truth or work to hide it? Their choices affect not just them, but their teams, their companies and their customers. Let’s see what happens when they’re put to the test and decide between honesty and skirting the truth.
Samantha’s Situation
- Problem: Her team missed a critical deadline.
- Choice: Be honest with the customer / stakeholder and be accountable or make excuses.
- Decision: Samantha chooses to be truthful and decides to explain the situation and what she plans to do next.
- Consequences:
- Short-term: Customer /stakeholder is disappointed and may even be angry.
- Long-term: Customer /stakeholder appreciates honesty; trust grows stronger.
Sam’s Situation
- Problem: Company financials aren’t meeting projections.
- Choice: Share accurate numbers with context or present inflated figures.
- Decision: Sam chooses to avoid the truth by presenting part of the picture, being overly generous when rounding the numbers and spinning the message to only focus on the positive.
- Consequences:
- Short-term: Stakeholders remain calm.
- Long-term: Stakeholders get angry, trust erodes, problems compound and solutions are delayed.
Worth noting: These two examples are completely hypothetical, and the names associated with each situation could easily be switched. In other words, there’s no implication that gender determines the decision when faced with similar situations and choices. Some choose the path of virtuous leadership while others choose a different path.
Three Ways to Demonstrate Truthfulness
Demonstrating truthfulness is simple; however, there are times when it’s not easy. In fact, there are instances when it’s extremely difficult, and it requires courage. At its core, those who demonstrate truthfulness have integrity and those who don’t lack it.
Be honest about mistakes:
- Be accountable and own up to errors quickly.
- Explain what happened and how you’ll fix it.
- Example: “I made a mistake on the budget. I’ll correct it and send an updated version. I’ve also taken steps to avoid the same mistake in the future.”
Communicate clearly and openly:
- Share accurate information regularly.
- Be transparent about challenges and successes.
- Example: “Our project is behind schedule, but here’s our plan to catch up.”
Keep your promises:
- Only commit to what you can deliver.
- Follow through on your word. If that’s not possible, then proactively inform those you’ve promised of the change as early as possible. At the same time, provide the new delivery date.
- Example: “I’ll have that report to you by Friday, as promised.” Alternatively, “We’re going to miss delivering the report on Friday as expected, so I wanted you to know as soon as possible. We expect to have the needed info to complete the report by Monday morning, so we’ll deliver the final report to you by Monday afternoon. Apologies for the delay!”
Benefits of Truthfulness
Why Bother Being Truthful? You might wonder, “Is being truthful really worth it?” After all, sometimes telling the truth can be hard or even get you in trouble.
Here’s the thing: If truthfulness was more universally embraced, many more leaders would behave differently and make better decisions for the benefit of humanity instead of serving their own self interests. More companies would implement programs and policies in line with a greater purpose. Rather than being only career-minded and calculating ways to achieve more power, politicians would more likely be reluctant leaders and humble servants of the community who elected them.
Beyond the greater good, truthfulness comes with some amazing benefits that make life better for you and everyone around you. When you’re honest, you’re not just doing the right thing – you’re setting yourself up for success in ways you might not expect. And let’s be honest here… people either know you’re not being truthful or will eventually find out.
Let’s look at some of the great things that happen when you choose to be truthful.
1. Increases Trust:
- People know they can rely on your words.
- Builds stronger relationships with team members and clients.
2. Demonstrates Integrity:
- Shows you have strong moral principles.
- Earns respect from others.
.
3. Leads to Better Solutions:
- Addressing real issues leads to effective problem-solving.
- Encourages open dialogue and creative thinking.
Additionally, there are Health Benefits of Truthfulness: A study published in Psychology Today conducted by Anita E. Kelly and Lijuan Wang found that being truthful can lead to significant health benefits. Participants who were instructed to tell the truth reported fewer physical ailments such as sore throats and headaches compared to those who were not given such instructions. This study highlights the potential physical health benefits associated with maintaining honesty in everyday life.
Honesty also helps reduce stress and improve personal integrity. By fostering a culture of truthfulness, individuals can become reliable and trustworthy, enhancing their relationships and societal bonds. The dedication to honesty motivates self-improvement and creates a stress-reduced life.
Helpful Tips for Truthful Communication
Being truthful sounds simple, but sometimes it can be tricky. What if you can’t share everything? What if you don’t know the answer? Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered!
There are ways to be honest even in tough situations. These tips will help you communicate truthfully without getting stuck or feeling bad. They’ll show you how to handle tricky moments while still being honest and respectful. Let’s explore some practical ways to make truthfulness work in your everyday life.
When you can’t be completely transparent, say:
“I can’t share all the details right now, but I’ll tell you more when I’m able.”
When you don’t know the answer, admit it, say,
“I’m not sure, but I’ll find out and get back to you by tomorrow.”
When delivering tough news, be direct but kind, say,
“I have some difficult news to share. May we talk about it now or would another time be better for you?”
Remember, truthfulness isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it. By being honest in our communication and leadership, we create a foundation for trust, progress and success in all areas of life.
Dealing with Untruthful People: What You Can Do
When you’re faced with someone who isn’t being truthful, it can be difficult, even complex. The good news is that you have lots of options. Here’s a list (in no particular order) of what you can do:
- Stay calm and listen carefully.
- Don’t jump to conclusions.
- Pay attention to their words and body language.
- Ask open-ended questions.
- Seek clarification: “Can you explain that again?”
- Request specifics: “When exactly did this happen?”
- Look for facts, pay particular attention to opinions presented as facts.
- Ask for evidence or proof.
- Check other sources if possible.
- Express your concerns / doubts.
- Use “I” statements: “I’m confused because…”
- Be respectful but firm.
- Set boundaries.
- Let them know honesty is important to you.
- Be clear about consequences of dishonesty.
- Seek help if needed.
- Talk to a trusted authority figure.
- Don’t handle serious lies alone.
See? You have lots of choices! Remember, your goal isn’t to catch someone in a lie, but to encourage honesty and build trust. Sometimes people aren’t truthful because they’re scared or want to avoid trouble, hurting your feelings or disappointing you. By staying calm and asking questions, you might help them feel safe enough to tell the truth.
If the person keeps being untruthful, it’s okay to step back from the situation or relationship. Your emotional and mental well-being matter too!
Navigating the News: Finding Truth in a Sea of Information
These days, it’s difficult to know what’s true in the news. Most stories are biased, exaggerated or even completely made up. This isn’t about politics – it’s a problem that affects all kinds of news. But don’t worry! There are ways to be a smart news consumer and find the truth.
Here are three strategies to help you make sure what you’re reading or watching is based on real – not alternative – facts:
1. Check multiple sources:
- Don’t rely on just one news outlet.
- Look for the same story on different websites or channels.
- If only one place is reporting something big, be skeptical!
2. Look for primary sources:
- Find out the original source of the information.
- Check if there are quotes from experts or official documents.
- Be careful of stories that only use unnamed sources.
3. Separate fact from opinion
- News should mostly state facts and events.
- Watch out for words that show feelings or judgments.
- If it sounds more like someone’s personal view, it might be an opinion piece… even if it’s presented as facts.
Worth remembering. It’s a good practice to question what you read or hear and investigate the truth for yourself. Being truthful means caring about getting the facts right, even when it’s not easy. By using these strategies, you’ll be better at spotting truthful news and avoiding misinformation.
Parting Thoughts
In this post, we’ve explored how truthfulness is more than just a good habit – it’s a powerful virtue that can transform our lives and our world. From building trust in leadership to navigating the complex landscape of news and information, being truthful creates a foundation for success in all areas of life.
As we’ve seen with Samantha and Sam, the choices we make about honesty can have far-reaching consequences. By embracing truthfulness, we not only demonstrate integrity but also pave the way for better solutions and stronger relationships. This aligns perfectly with the ideas shared in “The Whisper that Yearns to be a Roar,” which emphasizes the importance of virtuous leadership.
When we choose to be truthful, even in challenging situations, we’re aligning our actions with our words. In a world often clouded by deception, your commitment to truthfulness can be a beacon of light, inspiring others and creating positive change. Remember, every time you choose honesty, you’re helping to build a more trustworthy and transparent world for everyone.
Inspire on!