Honesty is so refreshing, isn't it? I was recently at a restaurant with my daughter, and we had something so interesting happen that it's worth sharing. While looking over the menu items, we both wanted to order meals on the healthier side. When the server stopped to take our order, she quickly deducted, by our conversation and menu orders, that we were trying to be healthy. She mentioned to us, very confidently, that if we want a lower calorie and lower fat meal, the turkey burger is not a good choice. She told us that she found out that it is injected with fat for flavor, which triples the calories and puts the fat content at a very high percentage. How refreshing to know the truth!  And, how she did this was in a caring and informative manner and not in a way to slam the restaurant. 

In today's corporate world, it can be difficult to maintain an atmosphere that fosters truth and integrity. For example, sales employees can get caught up in competitive selling at the expense of honest behavior. Also, companies that keep their workforce too lean risk over-worked employees who may cut corners on established standards, which tests their honesty and morality. Like everything else in a structured organization, this too falls under the "trickle down syndrome." If honesty is valued at the top, it will be valued at the bottom. Leadership must work together to reward, encourage, model, and display honesty at every level of a company's structure. Consider where your organization or office falls with the list below. 

• Keep it simple and consistent, at staff meetings or conference calls with team members to ensure that everyone feels the freedom to comment and insert their ideas. Also, make it apparent that their ideas are received with respect and consideration.  Always take the time to listen to employees' concerns and ideas. Keep your workplace playful and full of laughter. Laughter brings an element of relaxation and unity between the team. And the most important action, is to model the behavior you wish to see in your organization. 
• Keep it comfortable. When employees feel the comfort and have the courage to open up to others in the workplace, you will see more of their intimate self. When one person is honest, others will join the flow, and the workplace will function with more ease, determination, and humility. Honesty breads more honesty, so when one of your team members finds himself at a crossroad between an honest decision or a decision that is clearly shady and does not benefit the greater goal, provide a safe environment where choosing the right path is a no brainier. Consequences from an honest decision are far easier to deal with than the decision that is self serving and dishonest. 
• Keep it understandable and clear that there is an expectation with professional honesty, or "proper honesty," within the company. Honesty is not simply a matter of not lying; you may at times need to disclose information which has not been requested directly, and which in some cases people may not want to hear. You may need to make a judgment about what you are required to do in order to satisfy the principle of professional honesty. 

As you evaluate your own organization or team, ask yourself if the moral compass is pointed in the direction you need it to be. If you have challenges in this area, we can help.