Inspiring Your Authentic Week

Posted: 05 Jul 2010 12:12 AM PDT

Honesty and truth are slippery concepts. Honesty is subjective, whereas "the truth" seems more objective, like "facts".

"The truth" can be established, more or less, by an examination of the facts, whether someone is being honest or not is often much harder to tell.

When we prefix "to be honest" to a sentence, is there an implication that we are less honest when we do not?

There is a trend towards higher standards of honesty. More and more of us are prepared to think hard about what we say and do in order to hold ourselves to a "painfully honest" standard of personal integrity.

More and more we avoid the lazy convenience of saying what we think others want to hear or of saying the socially acceptable norm.

Through challenging ourselves to be honest in all things we learn and develop. Lazy dishonesty is the enemy of evolution.

On the world stage the internet enforces a previously unknown level of transparency that requires far greater honesty of institutions, businesses and individuals. The casual coverup is a far less realistic option in most cases.

As scientists involved in the "climategate" scandal have discovered the truth is liberating, empowering and, more and more often, inevitable.

How would it be if everyone had the courage and the skill to be fully honest?

There is a myth that honesty is "brutal" but this is where the skill comes in. Careless and unskillful honesty may appear brutal, but is dishonesty really less brutal?

We learn to lie as children, our immature brains are unable to comprehend the bigger picture and our cognitive and language skills inadequate for the challenge. Dishonesty in adults is immature and intellectually lazy.

The great skill of honesty is to tell the truth, however painful it may appear, in a loving, supportive and caring way. It is fear based thinking that generates dishonesty and love based thinking that creates honesty.

The first step on the journey of honesty is learning to be honest with yourself. Starting by coming clean with yourself about your past and then allowing some objectivity to challenge your beliefs and the stories you tell about yourself.

The second step is to take the time and the care to tell the truth to others.

At this time of supreme challenge our ability to tell the truth and to move beyond fear, is one of the key determinants of our future. If we can find the skill and the courage to be honest, we can also find peace and sustainability. It is our choice.

Are you prepared to be an honest leader? To bring truth and integrity to your organisation. To create whole hearted alignment and to create a positive and sustainable future for your family, your business or your society?

If you would like to find out more about authentic leadership please visit the dedicated Authentic Leadership microsite and lets have a chat.

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With love

nx

Neil Crofts
Neil Crofts
authentic business

+34 646391384
neil@neilcrofts.com
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