Honesty is the first chapter of the book of wisdom. ~Thomas Jefferson
12 TRUTHS ABOUT LYING by Michael Josephson
In business and in our personal lives we seek people we can trust. Dishonesty, particularly lying, is the most prominent way to prevent or destroy trust. Here are 12 don’t-forget rules about lying:
12 Truths About Lying
1. Honesty may not always pay, but lying always costs. 2. Trust is a tower, built stone by stone, lies take stones from the bottom.
Importance of Trust and the Insidiousness of Lying in Business and Life
Reputation, trust and credibility are assets no organization can afford to lose and the surest way to lose them is to lie. Honesty may not always pay, but lying always costs.
Ethics and Intentions
During the Watergate probe, the question continually asked was, “What did President Nixon know and when did he know it?” Our judgment of his behavior depends on the answer to those questions. The more he knew and the earlier he knew it, the worse it was. The Iran-Contra investigation of the decision to sell arms to Iran and use the proceeds …
Honesty in Conduct
Honesty is the bedrock of trust and trustworthiness. The moral command to be honest requires us to speak and act only in ways that engender and justify trust. That seems simple enough. But honesty is a broader concept than some realize. An honest person tells the truth, is sincere, doesn’t deceive, mislead, act devious or tricky, doesn’t betray a trust, …
12 Ethical Principles for Business Executives
Ethical values, translated into active language establishing standards or rules describing the kind of behavior an ethical person should and should not engage in, are ethical principles. The following list
Accountability
Ambrose Pierce, a nineteenth-century humorist, defined responsibility, as “A detachable burden easily shifted to the shoulders of God, Fate, Fortune, Luck or one’s neighbor. In the days of astrology it was customary to unload it upon a star.” Being accountable means accepting responsibility for who we are, and for our character, personalities, attitudes, and weaknesses. Even for our happiness. The …