Four Reasons Why Leaders Lie

There are four reasons why people lie--four fundamental misunderstandings that lead to deception. There are four lies we tell ourselves before we share untruths with others. You’ll see these played out by leaders everywhere because these universal truths aren’t reserved for politicians or corporate raiders. 

  1. No One Will Ever Find Out – the foundational first lie. What we see played out in the news every day is the sound of outrage, when the lies are uncovered. Starting with you, and your conscience: Is discovery dangerous, for your latest initiative? When your job becomes a game of hide and seek, nobody really wins.\
  2. No One Will Get Hurt. It’s wise to remember the Hippocratic Oath (the oath sworn by all medical doctors): “Do no harm." Like the tree that falls in the forest, the undiscovered lie still makes a sound – because the liar always hears it. The lie behind the why is often "protection" - either protecting others or protecting yourself. Michael Flynn was trying to protect the President. Lance Armstrong just wanted to protect his reputation. Who are you protecting? And who will you harm?
  3. Playing to Win: the Ends Justify the Means. Corporate watchdogs don’t see everything, and auditors aren’t in every meeting.  Now that you’re in a position of authority, who’s watching you? Answer: YOU are.  Jerome Wade, a leading authority on executive fatigue, and author of Unleashed says that “The data never lies. Unless you lie about the data.” Playing to win really means playing by the rules because winning at all costs is a price you can't afford to pay.
  4. "You Can’t Handle the Truth!” As Jack Nicholson said in A Few Good Men: “you need me on that wall”. Is it the wall, or your ego, that is making you a liar? Often a lie begins when underestimating the people around you. Or your own communication skills. As a new leader, if you want to capture the hearts and minds of your team, don’t underestimate what they can and can’t handle - because that's a wall that no one wants to build. It’s your job to communicate effectively. Vulnerability is strength when offering an honest perspective that's based on mutual trust. Don't make a failed effort worse by failing to face the facts. After all, isn’t that kind of honesty what you expect from your team?

--Adapted from forbes.com

 

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