As a leader, I often get asked about the specific things that can make or break one’s ability to lead effectively. Through my experiences, one characteristic stands out as the most crucial: honesty. Many leadership qualities are important, but honesty is absolutely the cornerstone without which effective leadership cannot stand.
I have seen leaders who may not be visionaries or who lack a great sense of humor. Yet, they can still command respect and loyalty. However, if a leader is known to be dishonest, their ability to lead crumbles instantly. People can forgive many things, but dishonesty isn’t one of them.
A Personal Experience with Dishonesty
Let me share a story that underscores this point. It’s a tough story because I lived it, but it’s also an important lesson. At 26, I held a responsible human resources position in a manufacturing environment. I was doing quite well and was well-respected in our organization. One morning, a young man—I use the term “young” because we were about the same age—knocked on my office door. He wanted to know if we had made a decision about a Scheduler position for which he—and several others—had interviewed.
The honest answer should have been, “Yes, we have made a decision, and unfortunately, you’re not it.” However, instead of being straightforward, I lied. I told him that we hadn’t made a decision yet, that we expected to make one in the next couple of weeks, and that he would be the first to know once we did. Those were three successive lies.
While I didn’t set out that morning intending to lie, the lies flowed easily. The young man, polite and understanding, thanked me and left. I wish I could say I was wracked with guilt immediately, but I wasn’t. It felt like just another part of my day until it caught up with me in the most public way possible.
Dishonesty inevitably exposed
Later that day, at a quarterly all-employee meeting, the plant manager opened the floor for questions. The very first question? “Have you all made a decision on that Scheduler’s position yet?” The young man I had lied to nudged his colleague, confident he knew the answer. However, the truth was starkly different. The plant manager confirmed that we had made the decision weeks ago. He even suggested announcing the successful candidate right then and there.
I felt a sinking feeling as 399 pairs of eyes were on the plant manager, but one pair of eyes—the young man I had lied to—was on me. Post-meeting, I rushed to him to apologize. He listened in silence, arms crossed, looking down at me. When I finished, he simply said, “Whatever,” and walked away. That single word—”whatever”—echoed in my mind.
For more helpful leadership ideas, check out our other blog posts!
Sign up for the blog and get a bonus gift!
The Non-Negotiable Element of Leadership
I spent a lot of time reflecting on that moment. The experience taught me an invaluable lesson: honesty is non-negotiable. If lying brought such discomfort and mistrust, it wasn’t worth it, and I resolved never to lie to an employee again.
Being honest doesn’t mean divulging every piece of information or giving answers that breach confidentiality. Sometimes, you need to say, “I can’t tell you.” Employees will understand and respect your boundaries if they know you are fundamentally honest.
Honesty is the key to leadership. If you strive to maintain honesty, you will succeed as a leader. Without it, the path only leads to heartache and mistrust. So, can you be honest? If you can, you’re well on your way to effective leadership. If not, it might be time to reconsider your role.
To have Phillip Van Hooser equip, encourage, and elevate your leaders… Call 270-619-1176 or Visit https://vanhooser.com/contact/
For a deeper understanding of the importance and impact of honesty in leadership, check out these resources:
