No I Did Not Cheat!
Have you ever had to utter these words?… To state your case and defend your character? What can be more important than to be trustworthy with our character intact?
No matter what temporary gratification or favour we may enjoy as a result of dishonesty we have to consider lasting consequences that may be honestly unfavourable.
The need for instant gratification in our modern society has made it all too easy to slip out the white lie to please others or to ease the pressure on ourselves. In doing so we implicitly accept deception as part of our culture. Honesty integrity and trustworthiness are supposedly highlyvalued character traits but what do these terms actually mean?
1. Honesty
To be honest is to “tell the truth”. It is simply conforming ‘words to reality’. Honesty is regarded as the best policy. It sets the recoed straight and allows the truth to be known and declared.
Honesty however is not the same as integrity. A thief can be honest… all he or she needs to do is ‘tell the truth’. We can agree that one is likely to be dishonest for fear of negative consequences. If the consequence if favourable honesty may be likely. Consider criminals who tell the truth for a lighter sentence.
On this point we need to also appreciate that ‘admission’ is not the same as ‘confession’. When one “confesses’ something they come forward and tell the truth. However when one “admits” something it’s usually because they have been caught out.
2. Integrity
To have integrity is to be true to our highest values. Unlike honesty integrity means to conform ‘reality to words’. Integrity is linked to the word ‘integrate’… and to live with integrity means integrating our thoughts actions speech and feelings into oneness. What you see is what you get; no duplicity.
To have integrity is to be true in the moment of challenge test and temptation. Our highest values mean little in declaration if it cannot be lived in combination with action.
On this point we must consider ‘acts of commission’ and ‘acts of ommission’. An ‘act of commission’ is when you do something that violated what you know you should do. An ‘act of ommission’ is one in which you don’t do something that you know you should. Equally this could be a violation to conscience ethics and law.
3. Trustworthiness
It has been said that to be trusted is greater than to be loved. To be trusted implies that you are trustworthy or ‘worthy of trust’.
It requires character “who you really are on the inside”. Too many consider their reputation first.
“Be more concerned with your character than you are with your reputation because your character is who you really are whilst your reputation is who others think you are” Anonymous
Stephen Covey author of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People teaches that trutworthiness is a combination of “character” and “competence”. One without the other does not merit trust.
Effective relationships are built on honesty integgrity and trustworthiness. These along with virtue once lost become difficult to regain. Repair restoration and a ‘second chance’ is however possible with self awareness change commitment and forgiveness: both by the perpetrator and the one who would grant the perpretrator that chance.
So business people officials politicians and ordinary people make mistakes? Yes! Can we all benefit from how we may better treat others? Yes! these principles are as important and timeless in tough times as they are when things are much better.
About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Anil Salick is the founder and managing member of Synergistic Outcomes established in 2003. He has been involved in training and development for the last 12 years and has functioned in facilitation marketing and sales consulting design and development management leadership and administration. He has designed developed and facilitated numerous learning programmes and interventions in small medium and large sized corporations as well as governments in South Africa Zambia Malawi Nigeria Namibia and Swaziland.Described as a great facilitator with patience wisdom humour wit understanding sincerity; Anil has the ability to challenge participants to grow and expand. His step by step sequential yet creative intellectual yet emotional facilitation equips delegates to develop space consciousnesses and awareness.Anil has a number of hobbies which include: fitness and gym; reading writing science spirituality personal growth fishing yoga helping others and making a difference. He is soon to launch his first book.Anil lives in sunny Durban South Africa. He is married to Nounouche the prettiest girl from the island of Madagascar and they have 3 children: Andrea Jashley and Tahj.For more information or to book Anil as a Motivational Speaker visit: www.anilsalick.com or www.synout.co.za or email Anil at anil.salicksynout.co.za
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