On Truth and Honesty

When it comes to honesty, courage is required from both the teller AND the listener to hear the truth.

I am an honest person. It is part of my essence. It is who I am, almost like a personal brand. My brand promise — which is part of my underlying core values of integrity, authenticity and courage — is that I will always be honest. Without fail, and to the best of my ability.

But what I have come to realise — and it’s been a slow awakening — is that people need to earn my honesty. Like trust, honesty is not something I should give away freely or without thought. I’m not saying that I should lie. That is absolutely not something I would endorse. But honesty requires courage, both from the teller of truths and the listener. And not all people are brave enough to hear the truth. And not all people know what to do with the truth when it is presented to them.

In a time of universal deceit, truth is a revolutionary act. George Orwell

When you are honest, you put yourself on the line. But why put yourself on the line for people who would or could do you harm? I make an assumption based on my own values — and often incorrectly — that people are brave and authentic, and will act with integrity, courage and honour. That is not always the case, particularly in the workplace or in our personal relationships. Honesty is not an invincible armour, protecting the truth teller from barbs. Rather, it is the opposite. Honest people are easy targets.

The truth will set us free, we are told. However, the truths we tell are often bullets that less unscrupulous people use to finish us off. These people fire our words back at us, twist them for their own purposes, and imprison us with them. Mark Twain said: “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything”. Of course, but this does not address the inherent risks of being honest — and telling truth, especially to power. I am more of an Orwell kind of girl: telling the truth is a revolutionary act.

I would always urge honesty. But do so, knowing what the consequences are. Weigh the pros and cons carefully. And consider who should hear your truths, because once they are heard, they should not be ignored. First and foremost, honesty — both telling and hearing — requires courage.

And some people are just not cut out for honesty, let alone the truth.