Honesty is rarely talked about in the classroom because it is expected to be practiced and is something most people rarely think about. In a world that is saturated with dishonesty and people doing anything and everything to get ahead, it is important that the employer have an honest relationship with an employee. Lack of honesty can lead to lost credibility and confidence in management by the employee. Dr. Mary Lippitt has noted that the management team is human and wants to be liked by their employees. This often leads to the credibility gap that is found in many companies.
Many employees feel the loss of credibility and trust in their employers.
Lippitt, who is President of Enterprise Management, Ltd., a consulting firm, encourages executives to make every effort to be honest with their employees, even when the executives are uncertain of the company s future. Jim Cuglewski, of Cuglewski, Timko and Associates, believes leading by example everyday is the best approach. Charlotte Beers, a Chairman at Ogilivy and Mather, believes that it is easier for women to be the truth-tellers in management. She says that women are not trained in business talk and can be more blunt and bold, as opposed to men who have been trained to be more discreet. Respect is considered necessary for a happy, productive work force.