Lying Leads to Unhealthy Relationships within the Company
15 June 2011
Read by 1437 persons
Untruth, counter-truth, half-truth: lies can take many forms. Lying to save time is one of the most common forms of lying in business.
The more efficiently a company manages its internal and external communication, the more it implements a governance model based on transparency and the less room there is for lies or rumors. Conversely, the worse the communication management, the more lies take root. Mohcine Ayouche, CEO of the BMH Coach firm, sheds some light on this phenomenon at work.
How do you analyze lying in the workplace?
Before discussing this issue, it's important to talk about the process of information circulation within companies. The more efficiently a company manages its internal and external communication, the more it implements a governance model based on transparency and the less room there is for lies or rumors. Conversely, the worse the communication management, the lack of vision and values, the more bad behaviors will become the rule.
Therefore, lies can manifest as untruth, counter-truth, or half-truth. This leads to unhealthy relationships within the company, whether at the level of employees, shareholders, clients, suppliers...and even the State. Ultimately, it is the company culture that is held hostage.
What are the most common types of lies?
In the business world, the most recurring lies concern the organization. For example, many companies work with dashboards that only represent a very partial view of reality. Figures are manipulated to hide certain shortcomings. The same is true for remuneration systems where many companies are not transparent. Lies can also go as far as false promises. Lying to save time is one of the most common forms of managerial lying.
For example, a superior who has not relayed a subordinate's request for a raise or promotion to senior management. For a multitude of reasons, good or bad, the superior often finds subterfuges such as: "It's not yet time to talk to management." There is also information retention which can be a form of lying. It allows those in possession to preserve their knowledge, and at least to have an ascendancy over their subordinates, sometimes more intelligent or more competent than them... In fact, it is largely practiced by those who fear for their position.
At the employee level, lying is also very present. People lie to avoid potential problems at work. If they resort to lying, it is to protect themselves from certain sanctions or certain realities that are harmful.
What are the worst lies you've had to deal with?
As a former manager in a textile company, employees used to tell me that a relative was ill when they wanted to take time off. As this population is very volatile in the sector, they often mentioned this constraint to go look for work elsewhere.
There was also the misadventure of a manager of a large BTP company who discovered, a few years ago, that he was not declared to the CNSS. His boss had always hidden it from him until the day when, being ill, he needed to be taken care of for a major surgical operation.
What are the consequences of such acts on the organization?
For the company, the consequences are numerous: lack of trust, demotivation, mistrust of partners, loss of customers, loss of top talent, but also loss of credibility. You may gain in the short term, but it's a loss in the long term in terms of relationships, efficiency...
How should a manager handle liars?
The manager's behavior must be assertive in the sense that he fulfills his function without resorting to any subterfuge. A priori, this attitude is not always natural in humans. Faced with a delicate situation, he is more inclined to avoid confrontation, manipulate the interlocutor or show aggression.
These three postures are sources of time wasted, therefore counterproductive. Ideally, one should be as assertive as possible. According to specialists in the field, a single person adopting this approach can trigger a positive dynamic in a group. This attitude is important in all life situations. And to limit ourselves to the business world, we can say that it is essential for both management and other members. Often, under the pretext of sparing the interlocutor or because one fears their reaction, many are tempted to take refuge behind empty promises. This is the case in our environment where the notions of "inchallah", "I'll do it"... hide a refusal not openly expressed. This attitude is quite contrary to what is seen in some organizations where the culture of no is easily acceptable.
Do you accept lying?
Never! Because beyond the hidden fact, it is the biased relational mode that is established that will bother me. The problem will become more serious when lying becomes recurrent.
Brahim Habriche.
Published June 15, 2011
Posted online June 15, 2011
lavieeco.com
The more efficiently a company manages its internal and external communication, the more it implements a governance model based on transparency and the less room there is for lies or rumors. Conversely, the worse the communication management, the more lies take root. Mohcine Ayouche, CEO of the BMH Coach firm, sheds some light on this phenomenon at work.
How do you analyze lying in the workplace?
Before discussing this issue, it's important to talk about the process of information circulation within companies. The more efficiently a company manages its internal and external communication, the more it implements a governance model based on transparency and the less room there is for lies or rumors. Conversely, the worse the communication management, the lack of vision and values, the more bad behaviors will become the rule.
Therefore, lies can manifest as untruth, counter-truth, or half-truth. This leads to unhealthy relationships within the company, whether at the level of employees, shareholders, clients, suppliers...and even the State. Ultimately, it is the company culture that is held hostage.
What are the most common types of lies?
In the business world, the most recurring lies concern the organization. For example, many companies work with dashboards that only represent a very partial view of reality. Figures are manipulated to hide certain shortcomings. The same is true for remuneration systems where many companies are not transparent. Lies can also go as far as false promises. Lying to save time is one of the most common forms of managerial lying.
For example, a superior who has not relayed a subordinate's request for a raise or promotion to senior management. For a multitude of reasons, good or bad, the superior often finds subterfuges such as: "It's not yet time to talk to management." There is also information retention which can be a form of lying. It allows those in possession to preserve their knowledge, and at least to have an ascendancy over their subordinates, sometimes more intelligent or more competent than them... In fact, it is largely practiced by those who fear for their position.
At the employee level, lying is also very present. People lie to avoid potential problems at work. If they resort to lying, it is to protect themselves from certain sanctions or certain realities that are harmful.
What are the worst lies you've had to deal with?
As a former manager in a textile company, employees used to tell me that a relative was ill when they wanted to take time off. As this population is very volatile in the sector, they often mentioned this constraint to go look for work elsewhere.
There was also the misadventure of a manager of a large BTP company who discovered, a few years ago, that he was not declared to the CNSS. His boss had always hidden it from him until the day when, being ill, he needed to be taken care of for a major surgical operation.
What are the consequences of such acts on the organization?
For the company, the consequences are numerous: lack of trust, demotivation, mistrust of partners, loss of customers, loss of top talent, but also loss of credibility. You may gain in the short term, but it's a loss in the long term in terms of relationships, efficiency...
How should a manager handle liars?
The manager's behavior must be assertive in the sense that he fulfills his function without resorting to any subterfuge. A priori, this attitude is not always natural in humans. Faced with a delicate situation, he is more inclined to avoid confrontation, manipulate the interlocutor or show aggression.
These three postures are sources of time wasted, therefore counterproductive. Ideally, one should be as assertive as possible. According to specialists in the field, a single person adopting this approach can trigger a positive dynamic in a group. This attitude is important in all life situations. And to limit ourselves to the business world, we can say that it is essential for both management and other members. Often, under the pretext of sparing the interlocutor or because one fears their reaction, many are tempted to take refuge behind empty promises. This is the case in our environment where the notions of "inchallah", "I'll do it"... hide a refusal not openly expressed. This attitude is quite contrary to what is seen in some organizations where the culture of no is easily acceptable.
Do you accept lying?
Never! Because beyond the hidden fact, it is the biased relational mode that is established that will bother me. The problem will become more serious when lying becomes recurrent.
Brahim Habriche.
Published June 15, 2011
Posted online June 15, 2011
lavieeco.com
