Why You Should Always Tell the Truth in Business: The Importance of Trust in Business Relationships

By Helen Steel, Managing Director at Streamlion Consulting

Trust makes up nan halfway building blocks of each relationship, nevertheless this doesn’t extremity galore of america telling nan overseas achromatic lie. A study by Raja Group found that 69% of workers person lied successful nan workplace, pinch 47% saying they show up to 5 lies each moving day. Taking information from the Office of National Statistics, this is an estimated 22 cardinal UK workers who are deceiving colleagues and clients. But why do group lie? The reply tin vary, but lying to debar reward is believed to beryllium nan main logic why nan overseas dishonesty pops out. Further reasons could beryllium to protect yourself aliases others, aliases to impressment those astir you. Helen Steel from Streamlion Consulting, a Berkshire-based patient specialising successful SME backing and maturation strategies, knows conscionable really important it is to beryllium truthful successful business. Helen discusses really telling nan truth tin use an organisation and why you shouldn’t autumn into nan wont of telling achromatic lies.

When I was first starting retired connected my profession journey, studying an MSc successful Microbial Genetics astatine nan University of nan Witwatersrand successful South Africa, my professor gave maine a portion of proposal that has ever stuck pinch me. He said: “Always show personification nan truth, because they tin activity pinch nan truth and they tin make changes arsenic necessary. If you show them a lie, they person thing to activity with. They whitethorn beryllium upset pinch you primitively for telling nan truth, but by telling nan truth you person shown them respect.” 

My professor’s remark resonated pinch maine astatine a clip erstwhile I was uncovering my footing successful a portion clip occupation astatine a newspaper transportation company. Having been taken connected arsenic a Sunday girl, I sewage to study nan business and went connected to summation my hours. When nan opportunity to acquisition nan institution arose, I jumped astatine nan chance. It was evident that nan institution had been tally poorly and I was faced pinch dozens of angry customers who were demanding answers. My honorable handling of nan business turned these individuals into my champion supporters.

The “Meet, Know, Like, and Trust” principle 

Honesty is simply a strategical business imperative, not conscionable an ethical choice. As a business grows, truthful does their network. It is important that peers spot you and your organisation arsenic trustworthy. Author of Endless Referrals, Bob Burg, said: “All things being equal, group will do business with, and mention business to, those group they know, like and trust.” Once you position yourself arsenic an honorable individual, your estimation will flourish.

Meet: Authentic first impressions

First impressions are agelong lasting. From beingness quality to verbal and non-verbal communication, presenting yourself arsenic your existent aforesaid tin thief create genuine connections. First impressions person been shown to past for months and people tend to get attached to their first impressions of others. This intends it tin beryllium difficult to alteration their opinion, moreover erstwhile presented pinch conflicting evidence. Due to this, it is important to laic down truthful foundations. This is nan aforesaid successful assistance applications – dishonest clients will often beryllium recovered out. To champion win it is important to not discarded clip skipping astir nan truth.

In a activity situation it tin beryllium easy to create a different persona. This is particularly seen successful activity positions aliases erstwhile moving pinch colleagues. It is important not to autumn into this trap and enactment authentic. A study by Harvard Business Review recovered that 72% of group are authentic erstwhile astatine activity – pinch galore stating it takes an mean of 2 to 3 months for them to consciousness comfortable being themselves.

Know: Truth reveals nan existent you

People do business pinch real, relatable humans. Individuals put clip and effort successful group they cognize tin beryllium honest, whether this is astir monetary figures aliases individual judgements connected a presentation. Truth tin return nan shape of transparency, admitting mistakes, providing meticulous accusation and apologising erstwhile necessary.

When I came to return complete nan newspaper transportation institution astatine conscionable 19 I was faced pinch really angry subscribers who had faced mediocre work astatine nan hands of nan erstwhile owner. They demanded to cognize what I would beryllium doing differently. I was honorable and promised that I would ever show them what had happened, really I would resoluteness it and re-deliver their product. I apologied for mistakes my squad made and delivered exceptional customer service. As clip went on, nan angry customers became loyal supporters.

Like: Integrity is magnetic

Speaking nan truth tin return courage. It is not ever comfortable to show it really it is, and while this whitethorn beryllium difficult astatine first, integrity draws group in. American pedagogue and writer Stephen Covey said: “Trust is nan glue of life. It’s nan astir basal constituent successful effective communication. It’s nan instauration rule that holds each relationships.”

The English Dictionary defines Integrity arsenic “the value of being honorable and having beardown civilized principles”. It takes having nan courageousness to do what you consciousness is right, sloppy of who will cognize aliases see. Building a estimation of integrity takes years, but it takes only a 2nd to suffer it.

Trust: Makes for lasting business relationships

Trust tin beryllium built complete clip done consistent, honorable actions. Famous writer Zig Ziglar believes: “If group for illustration you, they’ll perceive to you, but if they spot you, they’ll do business pinch you.” This tin beryllium seen successful networking, pinch peers referring those they cognize they tin trust. Showing up and providing an authentic and reliable work tin build lasting narration and foster returning clients. This tin lead to accrued customer loyalty.

Honesty doesn’t mean sadistic bluntness

When we speak astir honesty, it is important to besides beryllium empathetic and discern unspoken messages to grasp nan situation. Toning down bluntness tin convey nan connection successful a much respectful and engaging way. 

I often must springiness honorable feedback to businesses looking for assistance funding. The difficult truth is that not each business is assistance worthy, and while this is thing nary entrepreneur wants to hear, it is important that I convey this to prevention them time, vexation and expense.

Reputation

Honesty tin thief a business found a affirmative estimation and differentiate itself from competitors. I person antecedently won a re-compete lucrative statement successful nan firm world by being honorable astir anterior transportation issues and making judge connection channels were ever unfastened for speedy action erstwhile needed.

The truth tin besides thief a institution internally. For instance, nan workforce whitethorn beryllium much engaged and motivated, which tin summation productivity and innovation. Businesses that prioritize honesty tin beryllium amended equipped to accommodate to changing marketplace conditions and upwind economical downturns. 

Helen Steel