Being Honest

"An honest answer is the sign of true friendship." -Proverb

Maybe someone asks, "How are you?" and, instinctively, you say, "Fine." Or someone asks, "What's new?" and you automatically respond, "Not much." Or someone asks your opinion, and you gloss over what you really think to avoid making waves.

I suspect we do this because we don't want to burden people with what's really on our minds, open ourselves up to judgment, or somehow upset them.

This happens to me with all kinds of people I come into contact with, from fellow employees to clients.

It can be scary to speak what's really on your mind, particularly if you need some guidance and feel vulnerable admitting that you don't have everything figured out. The truth is, no one does. Sometimes we all need to lean on each other--and that only works if we're all willing to be honest.

We do have many clients that I am not afraid to be honest with and I guess that comfort level is a sign of true friendship. I have one client in mind that is an engineer (you know, a geek) and we are very honest with each other; we let each other know when we are getting too detailed and make fun of each other for it. In these cases I think an honest answer is a sign of true friendship.

How could your world be better if you were more honest, both with yourself and with others?

~Tony Schroeder