Most of you must have heard this sentence;
“Honesty is the best policy”
I totally vouch for it.
But let’s dig a li’l bit deeper.
Are we all honest?
What if someone asks you; “How are you?”
And what if you have just finished an awful day at your work/school/office?
Would you say;
Well you know my boss yelled at me today; so I am really pissed off and then the janitor did not clean my office so I yelled at him for almost half an hour and to top it all my donuts were stale! So I am not feeling anywhere near good! Thank you.
Or would you smile and say I am fine thank you!
I know no people who would chose the first one; and I know you are not one of them either.
So are you being deceitful or dishonest; when you are saying that you are fine?
No you are not! You are being flexible with your honesty; which also happens to be your greatest asset as a leader! Flexible Honesty!
To be more clear take this example;
What if your subordinate is working day in and day out to complete the project you gave him but at the end of the deadline he isn’t able to complete it.
What would be your reaction?
Mr. A ~ “You could not complete on small project in spite of working your ass out on it; you are incapable as hell! I am giving this project to Mr. X.
Mr. B ~ “I really appreciate the amount of hard work you have put into this project but I am afraid to say that as of yet it is not that impressive but I am sure with a little more time and some help from Mr. X you would be able to finish it just fine.”
What is the difference between the two reactions?
Was it just some re- arrangement of words?
None of the above statements is deceitful or dishonest both are perfectly correct and true.
What is so impressive about the second statement?
It’s the flexibility; it’s the manner of speaking; it’s revealing of the truth in a concealed way.
It’s flexible honesty.
A small rearrangement of words has made all the difference in the world.
It has won the person B the respect of the subordinate.
Person B has stamped his authority as a leader.
Person B is going to get his work done; without losing his subordinate.
And as I said it has made all the difference in the world.
Copyright © 2010 Ishaan Kumbkarni for The Success Corporation.




