At times, honesty in the workplace can be better in theory than in practice. Employees sometimes avoid voicing opinions, disappointments, frustrations, or general ideas to modify or change the company’s operating procedures. Instead, these opinions and ideas may progress through the office environment in a series of conversations with other employees, forms of gossip, or underlying internal frustration. When this happens, the problem has no viable outlet to be fixed or solved. If companies really want to evolve and grow, they must be open to hearing the truth from employees, even if it is brutally honest, as it is an important step toward building integrity in the workplace.

Creating an atmosphere of honesty also fosters an environment for self-accountability and responsibility. In an article by Jayme Check in Business Week, he states, “[these] comments are brutally honest, wonderfully refreshing – and necessary.”  Check’s article focuses on the overhaul of a company whose new CEO voiced the shortcomings of company performance and the commitment to change what was not working. It was shocking to hear some of the brutally honest realities of their company’s flaws, but it also empowered employees to step up and fix the problems. The more transparent the work environment, the happier the employees are. The happier employees are, the more productive they are. Ultimately, honesty builds trust in the company and confidence in leadership. Voicing the truth enables all of us to identify the issue and work as a team to better it.

Tips to Foster Honesty in the Workplace

Here are five tips we found help to build honesty at the office:

1. Leave the judgment at the door. It is important to give each other the freedom to be honest, even if we don’t agree with their assessment. Making employees feel that their opinion is judged will not foster an environment where they feel open to expressing their ideas and concerns. Nonjudgmental and authentic listening is one of the best tools for fostering honesty in relationships. Giving another person the attention and space needed to communicate will go a long way toward opening dialog.

2. Clear the Pipes. At the end of a team meeting in our office, we conclude the portion with a "clear the pipes section." This gives members of the team an opportunity to voice opinions and frustrations or just to get some things off their chest. It bonds the team because we know that we can express ourselves to our colleagues. We have also found that unresolved conflicts — when the pipes aren’t cleared — tend to simmer, leading to more conflict in the future. Therefore, exercising courage in this area pays big dividends for team mojo.

3. Implementation is Key. It is important that you don’t just give people an outlet or a forum to express their opinions, but you actually DO something about them. If employees see that their opinions and thoughts matter, and leadership and staff take the steps to improve or implement their ideas, they will be empowered. Empowered employees perform above and beyond and feel a strong sense of loyalty to their company.

4. Hold Employees Responsible. If an employee wants to voice an opinion, be it good or bad, they need to back up their opinions with facts and substance. Griping just to gripe does not get anyone anywhere. Employees should be prepared to offer solutions to the issues they see. If they can’t help find the solution, then they certainly can’t express what needs to be changed. While everyone needs to vent from time to time, a complaint without a solution isn't all that helpful — and it puts the onus on someone else to solve the complaint.

5. Communicate the Positive AND the Negative. At the end of the day, there will always be things that need improvement, but there are also many things that have been done well. That voice should always be heard from employees and leadership. Whether through an e-mail, newsletter, or quarterly staff meeting, everyone should say what they think is working and perhaps what is not. It's essential to focus on the positive and acknowledge the negative. Communication is the most important way to foster this honest environment.

Read our post, Radical Candor - Honesty at the Office for more tips on providing effective employee feedback.  \

Over time, focusing on fostering honesty in the workplace can massively impact your team and the entire company in a positive way. Not only does this practice contribute to the mental health and well-being of all employees, but it also helps build strong, trusting workplace relationships. Together, this can help create a more productive, innovative, and positive work environment, leading to long-term success and a competitive edge in the market.

Is it possible to have too much honesty? Legal implications of honesty in the workplace.

While honesty may be the best policy, it can create risks of legal entanglements. For example, a direct statement communicated to third parties can result in a claim for defamation, libel, or disparagement by the person who is the subject of the statement. Often, such claims involve allegations that a statement injured the plaintiff or their reputation. Generally, truth is a defense to such claims. Keeping honest feedback private so it is not communicated with others is one of the best ways to avoid claims.

Other types of legal issues resulting from speech can include false advertising, negligent misrepresentation, impersonation, fraud, misappropriation, online privacy, and professional negligence claims. If you are in doubt about how to best handle a statement, it’s best to check with legal counsel first. With the rise of social media, careless comments and statements can accidentally be published to millions of people in a single click.

Final Thoughts on Honesty in the Workplace

Let's be honest about being honest: a company-wide commitment to honesty at the office is hard. This requires a great deal of courage and sensitivity to discuss issues that may be uncomfortable. Responsibility for this must start at the top with the leadership team. As discussed above and as we have experienced, the payoff for this type of culture is tremendous.

For more on corporate culture and values-based business, read our posts, What Makes an Ideal Work Environment and Advantages of a Values Based Business.

Our ideate blog is a discussion of law firm culture and legal innovation, including topics such as effective leadership, employee engagement, workplace culture, ideal work environment, company core values, and workplace productivity.  

About the Firm:

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