Introduction Withholding information is a very common tactic for leaders of any kind. From birth, many parents shield their children from the world to protect them. Since the Great War, governments have kept secrets “too dangerous” for their populations. Today, company leaders conceal information to shield their employees or their profits. Perhaps, Col. Jessup said it best in the cult classic A Few Good Men, “You can’t handle the truth.” It is a widespread practice, but what are the consequences? This paper will serve to evaluate the effects of varying levels of deception on organizations and their members with a focus on business leaders.
Transparency and False Narratives Transparency is a hot-button phrase in the world of business. Increasing …show more content…
In the coming sections, these three forms of lying will be further evaluated. The first to be examined is lying by omission. According to US Legal, “A lie of omission is an intentional failure to tell the truth in a situation requiring disclosure. An example could be a seller's failure to note a known defect on a real estate disclosure form.” Lying by omission is also known as “passive lying” or “lying without lying.” Lying by omission is commonly found in two places in the business environment. First, it is a favorite tool of advertisers. In many ad campaigns it has been the crux of the success. As seen on T.V. products have been guilty of this. Perhaps, everyone has regrettably purchased the kitchen gadget they saw on late night television believing they too would be able to cook like a samurai warrior. Only to find, the blade will rust in the dishwasher, and the vegetables must be boiled before the knife can begin to work. Advertisers create those informercials using a variety of techniques designed to deceive the viewer. They switch items, show unrealistic results, among other techniques. They are engaging in lying by omission. They are knowingly deceiving by presenting their item in a deceptive way. This leads to customer dissatisfaction and requires these companies to release fad product after fad …show more content…
It also happens to be the one most children are taught first. According to Dictionary.com, a lie is “a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive; an intentional untruth; a falsehood.” This also happens to be the form of lying that will get anyone from a business executive to a secretary in hot water. Even politicians have trouble escaping the consequences of lying by commission. A recent example of lying by commission has occurred in the Russian interference probe being conducted by Robert Mueller. He was tasked with leading a special prosecution to investigate the implications of Russia’s influence in the United States’ 2016 election. Recently, retired General Michael Flynn admitted guilty to previously lying to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In an earlier embarrassment for this administration, Flynn lied to Vice President Mike Pence about the matter who later defended him in public. As pressure mounted, the administration, to avoid further humiliation, revoked support and left Flynn to address his problem. Had Flynn told the truth, this whole situation would have gone differently for himself and the administration. This lie not only lead to criminal charges, but also hurt the confidence in the American people in the nascent administration. (Sullivan, Goldman,
Transparency and False Narratives Transparency is a hot-button phrase in the world of business. Increasing …show more content…
In the coming sections, these three forms of lying will be further evaluated. The first to be examined is lying by omission. According to US Legal, “A lie of omission is an intentional failure to tell the truth in a situation requiring disclosure. An example could be a seller's failure to note a known defect on a real estate disclosure form.” Lying by omission is also known as “passive lying” or “lying without lying.” Lying by omission is commonly found in two places in the business environment. First, it is a favorite tool of advertisers. In many ad campaigns it has been the crux of the success. As seen on T.V. products have been guilty of this. Perhaps, everyone has regrettably purchased the kitchen gadget they saw on late night television believing they too would be able to cook like a samurai warrior. Only to find, the blade will rust in the dishwasher, and the vegetables must be boiled before the knife can begin to work. Advertisers create those informercials using a variety of techniques designed to deceive the viewer. They switch items, show unrealistic results, among other techniques. They are engaging in lying by omission. They are knowingly deceiving by presenting their item in a deceptive way. This leads to customer dissatisfaction and requires these companies to release fad product after fad …show more content…
It also happens to be the one most children are taught first. According to Dictionary.com, a lie is “a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive; an intentional untruth; a falsehood.” This also happens to be the form of lying that will get anyone from a business executive to a secretary in hot water. Even politicians have trouble escaping the consequences of lying by commission. A recent example of lying by commission has occurred in the Russian interference probe being conducted by Robert Mueller. He was tasked with leading a special prosecution to investigate the implications of Russia’s influence in the United States’ 2016 election. Recently, retired General Michael Flynn admitted guilty to previously lying to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In an earlier embarrassment for this administration, Flynn lied to Vice President Mike Pence about the matter who later defended him in public. As pressure mounted, the administration, to avoid further humiliation, revoked support and left Flynn to address his problem. Had Flynn told the truth, this whole situation would have gone differently for himself and the administration. This lie not only lead to criminal charges, but also hurt the confidence in the American people in the nascent administration. (Sullivan, Goldman,