Why Is Honesty Important?

A seemingly strange question in the realm of writing…but vital.  Just a few days ago, in a meeting with two producers I’m working with, they needed to communicate something to me: helping me calibrate my presentation for a pitch today.

They hmmmed and hawed and finally spoke their minds…it was clear that it was difficult for them, embarrassing, even.   The problem was that they didn’t know how I would react to criticism.  It was VITAL that I hear what they had to say, and yet, obviously, similar discussions with others in the past had been disastrous.

I sat, and listened.  It wasn’t comfortable.  But my commitment is to the work. To actually producing the results in my career and life that I crave.  The discomfort was irrelevant.  I was able to respond to them swiftly, to get their input and (hopefully!) improve the quality of my presentation just a few hours from now.

The fact is that direct communication in any arena of life is rare.  People are so incredibly confused about who they are, what they want, what is important.  Note that the “communication” chakra (5th) is right between mind and heart.  This should suggest something about its proper usage, and I leave that as your own thought experiment:  How does communication reconcile head and heart?  Why is it important? 

Why is lying so damaging to relationships?  Why and how does it damage the individual?  These are all questions that impact us in our personal as well as business lives…and are potential fodder for countless stories and books. 

But first, your opinion.  Why is it important that we be honest?