Political Dilemmas at Work: How to Maintain Your Integrity and Further Your Career

Analyze the Nature of the Spin and What Lies behind It

Most people would prefer to be honest than tell a lie, but what about the gray areas in between? What if you are exaggerating the truth? What if the spin is intended to protect people from an uncomfortable truth? In between the extremes of lies and truth is a gray area, and this is a difficult place for you to operate in when it comes to career success.

When you are asked to mislead and spin, one of the first things you need to determine is exactly what you are being asked to do. Understanding the underlying reasons for the request is critical in determining what action to take. If you are being asked to intentionally mislead about the real figures that your business has produced, this will have major implications later. Misrepresenting in this manner is a serious matter that could land you in jail, as many executives have discovered. However, if you are being asked to exaggerate the truth a little, the consequences might be less severe.

Most of us have told a well-intentioned lie at some time. How many husbands are guilty of lying when asked, “Do I look fat in this?” Before you perform an act of deception, you may consider the size of the lie, the benefits you will gain, and the longer-term consequences—yes, including the risk of being caught! The need for you to ask these questions is important in this dilemma because of the consequences and impact to your career. One advantage of the truth is that you don’t ...