Honesty In Business: Truthfulness And Fair Play

Table Of Contents
1. Meaning Of Truthfulness
2. Attribute Of Truthfulness
3. Factors That Cause People To Lie
4. Reward Of Being Truthful
5. The Consequences Of Not Being Truthful
6. The Meaning Of Fair Play.
7. Attributes Involved In Fair Play
Meaning Of Truthfulness
Truthfulness is an attribute which makes a person to be honest, trustworthy and upright in dealing with others. It makes a person to be relied upon. Therefore, it is an attribute which makes a business man to be dependable and trust worthy. It attracts patronage to business.
Attributes Of Truthfulness
1. Integrity:
Integrity refers to one having strong moral principle. A man or woman of integrity would not cheat others or take undue advantage of people. Integrity would not permit abuse of office, bribery and corruption, cheating and profiteering.
2. Consistency:
Consistency is an attitude of being straightforward and living up to the expectation of others. It makes a person to do things in the right way always. Consistency also compels a person to comply or keep agreements or deals.
3. Steadfastness:
This involve being loyal or firm in purpose. Not changing character or objective because of little advantage to be gained. Steadfastness makes one to stand for what is just and fair.
4. Faithfulness:
This involves being true and devoted in the performance of duties. It also involves the fulfillment of promises and or obligations no matter what new development that arisen in a matter. To keep faith in a deal or agreement is an importance attribute in business.
5. Love:
Love is an importance attribute of truthfulness. Love creates affection and goodwill among people. This makes them to care for one another. It also make them to be honest and sincere in their dealings.
6. Dialogue:
This is a readiness to discuss issues that can create problems. It is an importance attribute which encourages openness and fair play. A truthful person is sincere and open to solving problems through dialogue.
7. Honesty:
This is truthfulness. It is one being frank and sincere to one’s dealings. An honest person don’t not steal or cheat or tell lies.
The above attributes are needed and are important in the life of a businessman. They make for high patronage which brings about growth and success of the business.
Factors That Cause People To Lie
Lying is a negative attribute of a person which makes him/her to deceive others or mislead them through falsehood or false statements or misinformation. Lies can be destructive because they can be destructive because they can lead people to commit crime or take actions that can be costly and unnecessary. Lies can destroy good or mutual relationship among people. The following are factors that can make people to tell lies:
1. Habit:
People of bad morals tell lies easily and most times, they don’t realize it. That is, they lie unconsciously. Lying becomes pathological or in born in them.
2. Peer Influence:
Some people, especially the young ones are influenced by the behaviour of their friends and mates. Such persons learn to tell lies from the bad playmates and associates.
3. Pride/Ego:
People may tell lies to hide wrong doings, to maintain or protect their ego or pride. They feel humiliated if the truth is known.
4. Some persons tell lies to escape punishment for wrong doing.
5. Some children tell lies to win parents favour. They do so to sustain the love of parents and friends.
6. Feeling Overwhelmed By Guilt:
Sense of guilt makes one ashamed and prone to telling lies to escape condemnation.
7. To Gain Advantage In A Transaction:
People tell lies to get the upper hand in a transaction, to make more and undeserved gain or profit. They lie to cheat others.
8. To Blackmail Or Put Others To Ridicule:
Some say things which are not true against others, to bring them down or to break their relationship with other persons.
Reward Of Being Truthful
Truthfulness is founded in excellent virtues. It rewards greatly, whether in private, personal life or public business life.
The reward of truthfulness includes:
1. It elevates an individual’s esteem.
2. It makes one to be respected within his/her circle.
3. It make one to be loved and accepted by the people.
4. It makes a person to be trusted by neighbours, peer members and associates. It is a basic for recognition in the family, school, church or the community. Persons who are truthful are given positions of responsibility, such as class monitor, school prefect, community or town union leadership.
5. In business, truthfulness rewards. A truthful businessman, trader, artisan or contractor would never lack patronage. Customer would always patronize his business, i.e buy from him, or give him jobs to do.
6. Truthfulness makes for fairness and justice in society. Profiteering, cheating and artificial scarcity of goods would be greatly reduced. Examination malpractice, election rigging, all would be reduced in our schools and the society at large. This would have positive impact on the social order, peace and progress of the nation.
7. In the work place, truthfulness attracts recognition, upliftment, promotion or salary increment of the workers.
The Consequences Of Not Being Truthful
There is so much dishonest in our society. In the courtroom, people place their hand on the Bible or Koran and swear to say the truth. People swear an oath to say the truth. And yet, most of them do not. Below are the consequences of not being truthful:
1. It Breaks Relationships:
Lying destroys trust among people. No teacher can trust a pupil or student who is not truthful. In the same way, parents cannot trust children who tell lies or are dishonest.
2. Telling lies makes life uneasy and difficult because it makes a person to lose favour from friends and those in authority.
3. Lying is bad because, it makes it difficult for the person lied to, to make free and informed decision about a matter.
4. It is a basic moral wrong and it diminishes the personality of the liar.
5. It also corrupts the liar.
6. It makes people suffer injustice. It makes an innocent person victim of an offence.
7. It can lead to organization failure because decision in the organization may be based on deceitful information or data.
READ ALSO: Leadership: Meaning, Nature, Functions And Qualities Of A Good Leader
The Meaning Of Fair Play
Fair play has to do with openness, equality of opportunity, level playing ground for all in a contest, respect for agreed rules and procedures, and uniform application of rules and standards. It is against taking unfair advantage of a situation. It demands respect for opponent’s consideration behaviour.
Fair play as a moral principle is under threat in our society. Very few people can be fair in their dealings. This is more acute in the business world. There is cut throat competition and everybody want to cheat to make it(become rich).
Attributes Involved In Fair Play
The following are the attributes involved in fair play:
1. Equity: This refers to even handed approach to issues. It involves fair opportunity to everyone.
2. Openness: Openness makes for open opportunities and equality of chances to all, it abhors under hand acts or favouritism.
3. Impartiality: This is an attribute of not taking side when two persons or groups are in dispute. A mediator in a dispute should be impartial hence must stand for truth and justice​.
4. Self confidence: This is belief in one’s ability to achieve result, not through the back door. This is important for students. It is an attribute which discourages examination malpractice. It encourages meritorious achievement and hard work.