While I am on vacation, I have asked friends, and encouragers of Purposed worKING to contribute. Today's post comes from Tom Koch who works in the Executive Recruiting Industry.
Man, I want to keep getting better at this, but it takes preparation and commitment.
Work, and life, are filled with many opportunities to be truthful. These are also tests of our commitment to being truthful. They could be tests of brainpower, quickness, courage under pressure, selfishness or even tests of emotion. These are tests, challenges, and opportunities where you want to, where you are "compelled" to give an answer. In work there's always going to be the "tough question" in front of a group or an important client. There's the question that comes before you have validated the truth. There's the question where the true answer doesn't fit an important desired outcome. There's the critical selling opportunity where an embellishment might be all it takes to seal the deal. And the list of possible opportunities and/or challenges to being truthful goes on and on.
In Mark 10:19 Jesus says, "But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’"
We have all known since we were children that God does not want us to lie. Seems simple enough doesn't it? But, not so fast.
Okay, sure, it means to tell the truth and only the truth. Does it also mean "don't shade the truth"? Does it mean "don't mislead or allow others to be mislead by your words(hmmm, that's not really a lie, is it)? So, no shading the truth, no misleading, etc... That would be a much tougher standard or goal wouldn't it?
I think the answer is, God means for us to speak and live the "spirit of integrity" not just to avoid an outright lie. Maybe we would all benefit from a very clear commandment 'Thou shalt not lie, shade the truth, mislead, fake...'
In this area of truth and integrity we are also guided by Colossians 3:9-10 -
"Don't lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him." Committing to live the spirit of truth and integrity IS becoming more like Him.
Back to the daily opportunities/challenges/tests. Just like with any test or challenge, those who adequately prepare almost certainly enjoy superior performance relative to those who do not.
The people who are most successful in communication, in influencing others, in moving people through presentations, in closing a sale, or any other challenging situation, are those that prepare. Some people prepare for important conversations thinking about what might come up and how they would respond. Others prepare for group presentations in similar ways. They do this because they don't want to be surprised and make a mistake. They know they can't prepare for everything, but they can prepare for many specifics and for how to respond if certain patterns come up.
From an integrity standpoint we can prepare similarly. We all know that we will be faced with situations that "put us on the spot." That tempt us to shade the truth, stretch the truth, or downright tell false truths. Its just those situations for which we need to prepare. It could start with an individual committing to 'being aware' and committing to learn from the next series of tough situations/challenges that are encountered. In each tough situation, if an individual reviews how they react, genuinely assesses their performance against living the "spirit of truth", identifies gaps and formulates a plan for how they would do it differently next time, they will be better prepared to respond with integrity in the next situation.
Today is a great day at work to be renewed and become more like Him. It just takes some preparation and commitment.
Reference: Mark 10:19 (New Living Testament)
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