Sprinkler Age A Publication of the American Fire Sprinkler Association
I was recently asked if honesty is always the best policy. My initial reaction was to answer that it is always best to be honest. However, as I reflected on my response, I determined that it depends on the context of the situation and my reason for being honest. I considered the difference between saying what I think when it is meant to be hurtful or mean-spirited and when my honesty is coupled with a desire to be repentant or to help. Honesty is certainly the best policy in almost every situation, but there are exceptions, such as when our reasons for being honest lack honor or, in some cases, stoop to being nefarious.
Honesty is fundamentally important in both personal and professional settings. It serves as the bedrock for trust, credibility, and integrity. It may be tempting to tell an embellished truth or a half-truth to avoid discomfort, especially when the consequences of our actions can be detrimental. When tempted to “lie by omission,” it is good to remember that a half-truth can also lead to a half-wrong.
In our work lives, telling the truth ensures that our relationships with our associates are built on honesty, where expectations are clear, and decisions can be made with accurate information. Having a reputation for reliability and integrity enhances our careers. The author Mark Twain wrote, “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.” Which means, of course, if we lie regularly, we’d better have a steel-trap memory.
We have all heard the expression, “The truth hurts.” That usually applies to situations where we already know what is real but are reluctant to admit it. There is no doubt that telling the truth can bring high costs. However, keep in mind that the costs are not just monetary, but can also be reputational or emotional. Being truthful can hurt, but never forget that the truth may cause pain for a period of time. But a lie hurts forever.
In our relationships with others, it is important that our honesty comes with empathy and tact. Balancing honesty with sensitivity helps us maintain strong, respectful relationships. Remember that we cannot change the truth, but the truth can change others. That can also mean that there are times we are better off being silent. I am reminded of the adage, “If you can’t say something nice, then shut up.”
I read about a study conducted by the Forum Corporation. It looked at 341 salespeople from 11 different companies in five different industries. The purpose was to determine what separated the top producers from the average producers. When the study was finished, the results were startling. It was not skill, knowledge, or charisma that divided the pack. The difference came down to one trait: honesty. When a customer trusts the salesperson, they buy from them.
A seldom discussed part of honesty is the simple ability to admit when we are wrong about something. This has been a challenge of mine over the years. I do not like to be wrong. My problem is that I am not the smartest kid in the room, so I am often mistaken about something. I can be a master at rationalization. However, rationalizing wastes a lot of brain power and has never ended well for me. Allowing myself to be wrong has made my life simpler and less stressful.
Albert Einstein once said, “Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.” Along with that, keep in mind that exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement. Hmmm… read that one again.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Russell B. Leavitt, CFPS, SET, is executive chairman and board member of Telgian Holdings, Inc. Leavitt’s Telgian roots can be traced to the genesis of the company. In 1990, he co-founded Fire Design Group, which merged with Tomes, Van Rickley, and Associates (TVA) in 1991. He subsequently served in numerous executive positions, including TVA Fire and Life Safety President, Managing Member of Fire Materials Group, LLC, and CEO of Telgian. Today, Leavitt serves as the Executive Chairman for Telgian Holdings, Inc., as well as the Chairman of Telgian Fire Safety and Telgian Engineering & Consulting.
Leavitt is active in numerous trade and professional associations and holds several leadership positions. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors as Immediate Past Chair of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), he has served as the Chair of the NFPA 13 Technical Committee for Fire Sprinkler System Discharge Criteria and continues to serve as a Principal Member. He is also a Principal Member of the NFPA Technical Committee for Installation and a Principal Member of NFPA 3 and NFPA 4. Leavitt also represents NFPA 13 on the Technical Committee for NFPA 909 (Code for the Protection of Cultural Resource Properties) and 914 (Code for the Protection of Historic Structures).
Throughout his career, he has authored numerous articles and training guides, including the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) Beginning Inspector Training Program and the AFSA Online Hydraulics Training Program. In addition, he is a major contributor to several NFPA Handbooks and served as the subject matter expert for numerous NFPA live and online training programs.
Leavitt shares his more than 40 years of experience in the fire protection industry by conducting training presentations for many professional and industry organizations including the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE), NFPA, and AFSA.
In 2013, he received the AFSA Henry S. Parmelee Award for dedication to the professional advancement of the fire sprinkler industry and improvement of fire safety through automatic sprinklers. He is also the recipient of the NFPA Standards Council Special Achievement Award in 2018 for his leadership of the task group which completely reorganized NFPA 13 for the 2019 edition.
Leavitt is a Level IV NICET certified technician and Certified Fire Protection Specialist who holds fire protection contracting licenses in multiple states. He is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.