In our daily interactions, we often find ourselves in situations where lying seems like the easiest option. For instance, when our boss wears an outfit we don’t like, we might lie to avoid hurting their feelings. The truth is, most of us resort to white lies to protect others or ourselves from painful truths, as shown by a national survey that revealed 40% of people lie at least once within 24 hours. We’re also likely to lie to make ourselves look better, such as when meeting someone new, as a University of Massachusetts study found that students tell two to three lies during a conversation when trying to impress someone.
At times, we might even resort to calling in sick when we’re not, as a SimplyHired survey of 1,000 workers found that over 60% of people have done so. And when our jobs are on the line, we may even resort to lying or backstabbing, which a Harris Interactive poll found nearly 40% of workers between the ages of 18 and 34 would be willing to do.
Interestingly, even convicted criminals see themselves as more moral than the general population, per research by British scientists who asked 79 prisoners to rate themselves on traits such as kindness, trustworthiness, honesty, and dependability. The prisoners rated themselves higher than both average prisoners and citizens in the community. This demonstrates the power of the self-enhancement motive, which makes it important for people to consider themselves good, valued, and esteemed despite objective circumstances.
While many of us see ourselves as virtuous and moral individuals, a University of London survey indicates that we’re irrational in inflating our moral qualities. The study found that virtually all individuals believe they’re more moral than others, but most of us do not live up to our principles when stakes are high. This was true in business scandals such as the Enron scandal, where individuals refused to report wrongdoing due to personal benefit or fear of job loss, leading to the collapse of the company and the accounting firm Arthur Andersen.
But how do we set an example for ethical behavior in the workplace? It’s easy to be swayed by distractions such as envy, greed, loyalty, or fear that lead us to set aside our principles. We might even be tempted to take credit for others’ ideas or participate in unlawful scandals. However, by behaving ethically to the best of our ability, we’ll enjoy less regret, better sleep, and garner more respect from others. Our goal is not to be perfect all the time, but to strive for ethical behavior and build our personal power in the office.
