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From the public relations perspective, complete honesty is always the best strategy as the truth will always come out. This is especially true, in the era of social media where stakeholders have ‘perfect information’ as the internet gives them access to just about anything and everything.
Unfortunately, many leaders choose to be frugal with the truth as they believe their stakeholders aren’t mature enough to accept it. These leaders would rather not tell their stakeholders the unpleasant truth as it will either be too difficult or tedious to explain, or it may be unpopular.
I believe that such a view is dangerous on two grounds:
Firstly, as it assumes that their stakeholders lack intelligence. The reality is that today’s stakeholders are sophisticated and they will eventually find out the whole truth. It is therefore no longer sufficient not to lie to your stakeholders. Telling them less than the whole truth is considered being deceitful, and the consequences are just as bad as lying.
Leadership is a long game. Don’t win the battle only to lose the war.
Secondly, when leaders choose the easier way, leaders are putting their self-interest ahead of their stakeholders. This is inauthentic leadership and stakeholders will sense this. Over time, these leaders will lose their ability to lead as stakeholders will doubt their intent.
The example of authoritarian leaders illustrates this concept perfectly. The longer they rule the greater the pressure on them, and the more they have to resort to the threat and use of force to continue to rule.
In short, if you are a leader and you are faced with the choice of telling the inconvenient whole truth, or the more convenient half-truth, I encourage you to choose the former.
This is because while not everyone will accept the truth, they will respect you for telling it.
