Although the phrase may seem a bit of a cliché nowadays, there is still truth to the adage “Honesty is the best policy”. The esteemed Warren Buffet said it best when he cited three qualities to look for when hiring new people: integrity, intelligence and energy. There is no way that a person can hide his dishonesty forever. Sooner or later, it will manifest itself, and that will not do your work ethic any favors.
The biggest problem that a dishonest employee will encounter is the lack or absence of trust from other people. Therefore, if you want to go far in your career, or go up the hierarchy in the organization, then you should make it a point to be honest in your dealings so that you can be trusted by your seniors and fellow colleagues.
Since we are on the topic of honesty, other things that you can do are:
Give honest feedback. This shows that you are capable of objectivity. Managers, co-workers and even clients will value you more if you show that you are able to provide honest feedback. Sure, this may be a sensitive area, which is why you have to take extra care on your delivery of your feedback. If you are able to get your message across without openly offending anyone and igniting hostilities, then that will prove even further the strength of your work ethic.
Own up to your mistakes. If you did something wrong, it is best to man up and own up to it, instead of denying all blame and, worse, pinning it on other people. This is a sign that you are unable and unwilling to take responsibility, a sure sign that your work ethic is less than solid.
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