It’s interesting how intricate lying is to our everyday life. Of course, we tend to gloss over the lies by calling them white-lies or quibbles (not telling the whole truth), or lies omission; plus there are the polite lies we tell to spare someone’s feelings, or to keep the peace, or to not track the boat and be a team player.

In all honesty, how many lies, of any kind, have you told so far today? (Think: “how are you doing today? Oh, I’m fine…kind of white lies).

As a consultant, I see it in companies when I’m working with teams. People tell me things that they won’t tell their teammate, even though they should and if they did, would eliminate half the problems in the team. But out of fear of reprisal or fear of being labeled ‘not a team player, they don’t say what they really mean and we end up trying to solve a problem that isn’t really THE problem.

From half-truths to small fibs, most of us tell little white lies on a regular basis. But are they really harmless? Or, in fact, a habit we should train ourselves out of?

Emily Cronin

Do you think you could go 3 days without telling a lie of any kind? ‘Try the no-lie challenge for three days. I’d be curious to hear what happens. Let me know in the comments.