We often witness people who seem to be afraid to know the truth, either because of some kind of fear or to protect themselves from some prejudice, prejudice or bias. Especially during political campaigns, many of these people seem to treat the truth like an enemy, replacing it with whatever twists, half-truths, or misinterpretations of data and facts that best suit their predetermined point of view. However, truly great leaders welcome the truth, because like it or not, it takes real facts to make wise judgments. Wittgenstein wrote: “When one is afraid of the truth, then it is never the whole truth that one has an idea of.” Great leaders realize that facts and realities don’t change because we don’t like them, and an understanding and desire for truths distinguish great leaders from wannabes.

1. There is usually some truth in almost any statement. For example, in advertising, while actual lies are generally avoided (if only for fear of legal ramifications), the way these facts are interpreted often creates the desired twist. In recent years, for example, in politics, many fact-checking organizations are constantly finding that statements made in political campaigns, etc., are often incomplete and misleading at best. Products are often marketed in the same way, with all cable companies claiming to be better, with better services at better prices, and all cell phone companies claiming to be better than their competitors. Wouldn’t we all be better served by the truth?

2. Truth is a factor in several ways when it comes to the quality of leadership. It is obvious that truly great leaders are honest and commit with absolute integrity. However, it’s not just about being truthful, it’s about how a leader collects information. The information gathered generally determines the facts or basis on which decisions are made, and if those decisions are made on the basis of less than the whole truth, the likelihood of errors and poor judgment is compounded. Wisdom arises as a result of a combination of attitude, knowledge, judgment, and self-confidence, so obviously, if the basis of knowledge is not completely factual, there is a great chance of misinterpretation or less than careful planning and verification. . Values. True leadership is about taking timely action, and that requires thoroughly understanding the potential ramifications and examining as many alternatives as possible.

Our best leaders always want all the facts. They may not always like them, but they realize that a reality check is necessary.