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Honesty is defined as “an adherence to facts; a fairness and straightforwardness of conduct.” It has been identified as one of the most valued leadership qualities.

Honesty is such a valuable leadership quality because it leads to developing trust. When employees trust their leaders, they are more engaged, more willing to accept the leader’s vision and more likely to work hard to achieve results. To embrace honesty as a foundational value of leadership, an individual must be authentic and demonstrate integrity.

By embracing and modeling honesty in practice, leaders have the potential to establish a culture of honesty in the workplace. This starts with establishing a set of organizational values that prioritize honesty and integrity and communicating clearly and honestly with employees.

Recommended Courses

These courses are ones recommended by B.C. Corrections to fulfill the competencies for the topic of Honesty.

Building Capacity in Indigenous Relations: We Are All Here to Stay (BCIR)
This two-hour interactive online course provides learners with an understanding of the provincial government’s commitments to reconciliation, explores Indigenous culture, our shared history, and what steps can be taken, collectively and individually, to pursue reconciliation. (From: BC Public Service Agency; Mode: Independent learning, online module; Next offered: ongoing)
Coaching Approach to Conversations
This workshop supports a coaching approach to conversations that will enhance employee engagement and improve performance (From: Public Service Agency; Mode: In-person, scheduled course; Next offered: TBA).
Fierce Conversations
Upon completion of this course, participants will have been introduced to and practices the five Fierce modules, including Fierce Foundations and the four conversation types (From: Public Service Agency; Mode: In-person, scheduled course; Next offered: TBA).
Coaching Skills
This courses will help you to understand the problem of being a decision making boss and a coach --it will provide you with a strategy to effectively balance these two inherently conflicting roles (From: JIBC; Mode: Independent learning, online module; Next offered: ongoing)
Additional Resources

Look here for a random selection of additional audio, video, and readings to expand an understanding of Honesty.

How Showing Vulnerability Helps Build a Stronger Team
Author Daniel Coyle suggests that sharing one's vulnerability as a leader is a key to developing trust and cooperation in teams (online article).
Transparency: How Leaders Create a Culture of Candor
Openness seems like a positive attribute for organizations, but the authors of this book outline how a lack of what they call for as "radical candor" proves disastrous in business, government, and other entities. How can your organization benefit from more transparency? (Book)
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