June 4, 2003
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-- We've got a secret! (It's you last chance to complete the Integrity and Ethics survey)
-- The many faces of Truth
-- Managing the Generation Mix(tm)
-- A few truths about truths
-- Competency ID was never easier!
-- Testing and Assessments: An Employer's Guide to Best Practices
-- Missed a previous issue of The Total View?
-- Rule #1 of good employee behavior - Show up for work!
-- Stop Guessing, Start Knowing - August 20, 2003 at The Lancaster Chamber
-- Pocket Guides for Managers As Low as $9.95
-- What is Your Interviewing IQ

We've got a secret! (It's you last chance to complete the Integrity and Ethics survey)
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Talking about integrity and ethics today is a lot easier than trying to understand it. Everyone can basically agree about honesty. It's pretty clear when someone lied, cheated, or stole something that was not rightly their own.

But what about stealing time? Have you ever made personal phone calls on company time? What about surfing the net for vacation deals or checking your latest bid on eBay? Have you ever stretched a lunch to avoid going back to work or scheduled a doctor's appointment that would end too late for you to return to work? Or what about having someone else do a difficult job for you to avoid a personal embarrassment? Are these the actions of someone you can trust?

However you answered these questions, you might be very surprised how those around you would answer them.

Based on our Integrity and Ethic Survey results so far, it is very clear that not everyone agrees on what is wrong and right, acceptable and not. In fact, from the early returns, it seems more like "do what I say not what I do" when it comes to integrity. And when it involves keeping a secret, you might be shocked to know that only - oops! Almost let it slip.

You'll just have to complete the survey and wait until next week to view the results in our June 11 issue of The Total View. Until then it's our little secret.

Won't you please take a few minutes (about 5 minutes) and complete the Integrity and Ethics survey. If you've completed it already, thank you. Would you please forward the survey to a friend or a co-worker? The more respondents the more accurate our results will be.

Complete the Integrity and Ethics Survey here.

The many faces of Truth
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Most of us think of honesty as not lying, telling the truth, and not covering up. Sometimes honesty means being painfully honest.

A few of us even take honesty to the extreme of letting others know just what we think. Like telling a woman that a dress doesn't suit her or your boss has bad breath.

At the far opposite extreme of doing what is socially desirable, individuals are considered frank. An individual who is frank and candid doesn't begin a statement like this: "I hope you'll take this in the right way, but -." They just start their sentences after the 'but". After they see the shock in your face, they respond with " I was just trying to tell you the truth. You want me to be honest with you, right?" In other words, brutally honest is their modus operandi.

It's not the truth that hurts but the way the truth is often delivered. For a few individuals telling the truth is difficult. This doesn't mean these people are liars and cheats. Far from it. For many reasons they find it difficult to offend people even if what they have to say is the truth and needs to be heard.

Instead they prefer to do what is deemed socially desirable. They sugarcoat the truth and sometimes avoid telling it all together. "Sometimes things are just better left unsaid" is an extreme contradiction to the "just tell it like it is" frank individual.

From frank to social desirable is one trait that pervades everyone's personality. But it's biggest impact may be on how others accept your word and actions as the truth. For those on the extreme side of frank, many will view them as honest but lacking social and political graces. Because of this frank individuals often lack the ability to gain endoresment.

The social desirables likewise have difficulty gaining endorsement especially when the truth needs to be known. Their tendency to wait for the right time and the right place to speak their piece sometimes gets exposed. Others may feel that they know something but they just won't share it . Just like being brutally honest has its ill effects on building endorsement with others, letting socially desirability suppress the truth has its problems, too.

Think about interactions you've experienced. A manager criticizes you in front of your peers. What he said was absolutely the truth but how and when he said it was inappropriate. Did his approach lose impact? Or have you ever felt slighted by a friend or colleague who allowed you to embarass yourself because they were too afraid to tell you the truth? The degree of social desirability in one's personality has a profound effect but is often overlooked when evaluating managerial, leadership and team building competence.

Social desirability is just one trait that is assessed with the TotalView Assessment Systems. To learn more about how to accurately assess social desirability as well as competitiveness, conscientiousness, extraversion and coping with stress contact us today.

To receive a complimentary TotalView report and consultation, click here and request a FREE code for TotalView in the comments box. Indicate the best time and day to contact you, too.

Managing the Generation Mix(tm)
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Are you managing age diversity? Understand the four generations in the workplace today - each at different life stages, ech with conflicting perspectives, expectations, and needs. Learn best practices to foster understanding, leverage strengths, avoid clashes, improve productivity, and maximize teamwork. Turn diversity into a strategic advantage.

Managing the Generation Mix is a complete, customizable, off-the-shelf training program based on the principles contained in Bruce Tulgan and Dr. Carolyn A. Martin's popular book. Pricing includes an unlimited license and the following training materials on a single CD-R: