Honestly Speaking

Here's a good way to get your life headed in a more meaningful and simple direction:  Be honest.


Currently, I am buried underneath mounds o' books and articles in preparation for an upcoming Negotiations exam.  The material is fascinating but frustrating.


This test is going to be a monster.  It doesn't need to be.


I've read hundreds of pages of text describing various business, political and war-related strategies and conflicts--big and small, violent and non-violent, that, at their core, can be boiled down to one simple concept: honesty. 


Successful negotiations (typically) hinge on a foundation of trust, open communication and a common goal. In other words, successful negotiations need all parties involved to be honest. This is the best way to maximize the outcome for all parties involved.


Q: If the concept of honesty is the lynchpin to most successful negotiations, why did I spend the last 8 weeks poring over gazillions of pages of hardly discernible literature?  A: The concept of honesty might be easy to understand, but, evidently, it isn't easy to execute. 


Here's why:


Each of us are faced with negotiation situations every day.  Many negotiations are with ourselves!  Because of this, it is critical that each of us acknowledge the importance of being honest 'internally'. Without genuine and honest self-reflection it is impossible to negotiate 'outside' of one's self because we are not able to communicate our true interests. The sooner we can find the courage and strength to be honest with ourselves the sooner we can be honest (and properly negotiate) with our friends, family, neighbors, colleagues and enemies.  


Warning: Honesty can be hurtful and a hard pill to swallow.  But, the long-term ill effects of half-truths and deception make life much more difficult than it needs to be.


And honestly, if more honesty existed I wouldn't be sweating this upcoming exam.