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Brain Circuits
4 reasons why you should blow the whistle on yourself
If you violate a moral norm but no one has witnessed it, do you confess the wrongdoing or keep it hidden in the hope that no one will ever find out? There are four interconnected reasons why, as a leader, you should always ‘fess up.Ā
To do the right thingĀ Ā
This could be seen as a simple moral or values-based question. Even if there are no consequences to withholding the information, you should own up: itās the right thing to do.Ā Ā
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To not allow another to steal your thunderĀ Ā
If thereās any chance of someone else discovering your wrongdoing, itās best to steal their thunder and own up first. This way, your misdeed is seen as less blameworthy and less morally questionable than if you donāt confess and try to get away with it.Ā Ā
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To build trust and integrityĀ
Because you are manifestly acting against your self-interest, you are viewed as being more trustworthy and having more integrity than if you didn’t confess.Ā Ā
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To leverage the āscarcity principleāĀ Ā
Revealing your transgression relates to the scarcity principle: information that is scarce is seen as more valuable and more important than information that is openly available. Thus, when a transgressor withholds information, it is perceived as more valuable and important than if they openly reveal it. Hence, by revealing the otherwise inaccessible information of your transgression, you benefit from the scarcity principle effect.Ā Ā
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But remember to tell the whole story!Ā
Reporting your misdeed only brings value to you if you reveal the full story. If you only reveal select details or admit the transgression in vague terms, people will likely perceive you as not being fully transparent (or covering up a bigger misdeed) and you forgo the benefits of owning up in the first place.Ā Ā
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Key takeawayĀ Ā
Always blow the whistle on yourself before someone else does ā and donāt hold back on the details!Ā
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Further readingĀ
āYou have to bring hearts and minds with youāĀ
How the stories you tell can have a real impactĀ
Decision-making under pressureĀ
Equal care, equal share: Bridging the care gap in leadershipĀ
Self-reflection for leaders in five stepsāÆĀ
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