Comments on: Why do Businesses Lie? http://stilgherrian.com/human-nature/why-do-businesses-lie/ All publication is a political act. All communication is propaganda. All art is pornography. All business is personal. All hail Eris. Vive les poissons rouges sauvages! Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:51:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Stilgherrian http://stilgherrian.com/human-nature/why-do-businesses-lie/#comment-11 Stilgherrian Tue, 14 Mar 2006 02:14:46 +0000 http://stilgherrian.com/wp/?p=20#comment-11 Well, the client has paid. But I'm still not sure what to believe. Well, the client has paid. But I’m still not sure what to believe.

]]> By: Stilgherrian http://stilgherrian.com/human-nature/why-do-businesses-lie/#comment-10 Stilgherrian Sun, 12 Mar 2006 22:53:34 +0000 http://stilgherrian.com/wp/?p=20#comment-10 Paul is quite right. We often forget that businesses are run by people, that people are human, and that humans are mammals. It's usually a <em>lot</em> easier to understand business behaviour if we remember these simple facts. Paul is quite right. We often forget that businesses are run by people, that people are human, and that humans are mammals.

It’s usually a lot easier to understand business behaviour if we remember these simple facts.

]]> By: Paul J. Morris http://stilgherrian.com/human-nature/why-do-businesses-lie/#comment-9 Paul J. Morris Sat, 11 Mar 2006 10:49:23 +0000 http://stilgherrian.com/wp/?p=20#comment-9 I reckon businesses (and individuals for that matter) lie because they are largely afraid of being perceived as incompetent (if they were to tell the unvarnished truth). If someone perceived you as being incompetent it would lead to many undesirable outcomes (e.g. loss of work, negative referrals etc). Most of the time people intuitively know when they are being lied to, that’s why we start becoming skeptical and frustrated when we’re on the receiving end of (what seems like) a pack of lies. It all dates back to our school days really. If we were late to class or didn’t turn in our homework, we would always scurry to come up with an excuse so that we wouldn’t be punished for our inability to “deliver” (i.e. our incompetence). Since most people don’t expect to hear the truth straight off the bat, it’s always refreshing when someone does tell it how it is. The truth (most of the time) is always welcomed and appreciated and of course, reinforces what should be at the core of every relationship: trust. I reckon businesses (and individuals for that matter) lie because they are largely afraid of being perceived as incompetent (if they were to tell the unvarnished truth). If someone perceived you as being incompetent it would lead to many undesirable outcomes (e.g. loss of work, negative referrals etc).

Most of the time people intuitively know when they are being lied to, that’s why we start becoming skeptical and frustrated when we’re on the receiving end of (what seems like) a pack of lies. It all dates back to our school days really. If we were late to class or didn’t turn in our homework, we would always scurry to come up with an excuse so that we wouldn’t be punished for our inability to “deliver” (i.e. our incompetence).

Since most people don’t expect to hear the truth straight off the bat, it’s always refreshing when someone does tell it how it is. The truth (most of the time) is always welcomed and appreciated and of course, reinforces what should be at the core of every relationship: trust.

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