Back To Aristotle - Truth

"All men seek happiness.  This is without exception.  Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end.  The cause of some going to war, and of others avoiding it, is the same desire in both, attended with different views.  The will never takes the least step but to this object.  This is the motive of every action of every man, even of those who hang themselves."        ~Blaise Pascal~

 

Pretty grim, but true.  And if it's true that we are motivated for a desire for happiness, then we must define what happiness means for us personally, and strive to understand what it means to our patients and staff.  Obviously, it can be very different for every person, but in order to attain fulfillment, everything we do must respect and nurture the 4 basic dimensions of human experience.  They are:

1. Truth > The Intellectual Dimension
2. Beauty > The Aesthetic Dimension
3. Goodness " The Moral Dimension
4. Unity > The Spiritual Dimension

We'll begin with truth.  Truth and respect go hand in hand.  Truth and trust walk together, as well.  

"One of the most ennobling gestures any of us can make toward another human being is to ask her sincerely, what she thinks about what we are doing together.  What is her take on the truth?  When we ask, wanting to hear, we treat the other person with a fundamental respect, and this behavior is then much more likely to be mirrored back to us. ~Tom Morris~

It is important for leaders in the workplace to understand the we must develop a culture in the workplace in which people are not afraid to tell us the truth.  That means that we must develop the ability to wait.  We have to learn to listen and ask questions that will bring out more information.  Then we must set personal preferences and prejudices aside and consider what will work best for everyone and get us the most positive result.  We must be able to handle the truth and learn how to use it as we proceed in a situation for the best good.  To be able to encourage others to tell us the truth, they must know that we respect them and value them, just as they are.  In order for truth to be respected, people have to know they are respected first.  It is the same with patients and staff alike.  Show them you respect and want to understand them and you will develop a sound moral relationship with them in which the truth is easy to speak.

Truth also comes into play regarding the knowledge we share with each other.  If we respect and trust another person, we feel free to share the knowledge that we possess,  and which they need to succeed in their job.  We don't worry that they'll look better than us or that we'll lose our "specialness".  Competitiveness  becomes something that works for both.  It's like running a race, you both run faster because you have someone to compete with and you both do your personal best.  You encourage each other to do the best you can.  Sharing what we know doesn't diminish us, it adds to both.  Knowledge shared is knowledge squared.

How can you develop a culture of truth in your practice?  Start by being honest with yourself.  How are you about the truth?  Do you tell it to others?  Do you respect them when they trust you with the truth?  Or, do you frighten others into deception and self-protection by blaming, accusing and shaming?  Do the consequences fit the offense when mistakes are made?  Are you open to others when what they say doesn't fit your belief about the way things should be?  

Ask your staff what the truth means to them.  Ask them to examine the reasons why they might avoid telling the truth.  Are they frightened?  Are they worried that they'll hurt someone's feelings?  What would make it easy for them to tell the truth all the time?  Are they afraid to answer that question because they're afraid of how you'll react?

Now ask them how being dishonest can hurt the practice, the patients, the team and themselves as individuals.  

One thing everyone needs to realize is that the way you tell the truth is just as important as telling it at all.

"Thanks to words, we have been able to rise above the brutes; and thanks to words, we have often sunk to the level of demons."  ~Aldous Huxley~

It is necessary to tell some hard, even unpleasant truths at times.  It is wise to learn to speak even difficult truths with love and compassion so that the message doesn't get lost in the emotions.  We must learn to hear what the other person will hear, before we ever let the words out of our mouths.  Ask your staff to talk about how they can speak the truth in love.

Finally, tell them about why and when it is hard for you to be truthful.  Maybe it's during a performance evaluation.  How can they help you be more honest with them?  How will it help you both in the long run?  How would life change in the practice if everyone treated each other with respect, dignity and honesty?  Is there any reason not to do it?

Next, I'll discuss the aspect of Beauty.  I promise not to take so long to get back to it, too.

Comments

[Edward Logan]

I have witnessed exceptions to the rule that Blaise Pascal illuminates here; this in the form of those who strive not for happiness, but for a life of suffering for the sake of others.

[ALFRED]

I completely agree with you, Linda. During my professional life, I've always tried to be as honest as possible with my patients, althoug it was not properly understood by some of them. I believe the most loyal statement we can make is "I can not help you". Okay, some people will aunderstand "I dont want to help you, though I'm perfectly able to", but this is not my problem, but theirs.
It was great to find your website.

[Alex]

Great blog! When I look for a dentist or any other medical professional, honesty in the company is vital. I have seen some great dental offices, James Snow DDS has a great facility for example. I really like this dental blog, I will bookmark this!