A Reflection by Kabir Learning Foundation
“If you think deception has no seat in today’s boardrooms, think again, it’s often hiding in plain sight, smiling across the table.”
We like to believe that the modern workplace has outgrown deceit. With glossy values displayed in reception areas, leaders speaking of ethics in annual meets, and policies written in perfect corporate language, how could deception still find a place?
And yet, it does.
In whispered conversations in corridors, in meetings where truth is carefully trimmed, and in reports where numbers are “adjusted” to fit the story.
Why? Because deception does not always enter as a criminal act. Often, it arrives dressed as “necessary compromise,” “strategic silence,” or “smart politics.”
Kabir, centuries ago, saw through this human tendency and warned:
“ज्यों की त्यों धरि दीनी चदरिया“ – I return the cloth as pure as it was given.
Integrity, he reminds us, is not an ornament for special occasions. It is the fabric of our being, and every small stain, however justified dims its purity.
1. The Fear of speaking Truth
Fear of consequences often leads employees to withhold the truth or sugarcoat their honesty. Speaking the truth might mean angering a senior, losing a deal, or being labelled “difficult.”
This fear breeds a culture where silence is rewarded and truth is risky.
“सांच बराबर तप नहीं, झूठ बराबर पाप
जाके हिरदै सांच है, ताके हिरदै आप“
(There is no penance greater than truth, no sin worse than lies. Where truth resides, there dwells the Divine.)
A truly safe workplace is one where people can disagree without fear. Leaders must make it visible that truth-tellers are valued, not punished.
2. Short-Term wins over Long-Term Credibility
When deadlines are tight and targets are high, small shortcuts can seem insignificant. “We’ll fix it later” becomes a habit, and soon, the habit becomes the culture.
Sustainable success demands patience. As Kabir’s wisdom reflects, even the seed must wait for its season to bloom. Rushing for short-term gains often trades away the trust that sustains long-term growth.
3. Cultural conditioning for Compliance
In many organisations, loyalty is defined as agreement. Questioning is seen as rebellion. This cultural conditioning pushes people to agree even when they know something is wrong, creating layers of deception that leaders may never see.
“बड़ा हुआ तो क्या हुआ, जैसे पेड़ खजूर
पंछी को छाया नहीं, फल लागे अति दूर“
(What’s the point of being great like a date tree — offering neither shade to the bird nor fruit within easy reach?)
Loyalty is not blind agreement. It is the courage to protect the organisation from harm, even if it means challenging authority.
4. The ‘Everyone does it’ Mindset
Once deception becomes normalised, it spreads quickly. People justify it with “this is just how things are done here.” The longer this mindset stays unchallenged, the harder it becomes to reverse.
Change starts with the first person who refuses to join the cycle. No matter how small their role. Integrity needs role models, not just rules.
5. The Gap between Values on Paper and Values in Action
Many companies have beautiful value statements, but employees don’t see them reflected in daily decisions. When the written word and lived reality don’t match, cynicism grows and deception thrives in that gap.
Values are not framed for the wall. They are practised in the hallway. Every small decision, especially by leaders, teaches the culture more than any policy.
6. Personal Ambition over Collective Good
Sometimes, individuals put their personal growth ahead of the team’s well-being. Deception becomes a ladder for quick promotion, even if it damages the organisation in the long run.
True leadership is measured not by how fast you climb, but by how many you take along with you.
Truth as Our Anchor :
Deception in organisations is rarely born from outright malice. It grows from fear, ambition, and small compromises that are allowed to pass unchecked.
As leaders, we must ask ourselves:
- What unspoken rules in my organisation allow deception to survive?
- Have I unintentionally rewarded silence or compromise over honesty?
- What’s one step I can take this week to make truth safer than deceit?
Kabir’s voice still calls across centuries. Truth is not a tool, it is the very ground on which trust stands. Without it, no structure lasts for long.
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Explore More:
- How to work Cohesively with Team Members of different Gender and Culture – https://kabirlearning.in/how-to-work-cohesively-with-team-members-of-different-gender-and-culture/
- Listening – A Powerful Tool for Success – https://kabirlearning.in/listening-a-powerful-tool-for-success-sridevi-dutta/
