It's Just a Little White Lie, Right?

 In our last post, we talked about the impact the Legend of Chris had on his colleagues, and on the atmosphere in his department. So far, it’s a myth that hasn’t caused any trouble- it’s just one of those stories people like to tell. 

But should the story ever have ever come into being? Chris unknowingly had the opportunity to stop the story before it began by fully disclosing that he had saved the positions by simply uncovering a mistake. And really, he should have, because being transparent and open with your colleagues is an important way to build trust. 

Chris didn’t really purposefully lie, but he wasn’t transparent either. Still, in the end, that one act could have been like many in the office environment and faded away from memory. In the beginning, it’s easy to see Chris’s motives. He liked the attention that came from being a hero, and it seemed harmless— funny, even. 

Fast forward several years, however, and Chris is now in an unenviable position. Like all embellishments that go on too long, there are potentially far-reaching implications for admitting the truth. Were he to now suddenly correct a story that has become a part of his organization and company culture, his employees are likely to become disillusioned, not because Chris never chained himself to a chair, but because Chris wasn’t transparent. All of his motives become suspect, because he no longer seems like a trustworthy person. 

And, as we discussed in the last post, Chris has, despite never chaining himself to an office chair, built good relationships within city government, fought for improvements, and had a successful career that now places him as a finalist for the city manager position. A white lie, taken too far, has become a truth, not in fact, but in principle. 

If Chris were the only character with independent actions and thoughts  in this situation, he could, without a doubt, continue this myth indefinitely. But he isn’t the only character. And, although much time has past, there were plenty of other people in the room who know the full truth. 

Just as easily as the Legend came to be based on one offhand comment, it could fall in the same way. One person could tell the right person what really happened, and that story, equally as exciting as the legend, could spread like wildfire. It’s a scenario that plays out every day in the political and celebrity worlds, as people learn the more human (and distasteful) sides to the actors and politicians they love, there are immediate ramifications that reach far beyond the person themselves. 

So Chris has placed himself in an unenviable position- correct the story and potentially destroy a complete culture created around this idea of him as a leader, or ignore the story and leave it all to chance. Thus far, he seems to be choosing the latter.