Truth is the Foundation of Culture

What is Truth?

‘Truth is the Foundation of Culture’, I said in last month’s talk about Morality, Ethics and Civic Responsibility. But why is that the case, and HOW do we insist on getting to a valid truth?

Why is Truth the Foundation of Culture?

• Many of the conscious thoughts, words and actions we make are based on the truth we have at the moment.
• Understanding WHY we create these thoughts, words and actions will help us either perpetuate our ways of being or shift them entirely.
• Focusing on the truth of a technology and its potential will help everyone be more productive, focused and innovative.
• When we respond to mis-information, and the truth comes out, there will likely be a fall-out which negatively impacts people, processes, products, as well as brand, momentum and credibility. (On rare occasions, there will be a positive impact, but that’s generally unintentional and random, even if it’s serendipitous.)
• Perpetuating bold mis-information which becomes widely adopted can lead to a culture that rewards additional mis-information, undermines trust, promotes the corrupt, and dis-empowers the outspoken.

What Can We Do to Validate the Truth?

• First, respect that the truth impacts everyone and everything.Insist on a high standard of what is adopted as the truth.
• Consider the source of the data and the validity of what’s being measured.
• Focus on the data behind the truth, and how knowing the data and the truth would benefit others.
• Consider the motivations of the various stakeholders and how they might influence the data or the truth.
• Empower everyone to continuously insist on thinking, speaking, and acting on the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable to do so.

The bottom line is that leaders at all levels can build a solid foundation for culture if they can align on validated statements of truth and take actions based on that truth.

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