Hypocrisy is defined as the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. In our modern-day society and the competitive environments often found in business and political arenas hypocrisy has become deeply entrenched as an acceptable way to live and work. Leaders frequently find themselves promoting a public position or persona that is incongruent with their private practices. Even when caught in this deception, they may still espouse the virtue of their own character while quickly deflecting blame or attention toward others.
Cyclist Floyd Landis has been touting his innocence for nearly four years since he was stripped of the Tour de France crown in 2006 for failing a doping test. This past week he came clean by admitting he had cheated yet immediately pointed the finger of accusation at seven-time Tour winner, Lance Armstrong. Does Landis’ admission of guilt now give him credibility to point out perceived deceptions by others? In simple terms, his actions these past four years were built on a lie and now his condemnation of others for behavior that he engaged in is hypocritical.
The temptation to maintain a façade seems overwhelming at times. Perhaps that is why so many leaders in sports, politics, religion, and business are hypocrites. Al Gore condemns global warming but lives in an oversized mansion and flies around the world on private jets. Mark McGuire stoically declares he never took steroids before a congressional committee only to admit in recent months that he did use banned substances. Congressional leaders lay blame at the feet of Wall Street bankers while failing to acknowledge their own version of financial collapse known as Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac. The list of hypocritical behaviors and those who perpetrate them could fill this blog for the next few months.
Am I being hypocritical by mentioning public figures without calling attention to my own prejudices? It’s an appropriate question and one reason I chose to write about this subject. In the work I do to prepare and coach others it would be easy to pretend that I have figured out how to be an effective and inspirational leader. I could tout success stories and point to the results I have achieved in my personal and professional life. But I have chosen a different path.
Most of my classes include examples of recent and past failures, current personal struggles, and a willingness to admit when I don’t know the answer to a tough question. In my coaching I try to model vulnerability by sharing fears and doubts with those who share their struggles with me. I’m sure there are places in my life where prejudice and hypocrisy still wait to be revealed. You probably harbor similar beliefs and opinions. The challenge leaders’ face isn’t how to keep these secrets hidden from view but rather to muster the courage to admit they exist and publically acknowledge how difficult it is to be transparent and vulnerable. We may even need to repent and choose a different way.
Hypocrisy has been called "the tribute that vice pays to virtue” (François de La Rochefoucauld, Maxims). That seemly innocent connection invites us to accept hypocrisy as a necessary part of the social exchange that takes place in the workplace. But in so doing we may corrode the well-being of those who continually make, or are forced to make, use of hypocrisy in order to maintain power or position. It’s time for leaders at all levels to “come clean” without pointing fingers at the other person. I wonder how that will turn out.
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