Sometimes the conversation starts something like: “There’s something I need to tell you. It’s weighing on me, and I just really need to talk about it. Promise you won’t tell?”
That “promise you won’t tell bit” is the sticky wicket. Because that piece is important, but sometimes it isn’t treated as important.
We need to carefully consider the importance of keeping confidences at work and in our personal lives. If we treat confidences lightly, there’s every reason to think that relationships will be surface and not deep, that our professions could be stymied, and some would say that confidence-keeping has spirit and soul implications.
Is there ever a time that a confidence should and must be broken and when is that? And what do you do if you or your confidante breaks a confidence?
Listen in as we discuss this crucial topic.
Key Points:
- Professional confidentiality is required in certain professions.
- Professionals must understand what information should be protected and what information must be disclosed.
- Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, and Christianity all speak to the dire consequences of breaking confidences.
- Keeping the confidences of family members and friends can be challenging and sticky.
- There’s an important difference between secrets and privacy.
- There are different kinds of friends – new friendships and old ones, friendships built around an activity or hobby and friendships that are built around confidences. It is important to understand the kind of friendship you have with your friend before confiding.
- Sometimes you have a to break a confidence.
- When you or another break a confidence, there are ramifications.
Resources Mentioned:
- Compelling Leadership: The Importance of Trust by Dr. Paul Browning
- The Five Major World Religions
- Islam on disclosing secrets
- Hinduism on what should be kept secret
- Judaism on keeping confidences
- Here’s Why Keeping a Family Secret Might Be a Good Thing
- HigherEchelon, Inc. is a consulting firm providing Human Capital Services including executive coaching and training in leadership, resilience, adaptability, applied high performance, change management, and a range of mental, emotional, and psychological skillsets meant to optimize organizational performance. The organization also provides a range of technology services such as Salesforce implementations and consulting, Enterprise Technology solutions, Gaming and Simulation services, and Cyber and Engineering Services.
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Belle Curve Podcast is sponsored by HigherEchelon, Inc. and co-hosted by HigherEchelon Director of Communication Rachel Bryars.