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So, whilst you have ascertained that you ain’t never, ever gonna lie, and you don’t cover up for colleagues no matter what the circumstance may be, you don’t have to be a goody-goody that tells tales. Knowing that a colleague has cocked up does not give you the verdical to rat on them before the boss.
Let's say a colleague did something "not good" that you know is bad, okay, and should be exposed "maybe," but if you saw it, heard it, don't get involved; it's none of your business. Don't tell anyone.
Sometimes the truth is needed in your career, but not always the whole truth. This could simply mean understanding the difference between the truth and the** whole truth**. And there's something else I'd like to mention.
You should never report a colleague or a friend at work unless it is absolutely necessary and may harm the company's reputation or growth, which will have an impact on you. Sometimes it might be beneficial to sit back and watch how things develop.
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And when you do get asked, you don’t lie, of course. But you should know the difference between the truth and the whole truth.
It's one thing to not lie, but it's quite another to throw up and regurgitate everything you do know.
If they make a mistake unintentionally or have to cover it up, don't run off to tell the boss, and don't defend them either. Never cover up for anybody, no matter what. Simply maintain a neutral attitude.
If, on the other hand, that colleague was caught, or their mess was exposed, and you were asked "what happened," you owe your boss an explanation anyway because it is your colleague, most likely from the same department.
This is where the truth and the whole truth come into play; you'll tell your boss the truth, but not everything; just say "yes," not the whole truth.
The whole truth will almost certainly get your colleague in trouble, and you will feel guilty.
Let's face it, the real world exists, and not everyone is nice, so you must be careful how you interact with others and what you do because "what goes around comes around," as the saying goes.
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So, it is just better to sit back and see how things unfold. When your colleague knows you know, and you aren’t saying anything, there might be a favor being born that might be recalled later.
The beauty of being a key player is that you are up and still yourself at the end of the day.
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