“Liar, liar, pants on fire!” Perhaps you remember this childhood taunt. It was innocent enough - maybe directed toward a foe during a playground squabble or when you caught one of your siblings in a white lie. All relatively harmless stuff.

Your parents likely instilled in you the importance of telling the truth. And although growing up you probably stretched it a time or two, chances are nobody suffered any real harm. A no-brainer, right? Well, some adults have forgotten this simple message.

We’ve all heard of Worldcom, Enron and the many others being investigated for falsified business dealings. The most blatant cases get publicized. But what about subtle dishonesty and deception amongst everyday business people? Where do we draw the line?

I wonder if we’ve created a business culture where deception, half-truths or outright lying is the only way we can now prevail - with our peers, employees and our customers. Has this become “business as usual?”

I’m not suggesting that all business people are dishonest. However, many are drawn into the “garden variety” lies - you know, the “little white lie,” embellishing results to impress a customer or coworker, saying yes when we have no intention of following through, or worse, the “stab in the back.”

Are you seeing others do this? What about in your business? Are you saying one thing and doing another? Do you ever feel the need to stretch the truth or lie to be successful?

We each have an opportunity to make a positive change in this culture of deception, and it’s rooted in the everyday example we set. To start that change in motion, I recommend this strategy:

1. Identify those areas where you’re not telling the whole truth.
2. Don’t tolerate half-truths in yourself or others just to make a dollar.
3. Know the code of ethics for your business. If you don’t have one, create it.
4. Make a commitment to adhere to your code.
5. Whenever you’re faced with a situation that makes you uncertain, think back to what your parents or mentors taught you.

You can’t change what happened at Enron, but you can make a difference. Set an example in your own business and career. You never know who’s watching. And better yet, you’ll likely avoid hearing - “Liar, liar, pants on fire.”