When the Leader Must Lie

Franklin Delano Roosevelt knew.

The Nazi spread across Europe was posing an imminent threat to democracy and ultimately the fate of the world — and it would require years of American military intervention to quell.

But with the anguish of WWI and the pain of the Great Depression still on the minds of the nation, FDR recognized he couldn’t sell the prospect of joining yet another war that would inevitably result in tens of thousands of casualties.

So he reassured the public that America would remain neutral, despite covertly ordering the Navy to escort British convoys and sink German submarines if necessary.

“I am perfectly willing to mislead and tell untruths if it will help win the war,” Roosevelt told a friend.

The scenario was a critical snapshot into an agonizing dilemma we as leaders face.

As much as we want to abide by cliches of “Always be honest” or “The truth must reign supreme,” there are countless scenarios that require short-term dishonesty for long-term benefit.

Abraham Lincoln lied about how he wasn’t negotiating with the Confederacy. Nick Saban lied about how he wasn’t going to leave the Miami Dolphins. Harry Truman even lied about where the first Atomic Bomb was dropped.

What makes these mistruths slightly more permissible than a reckless disregard of the facts, though, was that full disclosure in these cases would’ve done immediate, irreparable damage.

If there’s no tomorrow without a mistruth today, then sometimes lying really is the only option.

It’s imperative for us as leaders to recognize these scenarios, though, and not just use this as an excuse to let fly falsehood after falsehood.

There are rewards and repercussions for what we say, and we must be accountable for what we divulge, regardless of our intentions.

A critical question to ask ourselves before lying is: Will the majority of those impacted by my words understand my motivations in the long term and ultimately accept why I did this?

If the answer is no, then we simply shouldn’t deceive those we lead or pursue this particular course of action.

But if it’s yes, then a little mistruth now might do a lot of good later on.