Photo and blog by Sharman Dow
Possessing the character trait of sincerity is a valuable tool in business and will put your career in high gear. Being sincere is freedom from hypocrisy. It’s having the honesty of mind and describes a person who does not hold a fear of examination. When you are a sincere person you are void of pretentions and will not put on an act of being something you are not. In other words, your motives are clear because you have nothing to hide. How refreshing!
The word sincerity first was described as being “judged by sunlight.” In early culture, pottery for sale was usually displayed in dimly lit rooms. Dishonest merchants would try to hide cracks in the pottery by covering up the defects with wax. An intelligent buyer would hold the object up in the sunlight to determine the sincerity of the piece. The wax covering – and the hypocrisy of the merchant – would show through the sunlight, signifying his dishonesty to the buyer.
People always want to do business with people they like, and being sincere makes you believable – someone others want to do business with. Customers, clients and business associates want transparency and your honest opinion about matters. This goes from everyone who is a waitress to being a CEO of a large corporation. Think about it – when you ask a waitress for their opinion of a certain meal you want honesty. When a CEO gives his or her valuation of the corporation to the board of directors, they want sincerity – an honest view of the company business.
Of course, wisdom and discernment must come into play when you are void of pretention and are not putting on an act. You never want to be so blunt that you would make someone feel uncomfortable or devalued. So if your opinion is asked, be sincere with kindness. This is where I many times will ask God under my breath to help me be gentle with my words and thoughts, before blabbering out hurtful things. Keep in mind, Proverbs 16:24 states: “Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.” We all want to be treated with wholehearted clarity, but tempered with gentleness.
What I discovered in business in developing sincerity is it’s always my desire and genuine intent to save my clients money in their business matters. I never look at how much I will be making, but rather how much I can save them. If I make less, so be it, as long as I can help them be more profitable. I derive great satisfaction in helping my clients become more successful. It makes me feel fulfilled, and at the same time I become their trusted advisor.
It’s easy to see through an insincere person, but when the intentions of your heart is for the other person’s best interest they see it and will put value on it. Empower yourself and develop sincerity, as you will call success into your life.
Sharman Dow is the founder of the Empower Women’s Conference.
