Simple. In today’s world – with email, text, audio, video cell, FaceBook, twitter, blogs, newspapers, radio and armature paparazzi with their camera phones it’s almost impossible to cover up a mistakes. Don’t even try. Covering up mistakes just leads to more anger, frustration (and if you area big wig) more public outrage.

I am not going to comment on the morale / ethical situation Tiger is in visa vis his family. I have no opinion about whether what he did is right or wrong. It’s his business. I DO however have an opinion regarding the way it was handled in as much as it is a great lesson for all in sales. Cover ups are always exposed.

Sometimes we mess up. Sometimes we make mistakes. If this happens to you  come clean to your boos, client or colleague right away. Admit your mistake, apologize and fix it. Don’ t fool yourself into thinking no one will find out. Eventually someone will. Taking responsibility is ALWAYS the most profitable behaviour (even when it feels like the most difficult thing to do). In Honesty Sells we recommend you take responsibility for screwing up, fix the mistake, and then get to work at re building trust. And that’s the key lesson learned this week watching the Tiger Woods story unfold.

Be upfront and open when handling mistakes. Doing anything else is just asking for a bop on the head with a golf club, a scratched face, a car wreck or worse, a lost sale.

Dedicated to increasing your sales,

Colleen