Sometimes we cannot avoid them. Safeguard yourself by accepting the bitter truth and observe what is going on around you. Here are four steps published by the Open Forum website.
1 ) Accept self-interest
There always will be some kind of self-interest present in the people's actions. Learn to be prepared to handle those who might cross the line. When your conscience is clear, you don’t have to worry about any possible self-interest issues your colleagues might have. It could prevent you from accomplishing big projects.
2) Look for patterns and habits
When we are under fire and we feel too much stress or excitement, we tend to fall back on the habits we are used to. When you observe how people react and behave, you can recognize certain repetitive patterns. It doesn’t matter whether they are honest or dishonest. In both cases your predictions and anticipations of how people will behave should be based on how they behaved in the past, for this is the most reliable basis.
3) Minimize the risks you face
When you have a new business relationship and you can’t be sure about your partner's trustworthiness, limit your exposure to them. Establish a trial period for new workers and order a sample from a newly hired contractor. Test their honesty and work ethic before you give them bigger tasks and more important orders. Also implement a stop-loss plan. When you involve them in a long-term project, set up regular dates for progress evaluations.
4) When there is an actual problem, confront them
Should there be any real problems, and when you are actually facing serious problems caused by a dishonest person, it is essential for you to gather all the evidence you can. Then confront the person whose fault it is. Don’t give him or her the chance to voice their denials and refute your complaints because you lack evidence. Negotiation will be much easier when you have facts on your side.
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