Business Communications - Trusting Humans in the Information Age

Many entrepreneurs and leaders will admit that some information needs to be available on a need to know basis to prevent that information from slipping into the hands of the media, competition or enemy. Clearly there are good reasons for such thinking and many organizations take that advice to heart and it becomes policy.
Of course, on the flip side is the dirty word of secrets and many folks who are not privy to secrets feel disrespected because they are not trusted and therefore, do not give their 100% at work. Indeed, this can be a catch-22. Any communication expert who studies business communication will tell you that such things need to be handled very carefully to keep employees and team members fully engaged.
Is it true that not everyone can be trusted with information? Many people would agree, some would go so far as to say that humans cannot be trusted with information, but why? Well, information is power and if you power-up those who cannot control their integrity levels or choose not to, then in a way giving them the information makes you an accessory to their actions.
For instance, many folks have a lot of knowledge, experience, observations, insight and original thoughts. And unfortunately, they have also been a studier of human societies and civilizations for long enough to see the problematic nature of the flow of information.
But, like water it does flow, information, like living organisms want to be free. Thus, the information just like water stopped in the river by beavers, well, eventually it will find a way, it always does. Sometimes, even the folks who have the information do not even trust themselves with the information they have because it's too easy to make a mistake.
Communication is about the transfer of information, and it is important for all companies, and organizations to do communication audits to insure the right information is being passed on. The right information is defined both as the correct information and only the need to know information. As the saying goes; lose lips sink ships.