Reputation becomes resilient when honesty existed before the crisis.

The value of a long habit of honesty becomes clear in the moment something goes badly. If the record shows years of straight accounts, people extend the benefit of the doubt while the facts come out. Without that record, the crisis is where they form their view, and they form it from the worst available evidence. You cannot start building this once trouble arrives.

Treat routine honesty as insurance you are paying for a situation you have not had yet. The small accurate statements now are what buy you room later. Nothing else works at that moment.