How to spot a liar: four signals of someone not telling the truth

The work of a team leader and that of a psychologist overlap in certain aspects, especially concerning empathy, "reading" the minds and emotions of team members and colleagues, as well as the ability to adapt to the style and way of thinking of other people. This is why every manager would like always to be able to tell when someone is lying to them. Luckily, even the most convincing of liars are usually unable to suppress the following four giveaway signals.

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These tips were published by the Psychology Today website.

Absence of eye contact

The eyes are a gateway to the soul; they also reveal a lot when it comes to lying. Be on your guard if someone breaks or avoids eye contact, or keeps glancing around the room. At the end of the meeting, ask them whether they have mentioned all the potential risks involved in their proposal. If they shift their eyes before responding, beware.

Covering one's mouth with the hand

A hand placed anywhere on the head usually indicates a certain degree of nervousness. A hand placed on the mouth when talking can then be a subconscious defensive reflex of a person who is saying something that is not entirely true.

Fidgeting

For many people, leg jerking may just be a bad habit that does not indicate anything serious. However, if you are talking to someone who does not have such a habit but starts tapping or shaking their leg when talking to you, beware. In combination with other warning signs, this could be a signal of nervousness caused by conscious lying.

Vague communication style

If their response contains a lie, people will often offer uselessly long, vague and complicated answers, even to closed yes/no questions. Such answers should alert you above all when given by people who otherwise always express themselves in a brief and straightforward manner.

 

 

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Article source Psychology Today - a U.S. magazine and online community focused on psychology
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