The Office Lie Detector: 5 Surefire Ways to Know When Someone Isn’t Telling the Truth
Sarah, a project manager in a Fortune 500 company, asked John, a team member, if he has completed the quarterly report due today. John responds confidently, “Yes, I finished it yesterday and sent it to you.” However, Sarah knows John is lying, even before she double checks her email inbox. How did she figure it out?
Sarah didn’t have any supernatural abilities or secret information. Instead, she relied on keen observation of John’s body language and behavior — skills anyone can develop with a bit of practice.
Inconsistent Eye Contact — When people lie, they often have trouble maintaining natural eye contact. They might look away more frequently, or conversely, they might hold eye contact too intensely, trying to overcompensate. In John’s case, Sarah noticed he avoided her gaze when he said he completed the report.
Fidgeting and Nervous Movements — Lying can make people nervous, leading to increased fidgeting. Common signs include touching the face, scratching the neck, or playing with objects like pens or papers. John began tapping his foot and fiddling with his pen as he spoke, which raised Sarah’s suspicion.
Changes in Voice Pitch and Speech Patterns — A person’s voice may become higher-pitched when they’re lying, and…
