How to Tell If a Subordinate is Lying

You've probably heard the basic advice on how to tell if a person is lying: Looking down, stumbling over words, changing one's story, etc. These are good guidelines to follow when talking about family members or friends, but different words apply to the workplace. For one thing, many people are uncomfortable talking to their superiors, so they might look like they're lying even when they're not.

To tell if a subordinate is lying, different rules apply, and unfortunately they aren't foolproof. Some of your subordinates will have gotten so good at lying that you won't be able to tell, while others will always seem a tad shady. However, if you are concerned about getting the truth out of those who report to you, there are a few things you can do to sharpen your crap detector.

First, you'll need to get to know your subordinates before you'll be able to tell if their lying. Having a frame of reference - their typical behavior versus lying behavior - will help you to pinpoint when they aren't being honest. For example, a subordinate who usually talks fast and loud would sound alarm bells if he suddenly started mumbling his answers.

Once your hackles have been raised about a subordinate, you can usually tell if they're lying by asking for details about their statements. Most people, when they lie, don't bother to work out every last detail of their falsehood regardless of how meticulous they might think they are. Furthermore, it is easier to tell if someone is lying from a detail than it is from a broad story without any particulars.

Another way to trip up a subordinate and tell if he or she is lying is by interrupting the story you believe is fabricated with an unrelated question. For example, your employee is telling you about how he or she really did send out those memos, but you interrupt to ask whether or not an invoice has arrived. This interrupts the flow of your subordinate's story and might lead to a mistake.