You interact with your employees on a daily basis. You probably feel as though you can trust most, if not all, of your employees but how can you know for sure? As a boss, you never want to think about an employee lying to you. The truth is, many people lie every day to make themselves, or others, look better. Some people are unaware that they stretch the truth a little from time to time. Here are some tips that will help you determine if your employees are truthful or not.
A liar will cover their mouth
When people lie, they tend to feel exposed or vulnerable, and, therefore, are likely to cover their mouth or other parts of their body when they speak.
They are detailed and repeat themselves often
When people lie, they steer away from silence. In other words, they will continue talking and usually end up sharing more details to the story than what was originally asked of them. This is a tactic that a liar uses to help buy time so that they can drum up, even more, untruthful statements.
They look for a way out
If someone is not telling the truth, his or her first instinct is to remove themselves from the conversation. They may try to head for the door or another escape route to avoid continuing the discussion.
A mix of body language and words
Make note of their body language while they talk. We all have a natural tendency to incorporate body language when we speak, which is an unconscious effort. When people lie, their body language will differ from their words, usually tipping off the listener that what they are hearing may be untrue. Some other changes in body language that may indicate someone is not telling the truth are changes in breathing or eye movement patterns, or they become fidgety and unable to sit still.
They exhibit aggressive behavior
When not telling the truth, they often become defensive and aggressive with their speech. They may even begin to direct the blame onto you or someone else. This type of behavior is common among someone that is lying.
As a leader in your practice, you undoubtedly hope everyone tells you the truth all of the time. Unfortunately, we do not live in a perfect world. When confronting an employee about a situation that may elicit an untruthful response, make certain that you create a comfortable environment for the conversation to take place. Building healthy relationships with your team members will allow them to feel comfortable and open to sharing information when a situation arises. Do not always aim to reprimand an individual for wrongdoing, but instead, correct with positive reinforcement when appropriate.
Bryan Consultants has helped many practices build a trusting and efficient dental team. For a consultation or team training, please contact Bryant Consultants today. We will help bring your practice to the next level!
