The Truth about Lies in the Workplace

How to Spot Liars and What to Do About Them

by Carol Kinsey Goman

Number of pages: 168

Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.

BBB Library: Communication

ISBN: 978-1609948375

About the Author

PhD, is president of Kinsey Consulting Services.

Editorial Review

Sure, everyone tells little white lies now and then, but real deception in the workplace is a poison that can destroy relationships, careers, and companies. Carol Kinsey Goman, a leading workplace body language expert, combines her own experiences with the latest research to identify fifty subtle physical and vocal cues that will enable you to spot destructive workplace lies. She analyzes the role we play in supporting lies—how our own vanities, desires, self-deceptions, and rationalizations allow us to be duped. And once you detect a lie, she provides tactical advice on how to respond, whether the liar is above, below, or on the same level as you—even if it’s your boss.

Book Reviews

“We live in a world of confusion and deception. The Truth about Lies in the Workplace will make us all successful detectives and fact checkers in our work lives. This book gave me insights into fi nding the truth and safeguarding my reputation.” —Lee Hornick, President, Business Communications Worldwide, and Program Director, The Conference Board

“Carol Kinsey Goman exposes the mechanics of deception in this powerful new handbook for workplace health and productivity. Add a live keynote or seminar with Carol, and a new era of leadership and exemplary workplace culture is within your grasp.” —Karen Tucker, CEO, Churchill Club

“In this groundbreaking work, Carol Kinsey Goman, PhD, boldly enters a topic that has been taboo for far too long and reveals the tools and tactics necessary to spot the liar in our midst. We attempt to hire warriors only to realize too late that we have hired a cunning liar. Now there is no excuse! The Truth about Lies in the Workplace is a game changer and a long-overdue weapon in the tool kit of every HR professional.” —Brad Szollose, award-winning author of Liquid Leadership

“In today’s hyperconnected world, transparency and trust in the workplace are critical. Carol Kinsey Goman clearly understands the power of honest, collaborative leadership. And that’s no lie.” —Linda Kaplan Thaler, Chairman, and Robin Koval, CEO, Publicis Kaplan Thaler

“Goman’s great book is far more than a primer on how to recalibrate your BS detector. It will completely reframe what you know about lying while providing powerful perspectives and practices on how to nurture trust in the workplace. I promise you’ll be surprised and enlightened.” —Chip R. Bell, coauthor of Wired and Dangerous

Books on Related Topics

Wisdom to Share

We view deception as the broader umbrella term that includes every imaginable way to mislead, whereas lying refers to specific acts of generating falsehoods or omissions for the purpose of deception.

There is no single verbal or nonverbal behavior that automatically means a person is lying. In fact, much of “lie detection” is actually “stress detection.”

Any expression displayed for more than five to 10 seconds is almost certainly being faked.

You can’t begin to understand someone’s behavior without considering the circumstances under which it occurs.

A single gesture can have several meanings or mean nothing at all, but when you couple that single gesture with other nonverbal signals, the meaning becomes clearer.

Most practiced liars will deliberately overcompensate by making too much eye contact and holding it too long.

A person’s blink rate slows down as they decide to lie and stays low through the lie. Then it increases rapidly after the lie.

A fleeting smile after an untruthful statement often indicates that someone believes they have fooled you.

When lying, people will often display nervousness and anxiety through increased foot movement.