UAE Workplace: 5 ways to spot a liar at work

Very often, we will have co-workers who brag and brand and so much so that they tend to lie for reasons best known to them whereas others lie to cover up facts, for not being able to finish tasks on time or missing work.

Then there will be the lazy ones who will lie about many things to keep themselves away from work and some over-smart ones will lie about their proximity with the boos, just to keep the rest in awe.

Whatever the reasons may be, people lie in or outside office but one thing is certain – they cause much discomfort to those around them and their farfetched stories can at times become a source of stress, tension and frustration for their colleagues.

Leaving aside what kinds of lies do people tell and why, let’s focus on how to spot liars at the workplace. This can come handy and you will know when and how to keep away from such people when you encounter them next.

“While we expect our colleagues and co-workers to be honest and conscientious, you are quite likely to find individuals who are untruthful. Without actively seeking out such individuals, managers and HR professionals can look at some of the signs to spot people who just lie, intentionally or habitually,” says Ash Athawale, Recruitment Manager at Reed Specialist Recruitment.

“The word ‘liar’ takes me back to a childhood game that ended with ‘liar, liar, pants on fire’ – that game was played with jest at its core,” jokes Debbie Nicol, an expert in HR and talent management in Dubai. However, what we could say was a child’s way of teasing can become a serious affair at the workplace.

“Untruths at work are often more sinister, with an intention of damage to a project, person, reputation or place,” she adds.

As per Nicol, there are certain “alarm bells” that serve as warning signals that one should watch for and here are the most common ones to watch out for.

#1 Body language

Nicol’s one alarm bell that sets her off looking for indicators of untruths from dishonest parties includes body language or “body language catches itself, or the speed and tone of language differs from that of the norm,” as she puts it.

Agrees Athawale. He believes body language of the person says it all. “Look for body language; when confronted about an issue, they tend to avoid eye contact or in the case of a habitual liar, tend to glare at you. These individuals also tend to touch their face or mouth or getting defensive by crossing their arms.”

#2 Lies nurture inconsistencies

A liar will have multiple version of his story. “Such individuals will also have immense inconsistencies in their stories and will get dates incorrect or numbers changed, increasing sales figures or stating that they were one of the top five sales people in the company. Their stories become more and more un-corroborative and vague if it takes longer to confront them,” explains the Reed expert.

#3 Lack of transparency

Truth is crystal clear but not lies. A liar will “demonstrate a lack of transparency, communicate multiple versions of one incident, will give a consistent response only when asked, and not volunteer information freely,” says Nicol.

#4 Words don’t match the deeds

A liar often will say and do different things. In such a case “observations and words will be misaligned,” as Nicol puts it. “For example, one person has been observed completing the task, yet another person claims the victory and glory and when evidence does not show consistency.”

#5 Hush-hush the truth

Lies thrive in a secretive environment and a liar will only fan this. “Individuals who lie, or have something to hide, will have a change in their general demeanor and will take a lot of phone calls on their mobiles away from their desks or speaking in hushed tones,” concludes Athawale.

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