Lying at work - How to spot it?

Three levels of workplace lies

According to Annamária Rajki (Magyar Telekom), workplace lies come in three levels. The first is harmless. What she calls the “lyrical” category: empty flattery like “You’re the best boss ever!” - pleasant but meaningless phrases.

The second level includes those who convincingly exaggerate their skills. They have polished CVs, shine in interviews, and get hired easily, but after a few years, reality catches up. A good leader, Rajki noted, can usually assess their real capabilities and manage accordingly.

The third - and most dangerous - level consists of professional deceivers. These “fabrication masters” create complex, believable narratives, often convincing even themselves.

Some examples border on the absurd: one employee altered sales figures in an email to secure a higher bonus, until the first invoice revealed the truth. Another was caught hiding bribe money in his desk drawer.

The anatomy of a convincing lie

Rajki outlined the steps behind a “successful” lie:

• Believe your own story.
• Build an entire inner universe—and live in it.
• Recreate every detail as if it were real (few have the energy for this).
• Avoid excessive gestures or overacting—practice calm, natural communication.

Even then, she warns, lies multiply. Once you’re believed, you must keep performing, which leads to more lies, until it seeps into your personality. Her advice is simple: don’t lie; it’s never worth it.

Reading the signs – body language and speech

Communication expert Bence Sziklay, who has spent 15 years studying behavioural analysis (including under two former military intelligence officers), shared how to spot deception.

He advises looking for changes in usual behaviour and analysing stress responses. The key question: is the person stressed because the question is uncomfortable, or because they’re lying? One suspicious cue alone proves nothing, but it justifies further observation.

Positive Indicators

Signs of openness include:

• Smiling
• Raised eyebrows
• Palms facing upward
• Not covering the abdomen (an evolutionary signal of trust)
• Exposed neck veins or slow, relaxed movements

The more open and slow the gestures, the greater the perceived sincerity.

Negative non-verbal Indicators

Behaviours that warrant further questions include:

• Touching the face – a self-soothing gesture
• Frequent swallowing – the mouth dries under stress
• Rapid blinking – may indicate anxiety (normal is 3–10 blinks per minute, stress can raise it to 50–70)
• Adjusting hair or collar – an unconscious response to body heat from stress
• Fidgeting hands or quickened breathing

Verbal deception: What to listen for

Beyond body language, verbal cues can also signal dishonesty. According to Sziklay, some red flags include:

Hesitation – pausing before answering an otherwise simple question.

Psychological softening – choosing milder words (“the laptop was taken” instead of “stolen”).

Evasive answers – “Did you go to the pub last night?” – “I don’t even drink.”

Biographical assertions – invoking credibility with superlatives or grand self-descriptions.

Repeating the question – restating it to buy time, not for clarification.

Ambiguity – vague or double-meaning responses.

Sudden politeness – unexpected, exaggerated courtesy.

Unprompted apologies – saying sorry for no apparent reason.

Disclaimers – phrases like “to the best of my knowledge,” “if I recall correctly,” “basically,” “probably” when a clear answer would be expected.

Sziklay emphasised again: no single sign proves lying - it simply warrants closer attention.

Do we lie more in job interviews?

Outright factual lies - like fake career data - are rare in interviews. But smaller exaggerations about language skills or professional experience happen all the time. Often, they don’t come from malice, but from fear or the desire to please. For example, when asked why they left a previous job, candidates may hide workplace conflict behind positive phrases such as:

“I was looking for new challenges.”
“I wanted to keep developing.”

Similarly, when asked “Why do you want to join us?”, those motivated by pay often avoid mentioning money. Instead, they highlight “growth opportunities,” “learning new areas,” or “joining a stable, trustworthy employer.” Of course, it’s the recruiter’s job to dig deeper—to find out what truly drives candidates and how genuine their commitment is.

Bottom line: Lies at work range from small white lies to dangerous fabrications. Detecting them requires sensitivity to both body language and speech patterns. And while good liars may be convincing for a while, truth - like an unpaid invoice - always finds its way to the surface.

The original article can be read here in Hungarian.