How to Spot a Liar Countless books and articles give tips on how to spot lying by watching nonverbals, especially microexpressions—tiny, subtle movements that belie a person’s true emotional state. Yet even if noticing those almost imperceptible expressions works,...
Stop Saying “Sorry” It used to bug me when I’d tell someone I was having a rough day or I’d stubbed my toe and they’d reply with, “I’m sorry.” “It’s not your fault,” I’d say. To say “I’m sorry” actually means, “I am filled with sorrow.” We equate “sorry” with...
How to End a Conversation On your way to a meeting, someone stops you to ask a “quick” question. You’ve been chatting with a new acquaintance at a networking event, but you’re ready to meet new people. A colleague who’s been out of the office has been sharing her...
How to Get People to Open Up As a coach, I can do my job a whole lot better when my clients feel comfortable sharing themselves with me. But I’m not the only one. You need this skill, too. Whether you’re an HR manager interviewing a job candidate, an attorney...
One Key Way to Demonstrate Confidence In the face of crisis, you cannot stay calm without confidence. You can be apathetic. That’s nihilism, not calmness. That’s doubtfulness and uncertainty that leads to giving up—the complete opposite of confidence. True...
Start Using Your Whole Brain It’s the time of year when spirits—and tensions—are high, schedules are out of whack, and everyone is consuming way more sugar and alcohol than usual. (Well, maybe not everyone. My kids haven’t had any alcohol lately.) A friend...
