How to Talk to Anyone at Work: 72 Little Tricks for Big Success in Business Relationships

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Truth or Consequences (the Consequences Can Be Huge)

Have you ever heard a colleague tell the boss that he was late due to an accident on the highway or that the doctor’s appointment took longer than she’d planned? You knew they were lying because they’d previously joked with you about their oversleeping due to hangovers. Chances are the boss knew they were, too, because human bodies and faces make subconscious moves that reveal the truth. Every expression and bodily movement that accompanies your words reveals the “real” you and what you’re thinking at the moment.

Maybe you sensed your boss was lying when she said there was a hiring freeze this quarter or gave you a much earlier completion date for a project. You probably didn’t speak up, ...