Lawyer says there's one word liars always use and it's a 'huge giveaway'
Communication expert Jefferson Fisher shared his top tips for spotting when someone is not telling the truth
A legal expert and communication specialist has disclosed a keyword that he says liars tend to use, which can assist you in detecting dishonesty in mere seconds. In a recent episode of the podcast Diary of a CEO, Jefferson Fisher shared insights on the type of language to be cautious of, which can serve as a clear indicator of untruthfulness.
Jefferson, a trial lawyer and communication authority, also hosts The Jefferson Fisher Podcast, where he imparts strategies for confident communication. He is the acclaimed author of the forthcoming book The Next Conversation: Argue Less, Talk More.
During the discussion, he unveiled various speaking strategies that command authority and several courtroom-proven techniques that can sway legal cases and everyday conversations. He pointed out that liars often resort to a specific word when it comes to dishonesty.
He explained that the use of 'extremes' serves as a 'dead giveaway' that someone is probably lying. Words like 'never' and 'always' are prime examples. To illustrate, he invited Steven to pose the question: "Were you texting while you were driving that day?" Jefferson responded: "No, I never text. Never text when I drive."
He elaborated on this by saying: "Notice I said a big word. I said 'never'. Never is an extreme. Extremes are a dead giveaway that they're usually not telling the truth. Everybody texts when they drive at some point in time, even in your car. Never and always. It's always or never true. So that's a big one."
Exploring the communication patterns that liars tend to exhibit, Jefferson remarked: "Second of all, I answered really quickly. I didn't breathe, think about it or try to actually show you that I was trying to remember in time. I gave you a really immediate response."
He then explained to Steven the effectiveness of slowly repeating the questions liars are asked, prompting him to inquire: "You never text while driving?" Jefferson elaborated on why liars might dislike this question, stating: "So what they'll do most often is they'll say, 'well, I mean sometimes I do', because now they hinge on that word 'never'.
"So now they know, 'oh, that's a risk word'. And they'll kind of come out of it and go, 'I mean, sometimes I do, I mean, maybe, but hardly ever'." Jefferson continued: "When that happens, what you typically want to do is give them an out. Now they've put themselves into a corner and they're looking for an out. And a way to do that is to say, 'if you were texting, it's OK'."
In addition to questioning the use of words like 'never' and 'always', Jefferson emphasises that silence can be a powerful conversational tool, particularly when engaging with dishonest or manipulative people. A moment of silence can compel the other person to reconsider their statements, often leading to the unearthing of contradictions.
He said: "Silence is the ultimate nemesis of liars because they create dialogues in their minds for you." He elaborated that silence can induce discomfort, prompting individuals to fill the gap, frequently revealing their dishonesty or doubt.
He added: "When somebody is belittling you or being rude or being disrespectful, what we typically want to do is throw it right back because now we got to win. Instead of that, here's what I would want you to do: one, you're going to have five to seven seconds of silence; two, you're going to ask them to say it again because a lot of time in arguments people take it back."
Beyond identifying the signs of a potential liar, Jefferson also provided valuable tips for effective communication during conflicts. He noted that chosen words can significantly impact our interactions, shaping relationships and personal experiences.
He warns against focusing solely on winning an argument, which often damages relationships. Instead, he advocates for viewing disagreements as opportunities to gain understanding and resolve issues.
He highlights the necessity of controlling your breathing and maintaining composure during confrontations to prevent triggering the fight-or-flight response. "I teach that you never want to win an argument. When you look to win an argument, you will often lose the relationship," he said.
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A trial lawyer has revealed the one word that is typically used by liars. Lawyer Jefferson Fisher, from Texas, boasts six million followers on Instagram and often posts about why the language you choose to use can have a big impact on how you present yourself. And recently, he went on the Diary of a CEO podcast with Steven Bartlett to share the one 'dead giveaway' that someone is being deceitful. Jefferson revealed that when a person is being deceitful, they will often use absolutes and extreme wording in an attempt to deflect you from sniffing out their lies. But the one red flag you should watch out for is the word 'never', as it is often a favourite among fibbers. Jefferson told host Steven: 'Never is an extreme. Extremes are a dead giveaway that they're usually not telling the truth.' The attorney gave an example, telling Steven to ask him: 'Were you texting while you were driving that day?' Jefferson then responded: 'No, I never text. Never text when I drive.' He added: 'Everybody texts when they drive at some point. That's why the word stands out.' The TikTok famous lawyer said that liars will often reply quickly to your questions without thinking about what has been asked of them. This is because they are not thinking back to a memory or trying to recall anything - instead they are just rehearsing what they have already planned in their head. Jefferson says that this tactic can be reversed and used to catch them out, simply by slowly repeating the question. He used the example: 'You never text while driving?' This can cause the deceiver to crumble and go back on their original answer. He added: 'What they'll do most often is say, "Well, I mean, sometimes I do." Now they know "never" is a risk word.' However, Jefferson says the key thing is not to pounce on them once they start back peddling as this can be counterproductive. Instead, the legal practitioner says that it is important to 'give them an out'. For example, saying: 'If you were texting, it's okay'. Jefferson says that this strategy can depressurise the situation and instead allow them to be honest with you. However, there is a third way you can crack a fabricator - staying completely silent. 'Silence is the ultimate nemesis of liars,' he expressed. They create dialogues in their minds for you.' The painful quietness can often make them feel uncomfortable and leave them itching to fill in the gaps by explaining themselves without even being asked.
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Communication expert Jefferson Fisher shared his top tips for spotting when someone is not telling the truth A legal expert and communication specialist has disclosed a keyword that he says liars tend to use, which can assist you in detecting dishonesty in mere seconds. In a recent episode of the podcast Diary of a CEO, Jefferson Fisher shared insights on the type of language to be cautious of, which can serve as a clear indicator of untruthfulness. Jefferson, a trial lawyer and communication authority, also hosts The Jefferson Fisher Podcast, where he imparts strategies for confident communication. He is the acclaimed author of the forthcoming book The Next Conversation: Argue Less, Talk More. During the discussion, he unveiled various speaking strategies that command authority and several courtroom-proven techniques that can sway legal cases and everyday conversations. He pointed out that liars often resort to a specific word when it comes to dishonesty. He explained that the use of 'extremes' serves as a 'dead giveaway' that someone is probably lying. Words like 'never' and 'always' are prime examples. To illustrate, he invited Steven to pose the question: "Were you texting while you were driving that day?" Jefferson responded: "No, I never text. Never text when I drive." He elaborated on this by saying: "Notice I said a big word. I said 'never'. Never is an extreme. Extremes are a dead giveaway that they're usually not telling the truth. Everybody texts when they drive at some point in time, even in your car. Never and always. It's always or never true. So that's a big one." Exploring the communication patterns that liars tend to exhibit, Jefferson remarked: "Second of all, I answered really quickly. I didn't breathe, think about it or try to actually show you that I was trying to remember in time. I gave you a really immediate response." He then explained to Steven the effectiveness of slowly repeating the questions liars are asked, prompting him to inquire: "You never text while driving?" Jefferson elaborated on why liars might dislike this question, stating: "So what they'll do most often is they'll say, 'well, I mean sometimes I do', because now they hinge on that word 'never'. "So now they know, 'oh, that's a risk word'. And they'll kind of come out of it and go, 'I mean, sometimes I do, I mean, maybe, but hardly ever'." Jefferson continued: "When that happens, what you typically want to do is give them an out. Now they've put themselves into a corner and they're looking for an out. And a way to do that is to say, 'if you were texting, it's OK'." In addition to questioning the use of words like 'never' and 'always', Jefferson emphasises that silence can be a powerful conversational tool, particularly when engaging with dishonest or manipulative people. A moment of silence can compel the other person to reconsider their statements, often leading to the unearthing of contradictions. He said: "Silence is the ultimate nemesis of liars because they create dialogues in their minds for you." He elaborated that silence can induce discomfort, prompting individuals to fill the gap, frequently revealing their dishonesty or doubt. He added: "When somebody is belittling you or being rude or being disrespectful, what we typically want to do is throw it right back because now we got to win. Instead of that, here's what I would want you to do: one, you're going to have five to seven seconds of silence; two, you're going to ask them to say it again because a lot of time in arguments people take it back." Beyond identifying the signs of a potential liar, Jefferson also provided valuable tips for effective communication during conflicts. He noted that chosen words can significantly impact our interactions, shaping relationships and personal experiences. He warns against focusing solely on winning an argument, which often damages relationships. Instead, he advocates for viewing disagreements as opportunities to gain understanding and resolve issues. He highlights the necessity of controlling your breathing and maintaining composure during confrontations to prevent triggering the fight-or-flight response. "I teach that you never want to win an argument. When you look to win an argument, you will often lose the relationship," he said.
