Ex policewoman Donna Brown’s daytime job is teaching border guards and investigators how to determine whether someone is using deception while trying to enter the country or explaining what just happened in a tentative situation. If it works for government officials then it must work for HR professionals and hiring managers who interview as well, which is where you come in.
Body language accounts for upwards of 55% of your communicated message. By learning to read an interviewees’ body language you could save your company a lot of grief, or shine by choosing the most brilliant candidates for advertised positions.
In ascertaining whether a candidate might be using deception in an interview or during a confrontational meeting, start by consciously paying strict attention to whether they are stuttering, hesitating, how they sit, how they hold or use their hands and how they dress.
Most interviewees are going to arrive looking pretty good, and polished candidates know to drop the appropriate buzz words that make them sound like they know their business. That being said, how people dress is often not the best indicator of their intentions, values or expertise for the job, but it is consideration.
As a Body Language expert, Donna says that the body will leak ‘unconfidence’ if only you take the time to read it correctly. “You’ve got to watch their face, you can’t be writing and interviewing at the same time,” she says. Take the time to build rapport with your candidate. Find out about the person and establish their base line behavior by asking about their commute in, their travel interests, etc. Note their body language during this stage as it is their norm against which all ensuing body language will be judged.
Donna purports that hand movements are “illustrators” and to be taken seriously when “reading someone.” Ask the question, “Tell me about dealing with a difficult boss.” If the hands slow down from how active they were before the question was asked, this could indicate that the question is a concern.
You may have heard that if you ever witness a crime, memorize the criminal’s shoes. In an interview, people leak with their feet. Who would have thought the lower appendages were so telling. If your candidate’s feet are pointing towards the door, they’re feeling uncomfortable and if the feet are turned upwards or a knee is shaking, they are ready to exit.
You are probably aware of the Belly Button Rule, facing the candidate belly button to belly button to allow for effective bonding. When the body turns away from this position it indicates disinterest, as does the defensive move of sitting on one hip or the other.
Aside from observing behavior you need to listen as well. Listen to the tone, pitch and rate of speech. When someone’s voice drops down at the end of a sentence it shows a lack of confidence or a deceptive answer.
“Tell me about a problematic situation you had trouble righting” you might ask. If the candidate takes a deep breath or a quick sigh or releases air from their mouth chances are this is a difficult question for them, it probably hits home and they are preparing how they are going to answer, pay attention.
Did you ever wonder why Lady Di always had her head tilted to the side, experts would say she was listening and was interested in what you had to say. Then there are the micro expressions on your face. Because human beings use their faces to express themselves, watch for facial movements around the mouth and eyebrows
Clearing of a throat could indicate a cold, allergy or a feeling of uncomfortableness. It is important to know that one deception indicator does not a deceptive candidate make. Donna reminds us that for someone to be deemed deceptive, look for a cluster of signs, not just one. Nervousness can easily be construed as deception so be careful how you interpret what. Touching your face a lot may indicate that the candidate does not work well under pressure as an interview is deemed to be a pressure situation by most interviewees.
It’s not easy to ask embarrassing or hard questions, but strong pointed questions can disclose sensitive, potentially red flag issues. Go after the red flags. If you see something, act on it, use your intuition to “read” the candidate.
Learn body language for interviewing purposes—join Donna Brown at King-Reed Investigation Service’s one day conference on Reading People, Thursday, May 12, 2011.
