Virtual Lies

Unfortunately, people lie. And surprisingly, recent research has found that people do it more often in emails and on social media than in face-to-face __________.

What’s worse is that virtual communication is now preferred over direct communication. Studies have shown that, in business, __________ average, people lie once in every fifth negotiation lasting longer than ten minutes.

That means that during any negotiation lasting 50 minutes or more, it’s a near certainty that you’ll be lied __________ at least once. What’s also disturbing is that the probability of a lie rapidly increases when a negotiation is conducted online.

So whatever the context, a person is more __________ to lie when physically and psychologically distant from the person with whom he or she is communicating.

A survey has indicated that 49% of executives felt it was occasionally necessary to be __________ during a negotiation. In our society, trust has recently been measured at its lowest level in the past 50 years.

One of the reasons for such a __________ is that we’ve come to believe and expect that others will be dishonest with us.

One study showed that, apparently, human beings tend to be more honest in situations where cash is physically present. And the fact, that we __________ with others increasingly over the Internet – such as in online transactions – means that our trust and honesty decline even more.

Keld Jensen is often asked if it’s possible to identify a __________. The answer is yes, in most cases. We can detect a lie with approximately 90% accuracy by observing body language.

Despite the fact that our connections, in business or life, are expanding, we are becoming more and more distant and __________.

In business the solution is quite simple. Make face-to-face meetings and direct communication the rule rather than the exception. Try to establish __________ trust at the very beginning of a business relationship.