Would You Use a Lie Detector on Sickies?
Capita and Digilog UK have developed technology that could be used to detect stress in the voice over the ‘phone. This has been tested in Harrow Borough Council.
Are staff going to be up in arms, or will there be no problem? Read the detail here.
So, how to get the best out of your staff? Do you trust them? Or, do you feel you need to treat your team with suspicion? Or, worse, as you would treat children in school?
Someone attending an adult course recently told me that the facilitator surprised the audience by being less prescriptive that expected in the context. He simply let the principles stand for themselves and advised the attendees to take responsibility for their own integrity as to how they applied them. He reminded them that everyone is different and may interpret general rules slightly differently. His matter-of-fact approach was to remind people that ”you tell children what to do”
I once worked for a software house that encouraged casual dress, but was keen to stress the professional attitude in its employees. And, for meetings with external customers, we dressed in regulation business gear. Another employer had every employee, even managers of large departments, in the standard navy-blue ill-fitting suit with accompanying viscose, patterned blouse or dull blue shirt and matching tie.
Does prescribing work for adults? Or, do you get a better result if you train up an employee by administering more and more responsibility and leaving the detail up to them? I’d love to hear your comments.
In my experience, the post in which I’ve had most autonomy was when I felt most content. I had ownership of the material, as I created it myself. I had ownership of the coaching sessions as it was me who’d designed them.
If your employees genuinely cannot be trusted, then perhaps you need to begin the disciplinary process, to bring them into line, then politely ask them to leave?
Lie detectors on phones – not at Sensei! On the other hand, I’d recommend a course we are running at QUB in February:
Lies and Damned Lies: How to Become a Human Lie Detector
Never be fooled, tricked, manipulated, used, lied to, or taken advantage of again! Learn how to test true friendship, check out tall tales, see through people’s masks, spot the bluffers, and get anyone to say what they’re really thinking. Stop the lies in any situation or conversation. Influence others to tell the truth. Never feel powerless again!
- Recognise the different forms, aspects and levels of non-verbal communication
- Employ different persuasion techniques and influencing strategies when communicating
- Appreciate some of the philosophical issues involved in testing the validity of truth claims
