One of my favorite topics to teach and write about is Investigative Statement Analysis...the analysis of the words people use when communicating. Having this skill provides an interviewer or investigator with tremendous insight into the thoughts and actions of the person you are talking with, leading to insights of truthfulness or deception, as well as implementing an effective questioning strategy. As we wind down 2016 and head towards 2017, give some thought to the words YOU use. I'm not talking about from an investigative or interviewing perspective, but from a personal perspective. Just as we teach with Investigative Statement Analysis, the words people use provide great insight into the person we are talking with, and they provide insight into you as well. I came across an article today which suggested "shifting" your vocabulary to be more happy, successful and fulfilled in life. Check out the article here. Words are powerful...use them wisely!  :-)     

For those of you who have attended my training courses, you probably remember me reference two pillars of credibility; Trust & Expertise. From an investigative interviewing perspective, you need both of these established with the person you are talking with for them to fully open up to you. You can be the best detective in the field, but if you lack trust with people, they will not confide in you. Conversely, you can be the most trustworthy person since Mother Teresa, but if you don't have the expertise (training, experience, etc), you won't get a full account of information, you will miss things and even head in the wrong direction. Psychologists refer to these as qualities of "warmth" and "competence" and they are important from an interpersonal and even business perspective as well. This is all part of building rapport with people which sets the foundation for our training program, BELIEF Interviewing, which is being held in Orange, Connecticut from November 28th - December 2nd, 2016. Click HERE for more information on that training or contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

One of the best ways to distinguish between deception and truthfulness is to look at the content within the context of the interview. That means focusing on the words, the language, the story being told. That should be the guideposts for your questioning. By improving your questioning skills and interview strategy, utilizing evidence strategically within the interview and by identifying key points through linguistic analysis, the effectiveness of the interview compounds. This is the foundation and basic premise of BELIEF Interviewing. For training information go to: http://truthsleuth.com/training.html

Yes, if you want to be effective during your investigations, reach accurate and timely conclusions, and most of all identify the truth of what happened within your inquiry, you have to improve your IQ. I’m not talking about your intelligence quotient though, I’m talking about your Interview Quality. The quality of your interviews has a direct impact on the quality of your investigations. Make sure you and your personnel are trained to conduct effective investigative interviews & criminal interrogations, assess the credibility of verbal and behavioral information, and extract accurate information and actionable intelligence from people. To improve these skills and more, visit www.truthsleuth.com or email your inquiry to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.