Colleagues are more likely to be truthful when communicating face-to-face than via email or on the telephone, according to research by the University of Central Lancashire.

Researchers found that deception occurs in 15-33% of workplace communications. The most common deception is distortion of information, withholding information, providing deliberately ambiguous information or changing the subject in order to deceive.

It found respondents admitted to lying in 15% of all communications.

Dr Sandi Mann says: “Deception occurs less frequently in face-to-face interactions, but also when people are communicating with those that they feel closer to. Therefore managers may be wise to encourage team-building and bonding activities in order to develop psychological closeness between themselves and their subordinates.”