The Truth About Lying: HR Lessons from Parenthood

By Laura Morgan, Managing Partner at MorganHR
Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes

The Art of the Creative Excuse

Have you ever actually heard someone say, “My dog ate my homework”? Probably not. People are far more inventive than that when dodging responsibility. As a mom of four kids ranging across 14 years, I’ve had a front-row seat to the creativity of avoidance.

“Didn’t we tell you not to bring food upstairs?”
“Well, I had it in my hand when you asked me to go get [that thing], so I left it on the dresser.”

“Why are your grades slipping?”
“Well, you wanted me in sports and doing chores—homework just didn’t fit in.”

“Why is your bathtub pink?”
“I don’t know—it just is!”
(Later, I find the bath bomb wrapper in the trash.)

These moments are funny—and familiar to any parent—but they also mirror patterns I’ve seen repeatedly throughout my 30+ years in HR. Because whether you’re nine years old or 49, there’s one universal truth: people lie. And not always maliciously. Sometimes, it’s to avoid conflict. Other times, it’s to preserve an image. Often, it’s done using a surprisingly sophisticated method.

Two Truths and a Lie: The Deceptive Strategy at Work

There’s an old saying: “Two truths make a lie.” It’s a popular party game, but in professional settings, it’s a common tactic—used consciously or not—to bend reality. According to psychologist Dr. Rosen’s TED Talk “The Power and Peril of Storytelling”, we’re all natural storytellers. We instinctively frame our experiences in ways that make us look good, even if that means leaving some facts out.

This storytelling instinct becomes a strategic tool. It’s not an outright lie. It’s two truthful statements, stitched together to hide the full picture.

I once questioned a leader about an unusually large salary change. When I asked if she had received approval, she responded, “I spoke with him. He was okay with the recommendation.” Both statements were technically true. She had spoken with her boss. He was okay—with a different recommendation. Two truths, artfully combined to deceive.

This happens more than you think in HR. Salary justifications, performance review narratives, hiring decisions—all are vulnerable to selective storytelling.

What HR Leaders Can Learn from Catching a Lie

As professionals, especially in HR, we’re often expected to be human lie detectors. While we can’t read minds, we can listen actively, ask clarifying questions, and spot patterns of partial truths. The best HR professionals know that credibility is built through transparency—and we must model it ourselves.

Here’s what I’ve learned as a parent and an HR executive:

• Assume good intent, but verify details.

• Listen for what’s not being said.

• Follow the story backward. What exactly was approved, discussed, or documented?

And when all else fails, borrow a parenting trick: Tell them their lies have colors—and you can see them when they speak.

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