Can You Answer a Simple Question?
Posted on July 21, 2008
Last Friday, I had one of the most adrenaline provoking experiences Ive had in over a decade. I had the opportunity to ride with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, doing drug interdiction along Interstate 35 (I-35), in Northwest Missouri. Starting the shift at 3:00 am, the Patrolman I was riding with was accompanied on the road by another Patrolman, driving the K-9 Unit car, with a German Shepard that had a look in his eyes that said, Go ahead, and make my day!
Let me tell you, when you make a traffic stop after having jumped across the median, and then barreling at nearly 130 mph to catch up with the targeted vehicle, your blood is more than adequately pumping through your system. Now, add the fact that its still black as coal outside, and the vehicle youve pulled over has tinted widows, leaving you only to detect an known number of people moving about inside, and you have a Missouri State Highway Patrolman with cause for being on an extremely high-alert status.
The traffic violations that triggered a stop were varied, but in general, it was for excessive speed, expired plates, or driving (rather than passing) in the passing lane on the Interstate. This was a new insight for me, as I had a habit of driving in that lane, just to get a better view of what was ahead.oops. Once the driver of the car was seated in the front seat of the patrol car (with me having moved to the back seat), the fun would begin.
Mike, the patrolman I was riding with (Mike is not his real name) had developed a very successful strategy of questioning over the years, that allows him to intuitively know whether or not he should move forward, asking for permission to search their vehicle. F.Y.I., you do not have to give them permission, but they do reserve the right to have the K-9 officer walk the dog around your vehicle nonetheless, and he hits while sniffing, thats probable cause, and the search is on.
Mike would begin with simple questions; questions like, where do you live? where do you work? Where are you going? etc. It wasnt so much the answer to the initial question that offered any useful feedback. Whenever they would answer, he would then ask a question about that answer, and then the next, and so on. If the initial answer they gave was nothing more than B.S. designed to throw him off of their real reason for traveling on this day, it would soon become obvious, as each subsequent answer took more and more processing time, since they were having to make up new answers, trying to make sure they all realted logically to the original answer.and thats hard to do.
A typical conversation went something like this: Patrolman: Where you going today?
Driver of stopped vehicle: To visit a friend.
Patrolman: Where does your friend live?
Driver of stopped vehicle: In Lansing, Michigan.
Patrolman: Really, Im somewhat familiar with that area, what street does he live on?
Driver of stopped vehicle: ( there is a noticeable delay in answering) On the south side, I cant really remember the exact street address, I just kind of know the landmarks.
Patrolman: ( this question is critical) How long has your friend lived there?
Driver of stopped vehicle: About 9 months, now, Im not really sure, maybe a year.
Patrolman: So what are you guys gonna do?
Driver of stopped vehicle: I think were gonna go camping.
Patrolman: When was the last time you were up there?
Driver of stopped vehicle: It was a couple of years ago.
Patrolman: Oh, so you have been there before then? I mean thats how you know how to get there, with the landmarks and all?
Driver of stopped vehicle: Thats right.
Patrolman: Question; you said hes only lived there 9 months to a year, and yet you drove there about two years ago?
Driver of stopped vehicle: ( with a look of obvious confusion and panic setting in) Why are you aksing so many questions?
Patrolman: Would it be okay with you if we search your vehicle?
Driver of stopped vehicle: Id rather you not, Id prefer you just give me my ticket so I can get on my way?
It was at this point that the K-9 officer arrived, and the show began.
There are tons of books on deception or lie detection; the books are filled with elaborate techniques for trying to decipher whether someone is telling the truth or not. Isnt it true there are times in your life that knowing ( as best as you can ) whether somone is lying or not would be helpful? Wouldnt you want to know if your kids had just come home from the mall, or if instead, were hanging out with a known drug dealer?
Unfortunately, there is no method I know of that will allow us to read the minds of our children so we can better protect them. We can however, use our awareness to notice how smoothly others are responding to our questions about the answers they give us, to get a really strong gut feeling about the accuracy of the information being delivered.
The wonderful part about this is that you can use it without seeming like you are an interrogator. Used with the right voice tone and body language, you can even come across as someone who is genuinely interested and curious. So few people are ever truly listened to, that when they finally sense that someone is in fact interested in what they have to say, theyll open up and chatter like a chipmonk. In fact, I fully advocate first accessing a state of genuine curiosity; it will facilitate you sending the needed non-verbal signals.
As with everything else I write about, I trust that youll use this information for good and useful outcomes for both yourself and others. I invite you to discover the power of quickly asking questions about the previous answer, and doing so until you are satisfied that they are shootingstraight with you.
Copyright 2007-Vincent Harris- All Rights Reserved.
Vincent Harris is a professional speaker, trainer and consultant, and the President of Harris and Associates. People around the world have experienced a major shift in their lives, after using the methods contained in Vince's REVEALING HAPPINESS Audio Program. To find out more about this ground breaking program, go to http://www.successpath.info/revealingNOW.html
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