Whether they’re coworkers, friends, or next-door neighbors, we form relationships on a variety of levels, and they are a vital part of having a well-rounded life. As you move through your life and career you will undoubtedly come across unsavory characters that do not necessarily wish you the best. Here are some telltale signs of an untrustworthy person and why you need to give the side eyes to certain people.
Trust your gut
Women may have an upper hand in this category. There is scientific research to show that the female brain is actually hardwired to be more intuitive. Women have more neural connections that allow us to be better at interpreting social phenomena, including social cues. That plays a part in our superior intuition skills. So, if you get that funny little feeling that “something just ain’t right,” listen to it and proceed with caution. Your women’s intuition may not be 100% right every time, but the more you tune into it and acknowledge it, the more on point it becomes.
Control freak
Untrustworthy people like to be in control. They will manipulate situations and people to try to maintain the upper hand. Watch out for the person who tries to get your attention by playing victim or needs you to rescue them all the time. This person may even lure you in with overly nice deeds and gifts to keep you within their grasp.
Why they need the side eyes: This behavior is about having you in the state of mind they need you to be in to maintain their control.
Word on the street
We may all indulge in a little kitchen table talk every now and then with our buddies and we all know the golden rule: “what is said at the kitchen table stays at the kitchen table.” However, if a person is always in gossip mode and seems to derive pleasure from passing on other people’s information and mishaps, avoid divulging anything you don’t want others to know to that person.
Why they need the side eyes: More than likely your business is being passed on in the same manner.
Little white lies
Little white lies are second nature to untrustworthy people. Do you often witness this person lying to other people? That’s a huge red flag and you should limit contact with this person and/or start to call them out on the lies. If it is a work situation you may need to document the conversation to protect yourself. You don’t want your coworker’s lies to compromise your career.
Why they need the side eyes: This person is may also be deceptive to you.
The shade of it all
In this day of reality shows and social media beefs, learning to “throw shade” has become a sport. If you notice that a person is frequently making you the butt of jokes that they say are harmless but leave you feeling like a target, that person is untrustworthy and does not respect you.
Why they need the side eyes: They use those so-called harmless remarks to make themselves feel superior.
In the end you have to decide whether or not to trust someone. It’s definitely worth keeping your eyes and ears attuned to behaviors that may suggest that they can’t be trusted or that they have ulterior motives.