You have to be careful of what you say if you really don't think
the person who gave you as a reference would be a good employee.
That's when it's best to be a LIAR.
Lexicon of Inconspicuously Ambiguous Recommendations (Ways to
handle those tricky situations! )
You're called upon for an opinion of a friend who is extremely
lazy. You don't want to lie --- but you also don't want to risk
losing even a lazy friend.
Try this line: "In my opinion," you say as sincerely as you
can manage, "you will be very fortunate to get this person to
work for you."
This gem of double meaning is the creation of Robert Thornton, a
professor of economics at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA.
Thornton was frustrated about an occupational hazard for teachers,
having to write letters of recommendation for people with dubious
qualifications, so he put together an arsenal of statements that
can be read two ways.
He calls his collection the Lexicon of Inconspicuously Ambiguous
Recommendations. Or LIAR, for short.
LIAR may be used to offer a negative opinion of the personal
qualities, work habits or motivation of the candidate while
allowing the candidate to believe that it is high praise, Thornton
explained last week.
Some examples from LIAR
To describe a person who is totally inept: I most enthusiastically
recommend this candidate with no qualifications whatsoever.
To describe an ex-employee who had problems getting along with
fellow workers: I am pleased to say that this candidate is a
former colleague of mine.
To describe a candidate who is so unproductive that the job would
be better left unfilled: I can assure you that no person would be
better for the job.
To describe a job applicant who is not worth further consideration:
I would urge you to waste no time in making this candidate an offer
of employment.
To describe a person with lackluster credentials: All in all, I
cannot say enough good things about this candidate or recommend
him too highly.
Thornton pointed out that LIAR is not only useful in preserving
friendships, but it also can help avoid serious legal trouble in
a time when laws have eroded the confidentiality of letters of
recommendation.
In most states, he noted, job applicants have the right to read
the letters of recommendations and can even file suit against the
writer if the contents are negative.
When the writer uses LIAR, however, whether perceived correctly
or not by the candidate, the phrases are virtually litigation-
proof, Thornton said.