- You may have seen TV shows

about crime-fighting psychologists

who interpret body language to find the killer.

Hopefully you won't need interpretive skills for that.

But having a basic knowledge of nonverbal cues

can definitely help you in the workplace in other ways.

Does your boss actually like your idea

or is she just giving it lip service?

Does your new acquaintance at the networking reception

want to keep talking with you or split?

Are you right in suspecting

that your colleague may not be so much of a friend?

Is a frenemy?

Non-verbal cues don't reveal everything, of course,

and there can be misfires or conflicting information.

Maybe you think someone

is wrinkling their nose at you in disgust

and they're actually just in the middle of allergy season.

But as long as you can take these cues as hints

or pieces of information,

they can form useful nuggets of data you can compare

against other sources,

and combined, they can paint a far more reliable picture.

There are a few things to keep in mind.

First, take a look at whether their body language is open

versus closed.

If they're closed off,

they may have their arms crossed

or they're otherwise protecting their body.

If they're open,

their arms are free and their torso is exposed,

which is a sign of comfort and trust,

just like it is for dogs or cats

that let you rub their bellies.

Now, a closed body posture could mean a number of things.

Number one, most innocuously, it could mean they're cold.

So if the heat's broken in your office,

don't worry if your colleagues start doing this.

But it could also mean they're feeling nervousness

or hostility towards you in some way.

Again, you have to compare it with other data,

but it's worth noticing.

Second, take a look

at where your colleagues' feet are pointed.

This is a subtle tell,

but really useful in situations like parties

or networking events.

People's feet will point

in the direction they want to be headed.

So even if their upper body is pointing toward you,

if their feet are headed out the door,

they're not far behind.

That's where their body is telling them they should go.

So try to take note

and respectfully wind down the conversation.

Even if they're not consciously aware

they want to be out of there,

their subconscious will be grateful to you

for not detaining them.

Finally, watch out for mismatched expressions.

If someone's smiling

but the corners of their eyes aren't crinkling,

it may be a proforma smile,

one they don't really mean.

Of course, it could also be Botox (laughs)

so pay attention to the full context.

But it's one clue to look at.

Another thing to be mindful of

is subtle expressions of contempt.

We all know what this looks like

if you've ever been, or been in possession of, a teenager!

Rolled eyes, smirking, or the like.

Adults generally aren't so obvious about it.

But if you see quick flashes of those behaviors,

that's what psychologists call leakage,

because people are generally trying to contain it

but it leaks out.

Put on your observer hat,

and if you notice something, even a quick moment,

it could be extremely informative.

Nonverbal cues are subtle but powerful.

Learning to recognize and master them

can help you understand far better where you really stand

with your colleagues and clients.

(bright music)