Recognizing Nonverbal Cues in Meetings

Don't leave performance to chance. Design for it. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (a happy Kadence customer) looked at how team proximity helped support innovation. They analyzed 40,358 papers and 2,350 patents and what they found is fascinating: Teams that were in the same-workspace were ~3× more likely to co-author than those 400m apart. At 800m it halves. Patents showed a similar curve: ~2× in the same space, halving around 1.6km. As the authors put it, there’s “a persistent relationship between proximity and collaboration, well fit with an exponential decay model.” This is not theory. It’s already happening in the world’s best workplaces. When teams that rely on each other are physically close, coordination happens organically. Conversations replace tickets. Questions get answered faster. And collaboration stops depending on chance encounters.

You pitch your big idea. Your boss nods and says, “𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘓𝘦𝘵’𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵.” But their body says something else: 🔹 Arms crossed tightly, creating a barrier. 🔹 Lips pressed together in a thin line. 🔹 Eyebrows slightly pulled down in doubt. They didn’t say “no.” But their body already did. People may lie with words, but their body never does. The best communicators don’t just listen. They read people. Want to sharpen this skill? Here are 6 techniques to decode body language instantly: 1. Pay Attention to Microexpressions 😐 → 😊 → 😠 🔹 Fleeting facial expressions reveal true emotions before they’re hidden. 🔹 A fast smirk? Could mean hidden amusement or deception. 🔹 Eyebrows raised briefly? Could signal surprise, doubt, or curiosity. 2. Notice the Feet Position 🔹 Feet pointing away? They likely want to leave. 🔹 Standing with feet apart = confidence. Crossed feet = insecurity. 🔹 Feet moving back while talking? Their mind is already gone. 3. Watch Their Eyes 🔹 Looking away right after speaking? Possible sign of deception. 🔹 Prolonged eye contact? Confidence - or an attempt to intimidate. 🔹 Rapid blinking? Could mean nervousness or discomfort. 4. Observe Their Hands 🔹 Open palms show honesty. Hidden hands signal secrecy. 🔹 Rubbing palms together? Excitement or eagerness about something. 🔹 Clenched fists? Frustration, tension, or feeling defensive. 5. Mirror Their Movements 🔹 When people mirror you, they feel connected and engaged. 🔹 Sudden stop in mirroring? Their mood or trust has changed. 🔹 Subtle mirroring strengthens relationships and builds rapport. 6. Spot Tension vs. Relaxation 🔹 Raised shoulders? They may feel stressed or insecure. 🔹 A tense jaw? Suppressed emotions like frustration or anxiety. 🔹 Relaxed posture? They feel comfortable and at ease. 👉 Reading body language isn’t about guessing. It’s about noticing patterns. When you master this skill, you understand people beyond words. Which technique will you start using today?👇 -- ♻️ Share this to help others decode body language instantly. 🔖 Follow me Véronique Barrot for more like this. 📌 Want 100s of my best cheat sheets? Get them here: linkedandlift.com

Been diving into body language analysis lately – started as casual curiosity during meetings, then became genuinely fascinating. How much do we miss in daily conversations? The micro-expressions, the defensive gestures, the tells that reveal what people really think? That's when I discovered Dr G Explains on YouTube. Dr John Paul Garrison, PsyD, MBA is a licensed forensic psychologist who breaks down criminal cases, court proceedings, and interviews with actual clinical expertise. Not your typical true crime content – this is educational gold. His A.R.C. method (Action-Reason-Concern) is brilliant: observe the behaviour, identify the motivation, determine the underlying anxiety. Simple framework, profound insights. I've been experimenting with this approach myself – even tried analysing some political speeches. Fascinating what you notice once you know what to look for. Worth watching if you're curious about human behaviour beyond the obvious. Real expertise applied to real situations. Channel link in the comments. . . #RajeevRecommends #BodyLanguage #HumanBehavior #ForensicPsychology #MicroExpressions #NonverbalCommunication #BehaviorAnalysis #PsychologyInsights

Meetings are where people talk. Corridors are where people tell the truth. Inside the room: ⇢ “Great strategy! Fully aligned!” Outside the room: ⇢ “This will never work. Just wait and watch.” Inside the room: ⇢ “We have a culture of openness!” Outside the room: ⇢ “No way I’m saying this in front of the boss.” Inside the room: ⇢ “Everyone’s on board.” Outside the room: ⇢ “Did you see his face? He’s furious.” The corridor doesn’t lie. It’s where: ⇢ The real decisions are made. ⇢ The actual power shifts happen. ⇢ The true culture is revealed. Yet, most leaders ignore the corridor. They trust the polished version, the reports, the surveys, the staged feedback. And that’s exactly why so many companies fall apart. ⇢ They think their strategy is solid, until execution collapses. ⇢ They assume alignment, until the best people leave. ⇢ They hear enthusiasm, until they realize no one actually bought in. Because here’s the hard truth: ⇢ If employees only speak the truth outside the room, they don’t trust you. ⇢ If leaders only hear what they want to hear, they’re leading blind. ⇢ If the corridor is louder than the meeting, the company is already in trouble. So what do you do? ⇢ Create spaces where the truth can be spoken inside the room. If your meetings feel staged, it’s because people don’t feel safe being honest. Fix that first. ⇢ Listen to what’s not being said. Watch body language. Read the silences. Truth often hides in what people don’t say. ⇢ Seek unfiltered feedback, and reward honesty. If people fear consequences for speaking up, they won’t. Make honesty a strength, not a risk. ⇢ Pay attention to the corridor, but don’t let it be the only place where truth lives. Great cultures don’t have hidden conversations. They have open ones. Because if the truth is only spoken in whispers, your leadership isn’t as strong as you think. And when the corridor goes silent? That’s when you have a real problem. So, ⇢ What’s being said in your corridors? ⇢ Do you know? ⇢ Are you listening? Because a company where the truth is only spoken outside the room… Will eventually break from the inside. #leadershiptruths #workplaceculture #corporatereality #organizationalbehavior #theunspokentruth

Most leaders think they’re good listeners. But listening isn’t just about words. It’s how someone walks into a room. How quickly they respond. What happens after the meeting ends. These signals are easy to miss or worse, misread. Non-verbal cues aren’t universal. What feels open in one context can feel guarded in another. The risk isn’t confusion. It’s assuming you’re right. Strong leaders don’t decode every gesture. They pay attention to patterns. They notice shifts. They ask. They stay curious. That’s what it means to listen with your eyes. When leaders tune into more than just language, they catch hesitation earlier, avoid missteps that erode trust, and notice how their own behavior lands. It’s not about mind-reading. It’s about staying present long enough to see what’s really being said. That’s how trust is built…one observation at a time.

We’ve all walked into a room and felt it instantly - the mood, the energy, the unspoken dynamics, before anyone says a word. In Korea, that skill has a name: nunchi. Nunchi is the ability to read what’s beneath the surface and respond in real time. Koreans even say, “Half of social life is nunchi.” In hospitality, the maître d’ or the pub landlord is its ultimate conductor, tuning a room’s boonwigi, its living atmosphere, like a musician balancing tone and rhythm. But nunchi extends far beyond restaurants. It’s what lets leaders spot tension before it becomes conflict, or friends sense a shift in mood before a word is spoken.

Most people fight objections. I turn them into leverage. Here’s what I’ve learned: Objections 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 like attacks. You feel the heat rise. You want to push back. But when you fight them, you lose control. I learned this the hard way on the streets of Glasgow. Where words were weapons, and reading people was survival. Now, I train professionals how to keep their cool, even when the boardroom feels like a pressure cooker. I’ve trained thousands of people in high-pressure roles. Here’s what works: 𝟭. 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺. → Don’t take it personally → See the human behind the heat. Most people aren’t trying to provoke, they’re trying to protect something. 𝟮. 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. → Ask: “𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬?” → Look for the 𝘸𝘩𝘺, not just the 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 → Get curious, not defensive 𝟯. 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻. → Ask: “𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘢 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘴?” → Explore. Don’t defend. Create space for joint problem-solving. 𝟰. 𝗥𝗲-𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀. → When emotions spike, reach for facts. → Use criteria both sides recognise. Timing, risk, fairness, precedent. → Neutral ground restores calm. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 — 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲. Use lines like: → “𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘮𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦.” → “𝘓𝘦𝘵’𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥.” Because every time you do this, objections lose their sting. They stop being threats and start becoming tools. This works in contract disputes, boardroom deals, cross-functional stand-offs, anywhere pressure runs high. Objections become clarity. Clarity becomes leverage. And you stay in control. Objections aren’t the enemy. They’re a map if you know how to read them.

Have you ever walked into a room and instantly felt someone’s energy, even before they said a word? That feeling comes from body language, the silent but powerful way we communicate without speaking. I was reminded of this in a workshop we ran for senior managers from a pension services company. It focused on giving constructive feedback using the SBI framework, which stands for Situation, Behavior, and Impact. The participants had clearly prepared. Their wording was sharp and their structure was sound. On paper, it looked excellent. But as the practice conversations unfolded, something felt off. Their words said one thing, while their bodies told another story. Eyes drifted away. Fingers fidgeted. Legs trembled under the table. One person kept snapping his fingers and thumbs out of nervousness. A few had slouched shoulders & dry lips. Even though they were using the SBI model correctly, the people receiving feedback did not feel reassured. The nonverbal cues revealed discomfort, hesitation, and fear. That experience reminded me of an interview panel I sat on a few years earlier. The first candidate walked in with shoulders slightly hunched, eyes avoiding contact, and hands that would not settle. He answered every question well, yet the confidence he described never appeared. Then another candidate came in. She held her head up, smiled gently, & used natural gestures. The room felt different from the moment she entered. Her presence conveyed calm & connection long before she spoke. It was a clear lesson that our bodies often speak before our mouths do. Body language is more than posture or hand gestures. It shows up in the rhythm of our breathing when we are anxious, in tiny expressions that flicker across our faces, & in the way we mirror someone when we feel in sync. It is the unseen thread that connects people beyond words. In leadership, that thread matters a great deal. A manager can say, I value your contribution, but if their arms are crossed, their tone is flat, or their eyes are on a screen, the words land as hollow. On the other hand, steady eye contact, an open posture, a calm tone, & a simple nod can make difficult feedback feel fair and supportive. When nonverbal signals match intent, communication becomes connection. The encouraging news is that body language can be practiced & strengthened. Standing with a grounded posture, facing people fully when you speak, keeping your arms uncrossed, making kind eye contact, & offering a sincere smile can change how others perceive you and how you feel about yourself. Confidence & warmth have a way of spreading. Reading body language matters as much as expressing it. A pause, a shift in posture, a quick glance away are meaningful cues. When we notice those signals and respond with empathy, conversations move from information exchange to genuine understanding. So next time you are in a meeting, pause for a moment & notice the unspoken stories around you. #nyraleadershipconsulting

𝐇𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭. 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐝. 𝐍𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝. But three days later, the deal was dead. Randeep, a seasoned COO, was blindsided. Again. Despite being the smartest person in the room—armed with facts, forecasts, and performance metrics. He kept missing the real agenda. 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦. He assumed silence meant agreement. He mistook polite smiles for alignment. He didn’t notice the subtle glance between the CFO and the Head of Sales. Or the body shift when he pushed his pet proposal. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. This is more common than most leaders care to admit. Especially for those who lead with data and logic. 👉 They miss the unspoken resistance 👉 They overlook quiet dissent 👉 They confuse compliance for commitment 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫? 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝. And in today’s world, that’s a fast track to irrelevance. When I started coaching Randeep, we worked on three things: 1. Awareness: Understanding what’s not being said. 2. Presence: Noticing shifts in tone, posture, energy. 3. Adaptability: Adjusting on the fly, reading cues, building buy-in. The results? He didn’t just become a better communicator, he became a trusted influencer in the boardroom. 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡: If you can’t read the room, you can’t lead the room. And if you can’t lead the room, you’re just another voice, easy to ignore. 📌 Reflect: What might you be missing in your next meeting? #ExecutivePresence #LeadershipBlindspots #ReadingTheRoom #HighStakesLeadership #CXOConversations

Stop asking questions based on what was said. Start asking questions based on what was unsaid. Too often, we take responses at face value, missing the real concerns, emotions, or reservations hiding beneath the surface. But here's the thing: There's a difference between what was said, what was meant, and what was heard. If you're only responding to what's spoken out loud, you're leaving the true nuggets of wisdom behind. So how do you fix this? By asking the questions that dig deeper—those that explore the unsaid. Here are three powerful questions to get you started: How do you really feel about this decision? Have we consulted the right people? Are all stakeholders genuinely aligned? These questions go beyond the surface. They push people to reflect on their true thoughts, bringing hidden concerns to light so you can prevent future issues. It shows you're not just listening—you’re understanding. Remember: The most valuable insights often live between the lines of what people are willing to say. Go find them. What's your favorite question to reveal the unsaid emotion or perspective of others?