Few people are so rigidly controlled that they don't give clues as to what they're thinking or feeling. Learning to read these can be a big advantage in business and life.
There's no single, consistent recipe — and even the best mind readers on the planet are only right 80 percent of the time— but there's a lot to be learned.
According to UCLA professor Albert Mehrabian, 55 percent of what you convey comes from body language, 38 percent from the tone of your voice, and only 7 percent from what you actually say.
We've compiled tips from Psychology Today and elsewhere that will help you stay one step ahead of everyone else.
To start, always get a baseline reading so you can distinguish personal quirks from real tells.
Source: Psychology Today
Notice others trying to read your baseline with seemingly innocuous questions like, "How are you today?"
Source: Psychology Today
When you have a chance to ask questions, be pointed and observe without interrupting.
Ex-FBI agent Joe Navarro provided several tips on how to read people in a questioning environment in an article in Psychology Today.
Vague, open-ended questions don't work, because if the person rambles it becomes difficult to detect any deception. Instead, ask question that require a straight answer.
And don't be intrusive. After asking a question, sit back and observe.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider