Be A Better Mind Reader

Have you ever wondered what’s going on in someone else’s head? Believe it or not, it’s a skill you can learn, discovers Bonnie Vaughan

You’ve probably been in countless situations when you’ve wished you could read someone else’s mind. it would certainly come in handy to help you figure out whether your partner is still madly in love with you or if it’s a good time to ask your boss for a raise. But more than that, tapping into other people’s thoughts and feelings can actually make you a more caring partner, friend and colleague – and definitely a far savvier one.

The ability to effectively read someone else requires cultivating what psychologists call ‘empathic accuracy’, a potent skill that can help you build closer relationships, avoid misunderstandings and deftly navigate others’ moods and their behaviour. according to professor of psychology John malouff, ‘Reading others accurately helps give you information about what to do next:

Do you kiss them? invite them to lunch? ask if there’s something they want to talk about? it strengthens your relationships and increases the likelihood of people responding to you positively, both now and in the future.’

With a little practise and a lot of self-awareness, you can develop a ‘sixth sense’. try out these methods on your nearest and dearest to start honing your skills.

FOCUS ON THEIR EYES