Louisa Lopez
When you meet someone new, is it easy for you to figure out the type of person they are?
Have you ever met someone and something inside you told you that you couldn’t trust them, and it turned out to be right?
These might be signs that you are naturally gifted at reading people!
Some people are better at reading people than others. We’ve all got that friend who sees the best in everyone they meet, trusts them, and then gets hurt. But you’re not one of those people, are you?
According to psychologists, more signs show if you are naturally gifted at reading people. So read on to find out if this is your natural talent.
1) Good listening skills
Do you usually listen very carefully to what someone says to you? Perhaps you often remember small details about things they told you long ago.
When someone tunes into someone’s feelings and emotions during a conversation it can help the speaker feel heard and cared for.
This will usually lead to that person trusting you very quickly, and possibly showing you who they are much sooner.
Therapists have to learn some of these skills to help them dig deep into your life within a short time frame, but if you possess these already, you might find that they enable you to read people well.
2) Non-judgmental
Following on from having good listening skills, is being non-judgemental in your listening.
This psychologist says that listening in this way allows us to learn more quickly about the person speaking.
Think about how you feel and act when speaking to someone and they’re judging you. I know I close right up and don’t share much with them.
So, being open and understanding when someone is speaking to you will have the opposite effect.
Most people will open up much more if they know they are in an environment safe from judgment. So you can quickly get a feel for the kind of person they are.
3) You listen to your intuition
Have you ever had the feeling that something isn’t right, only to find out later that your gut feeling was on point?
Or perhaps you felt in your gut that you should take a risk, and it worked out better than you could have dreamed.
That’s your intuition.
Since I began to trust my gut feelings, I’ve noticed that I am able to figure people out a lot easier than before.
I get burned less by manipulators and have met some wonderful people I might have dismissed previously. It makes me a lot happier and life much less complicated!
This psychologist explains why listening to that gut feeling is so important and shares many other benefits along with understanding others better.
“But what if I’m just overthinking it?” you might ask. Don’t worry because this article also explains what to look for when it’s your intuition and when it’s just your brain playing with you.
4) You can read emotional energy
I know you might think this sounds a bit hippy-dippy or made-up. But reading emotional energy isn’t about being telepathic, it’s all about picking up on the vibe people give off.
According to psychology, there are a few different ways to read someone’s emotional energy such as:
- Senses someone’s presence – is it friendly or do they make you want to run for the hills?
- Watching people’s eyes
- Noticing how physical touch feels, eg a hug, handshake, etc.
- Listening to the tone of their voice and their laugh
All of these can give us clues as to the vibe of the person very quickly. A limp handshake might mean they are nervous.
A soothing tone of voice may mean they are kind and friendly. The list goes on.
5) Noticing manipulative behaviors
Have you ever met someone and noticed they don’t treat people very nicely?
Perhaps it’s the way they treat the staff in a restaurant or the way they’re speaking to someone on the phone.
It’s usually the little things that add up which show the true colors of a manipulator.
Noticing manipulative behaviors is an absolute gift because so many people don’t see them at first and get sucked in easily.
When you’re around people like this, you may notice yourself instinctively using “I” statements to shut down their behavior.
This psychologist explains that doing this is a super effective way to show them that you know what they’re up to and they’re not in control.
Before I learned how to read people I always saw the best in everyone. This meant that I ended up being manipulated by a few different people over the years.
It can be embarrassing when you don’t see someone for what they are and they take advantage of you.
These days I’m a bit more wary when I meet someone who seems like they want their way all the time.
6) You’re highly empathetic
Can you think of a time when someone was sharing something personal or emotional with you and you shared with them that you understood how they were feeling? That’s showing empathy.
When you express empathy, you’re showing that you care about what the other person is saying.
And, just as it is with active listening, you gain the person’s trust by doing so they will share more of themself with you.
Psychologists explain that if you are highly empathic, you are more able to put yourself in the shoes of others, and therefore read them better because you’re thinking about how things might be from their perspective.
7) High emotional intelligence
You may have heard of IQ (Intelligence Quotient), but what about EQ (Emotional Quotient)?
Emotional intelligence is the ability to manage and regulate your emotions as well as the emotions of others.
It’s all very well being able to keep yourself in check, but how well can you manage others when they’re emotional?
A result of being very empathetic is that you may develop a higher emotional intelligence.
According to these psychologists, people with a high level of emotional intelligence are better at reading others. This is because they know their own and others’ emotional states.
Can you think of a time when you walked into a room and knew someone was upset, angry, or frustrated?
That’s being aware of their emotional state. But what sets you apart as a gifted people reader, is what you did after you noticed that person’s emotions.
Were you able to help them, calm them down, or make their situation slightly better? If so, well done.
If you find yourself doing this often, congratulations, you are likely to be naturally gifted at reading people!
