Are they really listening?

Illustration

The fact that someone smiles and nods when you talk does not always mean that he or she is really listening to you. Whether you are sitting in front of a colleague, a client or a friend of yours, they are often thinking about what they will say in response more than what you are saying. How can you find out whether people are just pretending to listen? Learn to read their body language. The Business Insider website recommends to look for the following signs.

Eye contact

If a person's gaze is fixed for a long time and his head is still, the person is trying to simulate an interest in you. An honest conversation is reflected in relaxed gestures.

Too fixed and too big smile

Do not only look at the smile, but the whole face. Do the person's eyes smile as well? A stiff smile is always suspicious, even if it is from ear to ear wide.

Fidgety hands

Our hands can reveal what our face is hiding. Impatience is manifested in tapping fingers, doodling or playing with the phone.

Nervous movements

In addition to hands, other movements we can't control can reveal our lack of attention. These include feet tapping, playing with your hair, moving on a chair, etc.

Body turned away from you

If the person listening to you turns only his head towards you, he is not listening too carefully. Feet turned to face the door are reliable indicator of disinterest. The body is simply subconsciously trying to escape.

No mirroring

A person who is not listening to you does not mirror your body language. His movements are not synchronized with yours.

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Article source Business Insider - American business and technology news
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