People Who Are Highly Observant & Intuitive Usually Do 9 Things While Other People Are Talking
Diva Plavalaguna | Pexels Intuitive and highly observational people pick up on energyn and notice nonverbal cues by taking note of what's right in front of them.
Their intuition feeds their social and cognitive skills, which is part of why they tend do very specific things while other people are talking.
Things highly observant and intuitive people do while others are talking:
1. They shift their body language
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On top of noticing other people's body language, intuitive people also shift their own as they're listening. As people's energies and needs change, so does their nonverbal communication.
They know how to make people feel safe and comfortable without having to say anything. They can anticipate a difficult conversation or situation before it happens, and change how they show up.
2. They take note of unspoken boundaries
Some people can quickly sabotage a new connection or overstep a boundary without realizing it. They're tapped out of social energy and nonverbal cues. But an intuitive person who can sense tension and discomfort before it's verbally expressed can also notice unspoken boundaries early on.
They can spot a tense friendship or a person they're uncomfortable with. They know instantly when a joke didn't land well or when someone's dismissing their own feelings.
3. They make very intentional eye contact
Intentional eye contact can make conversations richer and promote trust, even in the most mundane situations. It's a tender, sometimes scary behavior that we often need to master in daily life.
Intuitive people can get to know someone just by looking in their eyes and noticing the stories their eyes are telling. Even during a conversation, they have a deeper level of understanding and connection that most miss.
4. They notice other people's nonverbal cues
Only around 7% of communication comes from spoken words. The rest, split between body language and other nonverbal cues, is shaped by the kinds of things that usually only the most observant people create space to notice.
When noticing someone's behaviors and all the things they're communicating nonverbally requires some level of internal security, it's usually intuitive and observant people who are comfortable with silence that master the skill.
5. They consider the bigger picture
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During hard conversations or emotional arguments, it's easy to overlook the power of perspective. We forget that we don't know everything about what someone's feeling or going through.
But intuitive people make an effort to really consider others as they're speaking or spending time with them. They have the power to be observant because they can reflect and process as they're talking with someone.
They know how to offer grace and get to the bottom of someone's true needs, even if they don't always have the verbal evidence to support them.
6. They ask the right questions
Active listening isn't just about being with someone and creating space for their words. It's also asking the right questions and leading conversations in intuitive ways that make people feel important and valued.
Intuitive people may sense someone's energy or observe their needs before they have a chance to say them, but the questions they ask are so more nuanced than that. They can anticipate what someone wants to talk about and they can shape conversations to account for all of that.
It's not control, it's empathy. They consider and care about people, even in the most casual, mundane conversations.
7. They match people's energy
For some people, mirroring others is somewhat subconscious, but for intuitive people, it really does build trust and promote better connections. They match someone else's energy to make them feel secure or mirror their body language.
They can both listen to what someone is saying while also noticing their nonverbal cues. Yes, being around someone with a similar personality is comforting, but we underestimate how powerful and secure it feels to be around a person who matches our energy.
8. They think and process before speaking
The words that a truly observant, intuitive person uses in conversations aren't flippant. In fact, they couldn't be more intentional.
Not only do they take the time to pause and reflect in conversations before responding, but they use their words to connect with others and create safe spaces. Instead of waiting for their turn to talk, their silence offers space for understanding and reflection.
They're not thinking about what they're going to say for the sake of grabbing attention. Instead, they're considering what words make conversations most productive.
9. They plan silence
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Silence can be a powerful form of communication and a tool for bridging gaps. Not only does it give everyone a break to reflect, , but it allows an intuitive person to sense the social energy.
They know how to respond thoughtfully because they've been genuinely tapped into what someone else is saying. But they also curate silence for their own sake. Their feelings aren't avoided or suppressed, but reflected on in ways that serve conversations.
Zayda Slabbekoorn is a senior editorial strategist with a bachelor's degree in social relations & policy and gender studies who focuses on psychology, relationships, self-help, and human interest stories.
