The real-time, interpersonal skill of discerning the mood, dynamics, and unspoken agendas within a small, gathered set of people (a project team, a friend group, a meeting). This involves noticing body language, who is making eye contact with whom, who is silent but rolling their eyes, and the subtle pressure points in the conversation. It's about sensing alliances, tensions, and the group's tolerance for certain topics in the moment.
Example: At a work meeting, continuing to push your idea when your boss has subtly shifted in their seat and two key colleagues have gone quiet is failing to Read the Group. The skilled reader notices the cooling vibe, pivots to "maybe we can revisit this with more data," and saves their social capital for a more receptive moment.
by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 3, 2026
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