Several months ago I presented a seminar to a group of poker players on
how to use nonverbal behavior to read their opponents’ hands and win
more money at the tables. Because poker is a game that emphasizes
bluffing and deception, players have a keen interest in being able to read
the tells of their opponents. For them, decoding nonverbal communica-
tions is critical to success. While many were grateful for the insights I
provided, what startled me was how many seminar participants were able
to see the value of understanding and utilizing nonverbal behavior beyond
the poker table.
Two weeks after the session ended I received an e-mail from one of
the participants, a physician from Texas. “What I find most amazing,” he
wrote me, “is that what I learned in your seminar has also helped me in my
practice. The nonverbals you taught us in order to read poker players have
helped me read my patients, too. Now I can sense when they are uncom-
fortable, confident, or not being entirely truthful.” The doctor’s note speaks
to the universality of nonverbals and their value in all facets of life.
