Amy Tan Teaches Fiction, Memory, and Imagination

Chris Voss Teaches The Art of Negotiation

Coach K Teaches Values-Driven Leadership

Daniel Negreanu Teaches Poker

Daniel Pink Teaches Sales and Persuasion

David Axelrod and Karl Rove Teach Campaign Strategy and Messaging

David Mamet Teaches Dramatic Writing

Elaine Welteroth Teaches Designing Your Career

Esther Perel Teaches Relational Intelligence

Garry Kasparov Teaches Chess

George Stephanopoulos Teaches Purposeful Communication

Indra Nooyi Teaches Leading with Purpose

John Douglas Teaches How to Think Like an FBI Profiler

Ken Burns Teaches Documentary Filmmaking

Malala Teaches Creating Change

Malcolm Gladwell Teaches Writing

Mira Nair Teaches Independent Filmmaking

N. K. Jemisin Teaches Fantasy and Science Fiction Writing

Penn & Teller Teach the Art of Magic

Phil Ivey Teaches Poker Strategy

President George W. Bush Teaches Authentic Leadership

Robin Roberts Teaches Effective and Authentic Communication

Roxane Gay Teaches Writing for Social Change

Salman Rushdie Teaches Storytelling and Writing

James Clear: Small Habits that Make a Big Impact on Your Life

Stephen Curry Teaches Shooting, Ball-Handling, and Scoring

Tackle the Hard Conversations With Radical Candor®

A Documentary by Academy Award Nominee Andrea Nevins

Walter Mosley Teaches Fiction and Storytelling

Will Wright Teaches Game Design and Theory

Win Workplace Negotiations

The Mental Game

Table Image and Tells

Introduction

How to Analyze

Creating Space From Your Defender

Film Session: Creating Space and Beating Your Defender

Using Timing to Become a Better Persuader

Three-Betting: Hand Review

Spotting Tells, Part 2

Table Talk

Player Profiling

Life as a Poker Player

Game Mechanics

Game Demo: Flooded Market

The Future of Game Design

Making Reads: Adapt to the Situation

Improve Individual Performance

Become the Most Trusted Person at Work

Strengthen Your Workplace Influence

Getting to the Agreement

Decode Your Rivals Using Psychology

Attunement: Finding Common Ground

Persuasive Framing

Introvert, Extrovert, or Ambivert

Labeling

Creating the Illusion of Control

The Value of "No"

Bending Reality

Bargaining

The Power of Negotiation 

Create Epiphanies to Land the Deal

Enhance Empathy in Negotiations

The Cowboy and the Queen

Build Your Network

Interviewing

Mastering Body Language

Embrace the Silence

The Four Cs of Communication 

Meet Your Instructor

Identifying Roles in Relationships

Effective Listening for Better Communication

Cultivating Intimacy

Define Your Core Values

Teams Fail Without Effective Communication

Bounce Back From a Loss

Mirroring

Exercise: Mirroring and Labeling

Making an Authentic Connection

Cultivate a Candid Culture

Hone Your Active Listening Skills

Purpose of Drama

Lies & Truth

The Artist's Responsibility

Genre and “Rules” of Fiction

Meet Your Instructor: Elaine Welteroth

Uncover Your Zone of Genius

You’re Not an Imposter

Telling the Story: Monsoon Wedding

The Fundamentals of Game Design

The Relationship Between Story and Games

Exploring Player Psychology

Elements of Worldbuilding

Micro-worldbuilding: Power Dynamics and Cultural Appropriation

Immersing Your Reader: Choosing a POV

Building a Surrealist Story

Memory, Truth, and Imagination

Character Development

Writing About Trauma

Navigate Social Dynamics in Stories

Creating Buy-In and Courting The Skeptics

Magic Vs. Lying

Sales Trends

Serve Your Audience

Exercise: Creating a Discussion Map

Getting Others to Act

Create a Connection by Mimicking

Make a Habit of Motivation

Determining Your Values

Framing Your Argument 

Getting 1 Percent Better Every Day

Second Law of Behavior Change: Make It Attractive

Third Law of Behavior Change: Make It Easy

Assessing Your Candidate

Persuade Your Audience Insightfully

Becoming a Mindhunter

Learning From a Killer: The Kemper Tapes

Avoiding Cults and Manipulators: Charles Manson

Spotting a Liar: John Wayne Gacy

Understanding Motives: Son of Sam

Predicting Criminal Behavior: The Anchorage Killer

Understanding the Perp and Victim: The Trailside Killer

Identifying Vulnerabilities: Darrell Gene Devier

Determining M.O. vs. Signature: The BTK Strangler

Lifesaving Lessons: Larry Gene Bell

Doing Your Own Profile

Prevent Victimization Through Analysis

Science & Technology

Teaches Economics and Society

Paul Krugman

Paul Krugman Teaches Economics and Society

Teaches Poker Strategy

Phil Ivey

With Noted Experts

Crypto and the Blockchain

Teaches Conservation

Dr. Jane Goodall

Dr. Jane Goodall Teaches Conservation

Teaches Business Innovation

Rosalind Brewer

Rosalind Brewer Teaches Business Innovation

Teaches Scientific Thinking and Communication

Neil deGrasse Tyson

Neil deGrasse Tyson Teaches Scientific Thinking and Communication

Teaches Space Exploration

Chris Hadfield

Chris Hadfield Teaches Space Exploration

Teaches Filmmaking

James Cameron

James Cameron Teaches Filmmaking

Teaches Poker

Daniel Negreanu

Teaches Game Design and Theory

Will Wright

Teaches Disruptive Entrepreneurship 

Richard Branson

Richard Branson Teaches Disruptive Entrepreneurship 

Teaches How to Think Like an FBI Profiler

John Douglas

Teaches Values-Driven Leadership

Coach K

Chris Hadfield and Noted Co-Experts

Crisis Day

Chris Voss and Noted Co-Experts

Small Habits that Make a Big Impact on Your Life

James Clear

Navigating Change

Jay Shetty

Teaches Mathematical Thinking

Terence Tao

Terence Tao Teaches Mathematical Thinking

Teaches Music and Connection

Yo-Yo Ma

Yo-Yo Ma Teaches Music and Connection

Teaches Science and Problem-Solving

Bill Nye

Bill Nye Teaches Science and Problem-Solving

With Leading Experts

Brain Health

Brain Health with Leading Experts

Guided by Leading Experts

Achieve More With GenAI

Gut Health

Gut Health with Leading Experts

Think Like a Boss, Live Like a Legend

Martha Stewart

Teaches The Art of Negotiation

Chris Voss

Teaches the Art of Negotiation

Mike William Krzyzewski, a.k.a [Coach K](https://www.masterclass.com/classes/coach-k-teaches-value-driven-leadership), is a former basketball coach known for winning the most games in the history of men’s college basketball. As head coach at Duke University from 1980–2022, he led the Division I team to more than a thousand victories—including five national championships. 

Before becoming one of the world’s winningest coaches, Coach K graduated from the United States Military Academy and served in the armed forces from 1969–1974, resigning as an Army Captain. Coach K’s military background and success as a basketball coach have made him an expert in [transformational leadership](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-embrace-transformational-leadership-and-inspire-motivation).
Reading others means analyzing [verbal and nonverbal](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/verbal-vs-nonverbal-communication) cues to judge their character, behavior, thoughts, or feelings. It’s the observations you make when interacting with someone that help you determine what kind of person they are. 

Reading another human being often manifests as a [gut feeling](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/gut-feeling). Perhaps the person you’re speaking with oozes self-confidence or displays low [self-esteem](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/self-esteem). Maybe they appear to be an [introvert or an extrovert](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/introvert-vs-extrovert). To read someone effectively, you must pay close attention to their [body language](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-read-body-language), including their posture, eye contact, physical movements, and facial expressions.

A person’s face can tell a lot about how that person feels. For example, research shows that the smile of a person experiencing an authentic positive emotion will employ more facial muscles than if they were faking it. Likewise, body language cues can reveal information about a person. For example, liars are more prone to fidget than people telling the truth.

However, one must be aware of one’s biases when reading people. Gut feelings can help us navigate first impressions, but they rarely tell the whole story. When you first meet someone, read their body language to establish a baseline for their behavior patterns. For example, an anxious person might be more prone to fidgeting, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re dishonest.
For Coach K, reading people goes beyond first impressions. “What I try to do is I try to learn more about people,” he says. “That, to me, is incredibly important in order to be a good leader.” Here are some tips from Coach K on how to read your team: 

1. __Read body language__. “I look at body language all the time,” Coach K says. “We tape every game, but I also tape my bench.” Coach K looks for players who lack enthusiasm when the team makes a big play and seeks the opportunity to address any issues the player may not have expressed verbally.
2. __Know your audience__. “You can show your teams respect by meeting them where they are,” Coach K says. Pay close attention not only to what your team says, but to their body language, how they dress, and tone of voice. Then mirror these qualities in your behaviors. “Do a little bit to let them know [you’re] in their world,” he adds.
3. __Seek understanding__. When relaying a message to someone on a basketball court or in the office, watch people closely to ensure they’ve understood what you said. Micro-expressions are a good sign as to whether or not they received your message. For example, if someone nods but their facial expression shows confusion, find another way to reinforce your message. As Coach K says, “It’s on you to get the message across.”
When you lead a team, what you say isn’t necessarily as important as how you say it. Discover Mike “Coach K”  Krzyzewski’s secret to reading people, giving feedback, and building leaders when you sign up for the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com/).
It’s human nature to make snap judgments based on nonverbal communication, especially when meeting someone for the first time. Accurately reading someone is an important skill for leaders—it can help give you a sense of a person’s feelings, likes, or dislikes, as well as myriad personality traits. Read on to learn more about how to read people with advice from Coach K.

It’s human nature to make snap judgments based on nonverbal communication, especially when meeting someone for the first time. Accurately reading someone is an important skill for leaders—it can help give you a sense of a person’s feelings, likes, or dislikes, as well as myriad personality traits. Read on to learn more about how to read people with advice from Coach K.

Coach K on How to Read People

Mike William Krzyzewski, a.k.a <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/classes/coach-k-teaches-value-driven-leadership' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/classes/coach-k-teaches-value-driven-leadership","linkCopy":"Coach K","category":null}'>Coach K</a>, is a former basketball coach known for winning the most games in the history of men’s college basketball. As head coach at Duke University from 1980–2022, he led the Division I team to more than a thousand victories—including five national championships. Before becoming one of the world’s winningest coaches, Coach K graduated from the United States Military Academy and served in the armed forces from 1969–1974, resigning as an Army Captain. Coach K’s military background and success as a basketball coach have made him an expert in <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-embrace-transformational-leadership-and-inspire-motivation' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-embrace-transformational-leadership-and-inspire-motivation","linkCopy":"transformational leadership","category":null}'>transformational leadership</a>.

Meet Coach K

Reading others means analyzing <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/verbal-vs-nonverbal-communication' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/verbal-vs-nonverbal-communication","linkCopy":"verbal and nonverbal","category":null}'>verbal and nonverbal</a> cues to judge their character, behavior, thoughts, or feelings. It’s the observations you make when interacting with someone that help you determine what kind of person they are. Reading another human being often manifests as a <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/gut-feeling' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/gut-feeling","linkCopy":"gut feeling","category":null}'>gut feeling</a>. Perhaps the person you’re speaking with oozes self-confidence or displays low <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/self-esteem' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/self-esteem","linkCopy":"self-esteem","category":null}'>self-esteem</a>. Maybe they appear to be an <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/introvert-vs-extrovert' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/introvert-vs-extrovert","linkCopy":"introvert or an extrovert","category":null}'>introvert or an extrovert</a>. To read someone effectively, you must pay close attention to their <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-read-body-language' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-read-body-language","linkCopy":"body language","category":null}'>body language</a>, including their posture, eye contact, physical movements, and facial expressions.A person’s face can tell a lot about how that person feels. For example, research shows that the smile of a person experiencing an authentic positive emotion will employ more facial muscles than if they were faking it. Likewise, body language cues can reveal information about a person. For example, liars are more prone to fidget than people telling the truth.However, one must be aware of one’s biases when reading people. Gut feelings can help us navigate first impressions, but they rarely tell the whole story. When you first meet someone, read their body language to establish a baseline for their behavior patterns. For example, an anxious person might be more prone to fidgeting, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re dishonest.

What Does It Mean to Read Someone?

For Coach K, reading people goes beyond first impressions. “What I try to do is I try to learn more about people,” he says. “That, to me, is incredibly important in order to be a good leader.” Here are some tips from Coach K on how to read your team: <ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Read body language. “I look at body language all the time,” Coach K says. “We tape every game, but I also tape my bench.” Coach K looks for players who lack enthusiasm when the team makes a big play and seeks the opportunity to address any issues the player may not have expressed verbally. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Know your audience. “You can show your teams respect by meeting them where they are,” Coach K says. Pay close attention not only to what your team says, but to their body language, how they dress, and tone of voice. Then mirror these qualities in your behaviors. “Do a little bit to let them know [you’re] in their world,” he adds. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Seek understanding. When relaying a message to someone on a basketball court or in the office, watch people closely to ensure they’ve understood what you said. Micro-expressions are a good sign as to whether or not they received your message. For example, if someone nods but their facial expression shows confusion, find another way to reinforce your message. As Coach K says, “It’s on you to get the message across.” </li></ol>

Reading People: 3 Tips From Coach K

When you lead a team, what you say isn’t necessarily as important as how you say it. Discover Mike “Coach K” Krzyzewski’s secret to reading people, giving feedback, and building leaders when you sign up for the <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/","linkCopy":"MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>MasterClass Annual Membership</a>.

Win at Anything

It’s human nature to make snap judgments based on nonverbal communication, especially when meeting someone for the first time. Accurately reading someone is an important skill for leaders—it can help give you a sense of a person’s feelings, likes, or dislikes, as well as myriad personality traits. Read on to learn more about how to read people with advice from Coach K.

It’s human nature to make snap judgments based on nonverbal communication, especially when meeting someone for the first time. Accurately reading someone is an important skill for leaders—it can help give you a sense of a person’s feelings, likes, or dislikes, as well as myriad personality traits. Read on to learn more about how to read people with advice from Coach K.


Use Behavioral Science to Read Others