Tom Verrall

You enter the conversation feeling composed. Then the other person becomes defensive. Their voice tightens. They interrupt. Perhaps they accuse you of something you believe is unfair. Before long, your pace has quickened. Your shoulders have risen. You are listening less carefully and preparing your defence. Their emotional state has begun to become yours. This is emotional contagion: our tendency to absorb and reflect the emotions of those around us, often without consciously realising it....

Fidgeting is often treated as a body-language failure, but repetitive movements usually serve a purpose. Touching your face, clicking a pen, adjusting your clothes or shifting position may release nervous energy, provide sensory regulation or help you concentrate. The more useful question is not simply, ‘How do I stop fidgeting?’ rather: How can I help my body feel settled enough that it no longer needs to work so hard? Why do we fidget when speaking? In high-pressure situations, the nervous...

You’re halfway through a presentation. It’s going rather well. Then, without warning, the next thought disappears. Not becomes slightly hazy: disappears. Your mind is suddenly an empty stage. You can hear the silence, feel people looking at you and become acutely aware of your own face. At this point, many of us do something that makes the situation worse: we panic, apologise and begin frantically searching for the missing words. Actors know this feeling well. Lines can vanish, cues can be...