The Benefits of Recognizing Social Cues
Louisiana REALTORS • April 28, 2020
We communicate in a variety of ways.
However, there are two distinct ways that we share information with one another; verbal and non-verbal. While verbal communication is pretty straightforward, learning how to read between the lines and pick up on the subtleties of body language can mitigate a lot of problems. Furthermore, the nuances of social cues, which can be verbal and non-verbal, provide a lot of valuable insight. This is especially true for REALTORS®. Because you work with many different people
in many different situations, understanding what isn’t being said can be just as important as what is, for you to make the best decisions.
What are Social Cues?
Social cues encompass a variety of behaviors that communicate different information. Some examples of social cues are:
- Vocal tone
- Hand gestures
- Facial expressions
- Posture
- Eye contact
- Body movement
Depending on any given situation, picking up on these cues can help you better understand what a person means and how they actually feel. Social cues allow us to fuel our intuition and reduce ambiguity during interactions with others.
How Can You Recognize Certain Social Cues?
Here are some common social cues and the messages they are conveying.
Fidgeting – Twirling a pen, playing with hair, and foot tapping are fidgeting behaviors. They can be signs of anxiety or disinterest. While some of these may be unintentional habits, they can put off the wrong signals. They are also signs that you may need to change the subject or find a way to regain their attention.
Crossed arms – Crossed arms are considered a defensive stance. This is a physical representation of being closed or standoffish.
Mirroring – Mirroring behaviors occur when someone is taking the same physical positions as you. Tone of voice and stance are examples of simple things for someone to imitate. When this happens, it is typically a sign of someone trying to genuinely engage with you.
Posture – Your posture speaks volumes about how you truly feel about any given situation. Slouching and other relaxed positions convey being tired or unengaged. Attentive posture shows interest in a discussion.
Tone – The inflection, volume, and register of your voice are emotional responses that directly present how someone feels. Higher registers suggest excitement. Lower registers denote more serious topics. The tone of someone’s voice is naturally easy to gauge and perceive.
While we all communicate differently, understanding how to collect all points of communication and the information being shared is an important skill. Picking up on what is, and isn’t being said, can help you become an even more knowledgeable REALTOR®.
Louisiana’s 2026 Regular Session opened this week with several developments that matter directly to REALTORS ®, property managers and housing providers, alongside some broader political shifts worth watching. HB 292: Security Deposit Return Timelines Rep. Delisha Boyd’s HB 292, which addresses procedures for returning residential security deposits, was deferred to next week. This provides additional time for stakeholders to engage with members on practical impacts for lease administration, move out inspections and documentation standards. We’ll continue working to ensure any changes to deposit law are clear, workable and do not expose housing providers to unreasonable liability. Land Use and Development: St. James Parish Decision The Louisiana Supreme Court’s recent St. James Parish decision significantly tightens the standards for overturning local land use decisions, reinforcing that zoning and permitting authority rests with parish and municipal governments as long as their decisions are not arbitrary or capricious. For real estate and development, that means more predictability if projects are aligned with adopted plans and ordinances, but also higher stakes in local elections, planning processes and parish-level negotiations. Governor’s State of the State In his State of the State address, Governor Jeff Landry reiterated his push to phase out the state income tax, expand the LA GATOR and MJ Foster scholarship and workforce programs, and replace vehicle inspection stickers with a QR code system. These programs frame a debate around long-term competitiveness, workforce readiness and household cost of living which are all key drivers of housing demand and migration patterns. Business & Market Trends The business community is focusing the session on insurance, workforce and energy. Commercial and property insurance costs remain a top concern for employers and property owners, and we are monitoring civil justice and insurance reform proposals that could affect market stability and availability. At the same time, Louisiana is seeing more than $100 billion in announced industrial and data center projects, which could reshape local markets, labor conditions and housing needs in multiple regions of the state. Please view the weekly bill tracking report at the link below provided by our lobbying team over at Harris, DeVille and Associates.
Learn how Louisiana real estate regulations, disclosure laws, and licensing standards help protect homebuyers and create safer, more transparent transactions.
Nominations are open now through April 24, 2026, for the Louisiana REALTORS® 2025 REALTOR® of the Year & the 2025 Lawrence R. DeMarcay, Jr. Distinguished Service Award. Both awards are aimed to showcase an individual who has volunteered their time in service to the real estate industry. Recipients of the awards will be recognized during the Spring Legislative Conference. (Registration coming soon!) Please see the below links with the selection criteria and consider submitting a nomination today. Contact Donna Teekel at (225) 224-0704 or dteekel@larealtors.org with any questions.
