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®.
The National Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors approved a 2026 budget with no dues increase and passed a Professional Standards Recommendation to clarify language in NAR Code of Ethics Standard of Practice 10-5, which prohibits harassment of any person or persons protected under Article 10 of the Code. A day earlier, the Executive Committee approved another Professional Standards change, revising language for Policy Statement 29 designed to ensure state and local associations can fairly and consistently enforce the Code of Ethics. Learn more about the changes. Read the revised Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. Board members also approved a consent agenda to elect the 2026 officers and regional vice presidents . Christine Hansen of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., was elected 2026 President-Elect, and Colin Mullane of Ashland, Ore. was elected 2026 First Vice President. The meeting opened with a video message from President Donald Trump, who welcomed REALTORS® to Washington and thanked them for support of the House-passed tax reform. NAR routinely invites the U.S. president to address REALTORS® at the Washington meetings. Over NAR's history, nine sitting presidents have addressed the association. Board Actions Approved a series of Finance Committee recommendations, accepting the association’s financial statement, approving the 2026 operating and advocacy budgets, and keeping dues at $156. The board actions also redirect $35 of the $45 Consumer Advertising Campaign assessment to operating funds. This change positions NAR to make its next settlement payment in February 2026 and maintain a balanced budget without raising total dues. The remaining $10 for the Consumer Advertising Campaign will fund optimized, metrics-driven activities that reach and engage consumers in critical markets. NAR CEO Nykia Wright and President Kevin Sears explained the shift at the opening session of the conference . Amended Standard of Practice 10-5 to give state and local associations greater clarity in how to fairly and consistently enforce Article 10 of the Code of Ethics. The amended Standard of Practice says that REALTORS®, in their capacity as real estate professionals, in association with their real estate businesses, or in their real estate-related activities, shall not harass any person or persons based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Made a series of recommendations to the Standards of Practice to bring the language in line with the terms of NAR’s 2024 settlement. Approved a motion to make one member of the Executive Committee a commercial practitioner who has served as chair, vice chair or liaison of an NAR commercial-related committee or forum to serve a two-year term and be independent of the 10% commercial representation requirement outlined in the NAR Constitution. Approved a recommendation from the Credentials and Campaign Rules Committee to amend qualifications for president-elect, first vice president and treasurer effective Jan. 1, 2026. Qualifications for top-line officers are now aligned with those already in place for regional vice presidents. Approved recommendations from the Member Accountability Committee related to applications for volunteer leadership and the Statement of Appropriate Event Conduct. The goal of the recommendations is to ensure members found in violation of the NAR Member Code of Conduct are properly disclosed. Award Winners NAR President Kevin Sears announced the 2025 Distinguished Service Award winners James P. Cormier , AHWD, C2EX, of Minneapolis-St. Paul, and Brooke S. Hunt , AHWD, E-PRO, SFR, SRS, C2EX , of Flower Mound, Texas. In addition, the group recognized the winner of the 2024 William R. Magel Award, Anne Marie DeCatsye , CEO of the Canopy REALTOR® Association and Canopy MLS in the Charlotte, N.C., metro area. REALTORS® Relief Foundation During the meeting, REALTORS® Relief Foundation President Greg Hrabcak appealed to board members to make a tax-deductible donation. The fund provides housing assistance to victims in the immediate aftermath of a disaster; 100% of funds donated go to disaster relief. “We’ve had devastating wildfires in California, tornadoes in Missouri and Kentucky and flooding in West Virginia, and we’re still in the first half of this year,” Hrabcak said. Before the meeting ended, directors had donated more than $41,000.
Whether you’re working in Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lafayette, or anywhere in between, here’s how you can use Homeownership Month to elevate your real estate marketing and better serve your community.
Here are key insights and ready-to-use talking points to show your clients how homeownership is more than just a place to live—it's a smart strategy for long-term wealth building, especially right here in our state.
