How to Increase Your Observational Skills

An observant person accurately gauges their surroundings, noting both mundane and unusual things, people and actions. Increase your observation skills by closely watching and taking in the surrounding environment during daily tasks. Observant people get to know strangers and close friends alike, discover hidden treasures, secrets or shortcuts.

Instructions

1. Make eye contact with everyone and with as many passers-by as possible. Watch for eye contact in return. Reciprocated eye contact is a sign of someone engaged and observing back.

2. Observe people's body language. Body language indicates willingness and desire to interact or communicate, or the lack thereof, between people.

3. Maintain a panoramic view of your surroundings, human and natural/material. Allow the brain to immediately process and release normal information and uninteresting things, to avoid over-thinking.

4. Note abnormal and suspicious things, people, actions and noises. Give a second glance or thought when something catches your senses. Watch for changes in or absence of normal activity and things regularly seen.

5. Join a neighborhood watch group to share and improve your observation skills with neighbors, and help improve community safety. see Resources below.

Tips & Warnings

• Suspicious things include someone running without athletic clothes, abandoned vehicles, bags or other belongings, and persons visibly in distress.

• Take care not to stare or follow people. There's a fine line between people watching and stalking.

• Call the police when you observe suspicious or illegal activity. Don't take justice into your own hands.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• National Crime Prevention Council's Neighborhood Watch for observation tips