Human forecasting.
No, not market trends or demand planning.
I mean forecasting people.
Reading a room. Spotting emotional undercurrents.
Working out what someone is really feeling, and what they’re likely to do next.
This is the skill that underpins almost every important stakeholder decision. The better you are at it, the more effective you become.
Over the years, I’ve trained in behavioural science and nonverbal communication to sharpen this exact ability. It’s helped me understand what’s really going on in a negotiation, in a meeting, or during moments of tension or uncertainty.
And the good news is, it’s not about guessing or relying on gut instinct.
It’s about tuning into five observable channels:
- Facial expressions
- Tone of voice
- Body language
- Gestures
- Verbal style and word choice
Together, these channels give clues to how people feel, what they might be holding back, and whether what they say aligns with what they actually mean.
In procurement and commercial roles, this can make the difference between spotting a red flag early or missing a key signal in a complex stakeholder relationship.
Human forecasting is especially powerful when it comes to:
- Managing high-pressure meetings
- Navigating conflict or resistance
- Building rapport and trust quickly
- Knowing when to push, pause or pivot in negotiations
At BAO, we’re committed to helping you go beyond the exam spec. This is just one of the many real-world leadership skills we build into our approach.
If you want to know more about how to read people more effectively or apply this skill in negotiations and supplier conversations, reply to this email.
Depending on the level of depth you are wanting, this can be delivered as a one or two day training course.
I’d love to share more. If you are interested in our procurement people skills training check out our brochure here