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# Gavin Stone | Master the Art of Reading People: Ex-Intelligence Officer's Top Cues to Trust and Deception
- URL: https://www.thebeyondpodcast.com/blog/gavin-stone-master-the-art-of-reading-people-ex-intelligence-officers-top-cues-to-trust-and-deception/
- Published: 2025-10-20T11:14:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-07-29T14:27:17.000Z
- Description: Ex-intelligence officer Gavin Stone shares his secrets to reading body language, detecting lies, and mastering influence, straight from the world of spies and C
- Author: Elliott King
- Tags: insight

Former intelligence officer and communications expert **Gavin Stone** sits down with podcaster, YouTuber, speaker, influencer, media commentator Aleksandra King on the [**The BEYOND Podcast podcast**](https://thebeyondpodcast.com) to decode the non-verbal world. Drawing on his experience tracking spies and advising CEOs, Gavin shares the top skills you need to become a master at quickly and accurately reading others.

#### **The Biggest Body Language Myth: One Cue, One Thought**

Gavin Stone debunks the most common misconception about body language: that one movement equals one thought. Forget the idea that folded arms automatically mean someone is lying or closed off. Instead, you must look for "clusters" of non-verbal cues:

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/5e/74/5e74ba0c-c249-4586-8ce5-03deb56fdf93/content/images/2026/07/tbp-insight-7911073583.webp)

- A cluster consists of **three or more** simultaneous tells.
- If you see fewer than three, **discount it entirely**.
- Tells can include things like a subject pulling their feet in, looking down, having a quickened blink rate, or getting "clunky speech".

> "There’s no one thing that gives away, uh, a thought or an action or, or anything else. It's what you're looking for is clusters".

#### **The Science of Stress: Blink Rate and Breathing**

If you only had 60 seconds to learn a single trick to read people, Gavin recommends focusing on:

- **Blink Rate:** Blink rate changes directly in response to stress. When concentrating (watching a film, reading), the blink rate is very low (maybe one or two per minute).In a high-stress situation, it can jump up to 90 blinks per minute. To quickly measure, count blinks over six seconds and multiply by ten.
- **Breath Location:** A person's breathing pattern reveals their level of comfort. Belly breathing may indicate a person is generally more relaxed while chest breathing is associated with nerves or excitement.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/5e/74/5e74ba0c-c249-4586-8ce5-03deb56fdf93/content/images/2026/07/tbp-insight-8520088496.webp)

#### **Building Credibility: The Power of Slow Movement**

A fast, rapid pace instantly **weakens your credibility and authority**. Gavin likens this to the animal kingdom:

- **Predators** (like a tiger) move with **steady, controlled movement**.
- **Prey** scatter, look around, and have very quick, sharp, snappy movements.

To communicate **calm authority**, take charge of the room by doing everything a little bit slower: talking slower, breathing slower, and walking slower. Being the **most comfortable person in the room** gives you an immediate advantage.

#### **The Linguistic Red Flag: Avoiding Denial**

When asked a direct question, listen carefully for whether the subject actually issues a **denial**.

- If someone asks, "Have you had my wallet?" a response like, "I haven't even seen your wallet" or "I don't know where you keep your wallet" is **not a denial**.
- They've pacified you with a statement but haven't directly answered the question with a "no," which is a key linguistic red flag to watch for.

#### **Key Takeaways**

- **Baseline People:** You must first establish a **baseline** of what normal behavior looks like for an individual in a specific situation before you can spot a deviation.
- **Know Their Perception:** The big difference in successful communication is knowing **how a person wants to be perceived**, not just who they are.
- **Lying is Stressful:** The difficulty and energy it takes to lie cause physiological reactions like an elevated blink rate.

Interested? Watch the full podcast on the [Aleksandra King Youtube Channel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ErdFlJ2-g8&t=51s) or read more about [Gavin Stones SPYQ training.](https://thebeyondpodcast.com/blog/features--gavin-stones-spyq-training-psychological-skills-from-the-worlds-leading-intelligence-agencies/)