Maya Angelou said, “When someone shows you who they are, believe them.” We can all relate to this quote, yet we still tend to ignore the subtle and not-so-subtle cues we get from others about who they are. Watch the little things, like how someone treats a server in a restaurant, if they hold the door for others, and how they talk about others when they aren’t around.
Don’t just watch when things are going well. It’s especially important to look at times when people are under stress. This is a microscope into who they really are. You may not worry when you see how someone treats others because it doesn’t impact you. Beware that ultimately, that’s likely how they will treat you. If someone screams at people in meetings, sooner or later, they will be screaming at you in meetings too.