Reading Between the Lines

Why Reading Between the Lines Matters

One of the most important and underrated skills you can develop in corporate America and in life is learning how to read between the lines. It’s not just about hearing what’s said in a meeting, but also catching what’s not said. That skill can shape how you navigate politics, climb the career ladder, build influence, and, ultimately, protect your sanity.

In many ways, reading between the lines is about understanding context, subtext, and intent. For example, when an executive doesn’t respond to a direct question or follow up on a request, that silence is an answer in itself. Don’t push it. Knowing when not to escalate is often more valuable than making noise. To do that well, you need to understand people’s motivations. Ask yourself: What’s their "why"? Why are they here? What drives them? What pressures are they under? What are they chasing or afraid of losing?

Empathy, curiosity, and emotional intelligence are at the heart of reading between the lines. When you can see through someone else's lens, you’re far better equipped to navigate the unspoken dynamics at play. These traits allow you to decode behavior, anticipate reactions, and engage more thoughtfully. It’s not just about decoding silence or tone; it’s about genuinely understanding what might be driving someone’s actions.

This mindset creates the foundation for influence, connection, and strategic navigation, especially in high-stakes environments like corporate leadership or cross-functional teams. By tuning into these subtleties, you're not just reacting to what’s visible, but you’re preparing for what’s ahead.

When Misalignment Isn't Malice: A Real-World Example

Here’s a real-world example. In one experience, we had a situation where another internal team kept engaging our business stakeholders directly without looping in me or my team. The outcome? Confusion, duplicated conversations, and a perception that IT was disjointed. At first, I was frustrated. I couldn’t understand why they kept sidestepping us.

So I paused and took a step back. I started to study their leadership, tried to understand the climate they were operating in, and began piecing together their “why.” What I found changed everything. Their team was under intense pressure from executive leadership to deliver, and they felt like their backs were against the wall. They were scrambling because they believed their survival depended on it. They weren’t trying to be difficult. They were merely trying to stay afloat.

Another takeaway was seeing how this team responded under pressure. It revealed a lot about how to work with and what to expect when things aren't going so well. I always tell my directs and the folks I mentor, "When everything is great, everyone’s great. But when things get tough, that’s when you see who people really are." Surround yourself with people that you know will have your back when things are great, but especially when things are going to shit.

Understanding the Why

Once I understood that, my team and I changed how we engaged that team. We adjusted how we managed communication with the business and looked for ways to support that other team in a manner that drove win-win opportunities. That small shift in mindset helped smooth over friction, build trust, and ultimately led to a more unified front.

The reality is, most people aren’t acting out of malice. Most of the time they’re reacting to pressure, fear, or internal chaos. The onus is on us to recognize that. Doing so requires patience, empathy, and the willingness to ask questions that go deeper than surface-level behavior.

Life Beyond Work

This applies outside of work too. In your personal life, not everyone will be upfront about what they need or how they feel. Learning to observe tone, timing, and behavior patterns is just as crucial in your relationships as it is in your career.

Reading between the lines doesn’t make you manipulative. It makes you human. It means you’re paying attention. It means you’re thinking about the people behind the emails, requests, or reactions. And in a world full of noise, that kind of clarity is rare and valuable.