New research suggests people can reliably detect a change in their surroundings, even if they cannot accurately describe what the change was.
The research suggests the ability is due to cues picked up from conventional senses such as sight. Because it has been little understood in the past, it has formed a key part of the field extrasensory perception (ESP), which also included things like clairvoyance.
The research, which came out of a year-long study from the University of Melbourne, is – according to the author – the first to show people can sense information they cannot verbalise.
When I interviewed Daniel Pink, author of NYT bestseller Drive, he told me that mindfulness and attention to detail are two of the most constant predictors of workplace success.
The complexity of the modern working environment means that those who can identify risk factors and changes from the norm can help companies stop bad things happening.
Identifying candidates who are capable of processing their environment thoroughly should be a priority.
A related term is high sensitivity, which has been historically gravely misunderstood in the workplace – to the detriment of productivity worldwide.
