On Understanding People

Behavior is a mirror in which every one displays his own image.
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The idea that behaviour is a mirror interests me - yes, my behaviour does reflect my inner thoughts and feelings SOME of the time but perhaps he means that this is the mirror where we can see a true reflection of our own selves - the real function of a mirror. Or am I just havering? Anyway, it is certainly true that we must dig deeper than behavior to really get to know people. In the words of Dev Patnaik and Michael Barry of the Product Design Faculty at Stanford University:

Watch what people do
Listen to what people say
Listen to what people SAY about what they DO
......particularly the stories.