Have you ever wondered why some people instantly know whether there's chemistry on a first date, while others take weeks to decide? And how do some people connect with co-workers so quickly, when others struggle to find common ground? The answers are a matter of perception.

Perceiving and responding to your emotions and the emotions of those around you helps build and strengthen relationships with friends, family and co-workers. But this kind of sensitivity is a tricky thing. People who have too much of it may get caught up in what others are thinking, while the less perceptive lean toward self-centred decisions. So, where do your perception skills fall in this range, and how can you take advantage of and build on these skills? Take this seven-question quiz to find out:

How perceptive are you?
Question 1 of 7 At work, you overhear some co-workers whispering, and: wonder if they are speaking negatively about you write it off as office gossip, which doesn't concern you speculate on why they didn't include you, especially given your awareness of some issues that concern them