By Scott T. Allison

In 2026 we have released our new book on Motional Intelligence (MI) — a concept we believe fills a major gap in how we understand human interaction. MI refers to the ability to use body movement intentionally to influence others, to accurately read the movements of those around us, and to regulate our own physical behavior in shifting social situations. In short, it’s the intelligence of movement — the missing sibling of emotional intelligence.

Where emotional intelligence focuses on recognizing and managing feelings, MI centers on the moving body itself: posture, gesture, timing, rhythm, stillness, synchrony, and physical presence. It asks how movement shapes perception, connection, influence, and social meaning. And once you start paying attention to MI, you see it everywhere.

We form impressions of people long before they speak. Confidence, anxiety, warmth, dominance, awkwardness — we infer these qualities from motion: how someone enters a room, occupies space, approaches others, or carries themselves physically. Human beings are constant motion‑readers, often without realizing it.

Heroism, too, may depend heavily on MI. Before anyone is recognized as a hero, they are often first perceived as calm under pressure, physically decisive, emotionally grounded, or willing to step forward when others hesitate. Movement becomes the first visible signal of courage and agency.

Motional Intelligence explores this overlooked dimension of social life — and how understanding it can deepen our relationships, strengthen our leadership, and illuminate the subtle choreography of human connection.