The more in sync the subjects’ head movements were, the more creative ideas they found.

The big question is: By quantifying body language, “can you get deeper into understanding the mental state?” says Jeremy Bailenson, director of Stanford University’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab. We can fake answers to questions to mask our true feelings, but it’s a lot harder to fake our unconscious bodily reactions.

The researchers even showed a correlation between a teacher’s irregular movements and poor test scores. “When I teach, I pace the entire time,” Bailenson says. “This data is showing that this is probably not a great strategy.”

A second study examined idea generation, asking couples to brainstorm water-conservation ideas. The more in sync the subjects’ head movements were, the more creative ideas they found.

So if a work project isn’t going as well as planned, perhaps the answer isn’t banging a head against the wall or yelling at your poor employees. Perhaps the answer is switching up the team. Instead of matching person A and B, switch it up with person C. Check their body language for signs of creativity as they work together.