A former CIA agent has revealed the tactics he learned while working as a spy that he believes everyone can use to strengthen their love life and get ahead at work.

Andrew Bustamante, 45, from Colorado Springs, Colorado, is a former undercover intelligence officer who now dedicates his time to teaching others how to improve their lives through his company, Everyday Spy.

During his years as an undercover government agent, he was taught an immense set of skills that he still uses to this day… and he thinks others should implement them too.

And according to the spy, adding these simple skills to your life can nourish your relationships and help you snag that promotion you’ve been eyeing.

‘Every skill the CIA taught me was designed for survival – mental, emotional, and social,’ he explained during an exclusive chat with the Daily Mail.

‘I still use them every day. CIA officers learn to read rooms, build trust fast, and influence without authority.

‘Situational awareness, reading body language, managing emotional responses and controlling the flow of information in any interaction are core parts of who I am now.’

Bustamante, who is married, explained that there are is one vital thing that he was taught during his time as a CIA agent that he believes has greatly impacted his romance: being able to see things from someone else’s perspective.

‘Healthy relationships – personal or professional – rely on honesty, empathy, and perspective-taking,’ he said.

‘The CIA taught me to see the world through someone else’s lens. When you can truly understand another person’s motivation, you can connect more deeply and resolve conflict more effectively.

‘The key is understanding how people form opinions and emotions, then using that knowledge to guide outcomes that serve everyone involved.’

He also suggested viewing your relationships as ‘transactional’ in order to build a ‘balanced partnership.’

‘Every relationship involves an exchange: time, trust, emotion, or energy. Recognizing that reality doesn’t make it cold, it makes it intentional,’ he shared.

‘When you understand what both sides value, you stop taking people for granted and start building balanced partnerships.’

When it comes to getting ahead in the work place, Bustamante suggested you focus on implementing three vital skills.

First, you should master observation before action, as he explained: ‘Most people react too quickly. Intelligence work teaches you to watch first, then move.’

Next, he said to work on your ’emotional control,’ and stressed the importance of being able to stay ‘calm’ in any situation.

Lastly, he said you should always be ‘strategic’ with your communication.

‘Every word you say either builds or destroys trust. Learn to use silence as often as speech,’ he said.

Bustamante’s career has included a 15-year stint in the US Air Force serving as a nuclear missile officer.

He was later decorated for his service in Iraq and Afghanistan, before being recruited into the CIA where he worked for seven years as a covert operations officer.

Being in the CIA also taught him to stay safe at all times by using ‘situational awareness.’

‘I never walk blind. I constantly map exits, observe behavior patterns and use reflections and shadows to expand my field of view,’ he explained. ‘It’s not paranoia – it’s preparation.’

He recommended you always ‘keep your head up’ and ‘phone down’ when you’re walking, and to make a habit of ‘scanning faces, hands and movement’ because they often tell you more than words.

‘Trust your intuition; your subconscious notices danger before your conscious mind does,’ he added.