Better Body Language
What is your body language saying about you?
Professional actors are finely tuned to their emotions, enabling them to speak with the movement of a hand. An effective spokesperson also makes use of body movements to convey appropriate emotion.
The following gestures and expressions are considered positive and convey personal interest and self-confidence:
- Look people in the eye;
- Lean slightly forward, if seated;
- Make hand movements that occur naturally as a supplement to what you are saying;
- Listen intently to anyone who asks a question;
- Listen to what other people have to say.
The following gestures and expressions tend to be negative and convey tension and nervousness:
- Inappropriate smiling, laughter;
- Tightly clasped hands;
- Hands gripping sides of chairs, tables, knees;
- Hands toying with pencils, water glasses, buttons, microphones;
- Drumming on the tabletop;
- Tightening and loosening of jaw;
- A ramrod straight, unnatural posture.
These movements convey impatience and discomfort:
- Swinging legs;
- Shifting in chair;
- Shifting eyes.
These movements convey guilt and disinterest:
- Casting eyes toward ceiling;
- Failure to look at the audience;
- Slouching posture;
- Closing eyes.
Where in the World is Anthony?
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Gave a speech this morning at a construction association breakfast near Detroit on the increasing importance of talking in this new world of A.I. Communications tip 5: A person forms a perception of you within 30 seconds based largely on how you communicate. Make it count.
Spoke this morning in rainy Chicago. Crisis tip 14: Afraid to do the news interview? You have 0% chance of getting any positive in the story. Forget the fear, and embrace the opportunity to protect your reputation.
Spent all day in Ft. Wayne, Indiana speaking at a construction-industry leadership program. Crisis communications tip 29: Using social media to drive traffic to accurate information that you've put on your website will significantly decrease misinformation.
Gave a keynote this morning on Maryland's beautiful Eastern Shore. Body Language Tip 9: If you have a habit of swaying or rocking, put 1 foot forward, the other slightly open and perpendicular to it. It'll lock you in place. And watch the swivel chairs when doing virtual calls!
Speaking this week in Maryland and Indiana. Presenting tip 43: Never turn your back on the audience to read your PowerPoint slide. In fact, never read your PowerPoint slide, period.