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?
Gave closing keynote this morning at a conference in Orlando. Social Media Tip 34: Educate yourself on AI Chatbots. A lot of those posts that incense you and make you share them in real life are not created by a human being. We are being manipulated.
Gave keynote this afternoon in Los Angeles. 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 in virtual calls!
Speaking this week in California and Florida. Presenting tip number 1: Secret to wowing any audience is VARIETY: in voice, movement, pace, gestures, visuals, interaction, etc. Mix it up and stop being boring!
Spent the day in Ft Wayne, Indiana speaking at a construction-industry leadership academy. Presenting tip 22: Frenetic movement when presenting is bad (think 'caged tiger'). Instead, slowly ebb and flow like the tide, picking spots to stop and pause along the way.
Spent the day in Indianapolis working with an electrical contractor. Negotiation tip 33: Don't mirror your opponent's demeanor, especially if the tone/questions are negative.