Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2910: Becky Hammon, First Female Full-Time NBA Assistant Basketball Coach and an Under-used Body Language Illustrator (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Yesterday the San Antonio Spurs hired Becky Hammon as an assistant coach. She is just the second female coach in the history of the NBA - however she's the first in a full-time, salaried assistant position.

As many women leaders know, it is often a difficult balance to be assertive and alpha - and yet to not over-do these emotions. Many leaders, male or female do just that. The opposite extreme - too beta and diminutive is of course not an option. Hitting a happy-medium requires someone with both great interpersonal and intrapersonal skill.

In the sphere of nonverbal communication, there are many alpha-beta hybrids - and they are sorely underutilized. It is pure coincidence that the body language illustrator highlighted here is termed the "Unilateral Basketball Steeple".

While the "Conventional Steeple" is certainly a very strong alpha gesture - if used more than a second or two it will transmit feelings of arrogance and condescending emotional tones (and even when used very briefly, it must be choreographed for specially selected and very important moments of emphasis. See: Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2496:  Would You Buy a Car from this Man? [a Lykan Hypersport?],  Destroying Rapport with Arrogant Body Language)

An outstanding alpha-beta body language alternative to the conventional steeple is the basketball steeple - with the hands gesturing and held apart as if holding an invisible basketball (See: Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2710: Microsoft's New CEO Sayta Nadella's Body Language vs. Bill Gates). In this image (captured at the 9:57 mark) while at a press conference, Becky Hammon uses the unilateral basketball steeple. It is a nonverbal which projects strength, healthy leadership, assertiveness and confidence - and yet it is not over-zealous like the conventional steeple.

There is a ton of great nonverbals in this video - what others do you see?

Congratulations Becky Hammon!

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2102:  The Self-Righteous Head Wiggle and the  Conventional Steeple vs.Basketball Steeple

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2835: Jay Carney Resigns - President Obama Shows Us a Body Language Tell

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2605: President Obama and Health Insurance Cancellation Fix - and an Alpha-Beta Hybrid Body Language Illustrator

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2749: President Obama, Ukraine's Interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and an Alpha-Beta Hybrid

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