Sunday, November 29, 2009

Negotiation Secret # 277:
The Conventional Steeple:
Use it on Rare Occasions and in Small Doses



















This is Mr. Ewald Nowotny. He's a Governing Council Member of the European Central Bank.  This conventional "Steeple" gesture (emblem) he's using is a sign that should be used vary sparingly. While it can project confidence, more often than not it backfires and sends signals of arrogance.  In this particular photo, arrogance is strongly projected.  

Mr. Nowotny is also leaning backward which is disengaging.  He believes he knows what's best and he is closed off to all other options. His backward head tilt and accompanying "looking down his nose" expression is also strongly consistent with arrogance.  

Do you think as a governing member of the European Central Bank he lacks experience?  Do you believe his intention was to appear arrogant?

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Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Leadership Body Language Secret # 103:
High Confidence vs. Low Confidence Stance -
Who's Leading Who?

























This is a great example of a high confidence female stance contrasting with her low confidence male companion.

Notice the feet (legs) of Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, a London Socialite, are moderately apart - which projects greater confidence, while her unknown guy's feet (legs) are together.   Generals stand with their feet apart. Enlisted men stand with their feet together. Tara's shoulders are relaxed and spread back - his shoulders are hunched forward and elevated.  Her neck is extended and proud.  Mr. unknown's neck is foreshortened and he reminds us a bit of a turtle.  Ms. Palmer-Tomkinson's body and her face are pointed more towards us - his body is pointed away. Her eyes are open and alert - his eyes look tired.  Her face shows a mild social smile - his mouth is more neutral. While Tara is holding her purse, his hand - except for his thumb - is in his pocket. While he could have displayed even less confidence if his whole hand were tucked in his pocket, in this setting even part of his hand is his pocket screams "Don't talk to me - I am not confident!"

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Sunday, November 1, 2009

Flirting and Romance Secret No. 39: Affectionate vs. Non-Affectionate Hug • Tom Cruze and Cameron Diaz (PHHOTO)







































In this photograph of Tom and Cameron hugging, Ms. Diaz is more affectionate than Mr. Cruise.  First notice how Mr. Cruise is turned away from the hug. His feet and his body are pointed away from Cameron.  When the lower body is turned and separated in a hug, there's not much affection.  He's also only hugging with one arm.   It would be interesting to see what his eyes look like, but his mouth is certainly not consistent with happiness.  His mid-face and mouth are tightened.  Mr. Cruise is normally pretty good at expressing a smile when he tries, but here we glimpse into his actual emotions in real-time.

Cameron leans into the hug, and although her lower body is still separated from Tom she is showing more affection (The most affectionate hugs are when the lower bodies are touching as well as the upper bodies).  Ms. Diaz's feet and her entire body are pointed towards Mr. Cruise and she is hugging with both arms. I'd wager she had a true smile on her face at the moment this photograph was taken.

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