Body Language Analysis No. 4304: Donald Trump's and Kim Jong-un's Handshake in Singapore - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

In a meeting many thought would never happen, Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un made history in Singapore on Tuesday. What follows is a nonverbal analysis of their initial handshake. 

In this first moment leading up to their handshake, Donald Trump is the first to extend his hand as he is walking toward Kim Jong-un. This is a good body language tactic - for it projects initiative, strength, and an overall alpha-tone.

However, simultaneously, President Trump appears to be making a mistake - but it's a ruse. He approaches with his palm oriented upward. By using the palm-up configuration, the American appears to placing himself in the more beta, acquiescing role - inviting the North Korean to be in the more dominant, palm-down position.

If he were to instead approach with his palm in the neutral position (perpendicular to the floor) - he would nonverbally be saying, "We are equals". But here, this component of Trump's body language is a decoy - offering the sentiment, "I will be your subordinate".

But Trump does not maintain this position, for as they get closer, watch what happens. Trump's hand rotates a bit more toward the neutral position - as his hand and arm are retracting closer to his torso. This obligates Kim Jong-un to extend his arm farther.

As the two men get even closer, Trump continues to rotate his hand so that it then becomes perpendicular to the ground. This dynamic facilitates Trump's usual action of pulling the other person's hand/arm close to his own chest - as well as pulling it upward. The upward vectoring of Kim's hand - along with being closer to Trump's torso are both Trump-dominant maneuvers.

Note also that Trump's wrist is not bent - but straight from his elbow to his hand. In distinction, Kim's wrist is bent at a near 90º angle. This is a hyper-alpha maneuver and is uncomfortable - sometimes even overtly painful. 

Despite all this, President Trump, with high likelihood, has been counseled against his hyper-dominant type of handshake - yet he still does it, but somewhat less so with Kim Jong-un compared with most other leaders (Trump has a history of pulling the other person's hand even higher and closer - such that it typically physically touches Trump's mid-to-upper chest).

Trump then extends his left hand and squeezes the lateral aspect of Kim's right upper arm (0:10). While this maneuver exerts dominance and makes Trump look stronger - it's an example of false-affection/false familiarity and often backfires.

A couple seconds later Trump's pull loosens - allowing a more neutral position (although Kim's arm is still somewhat elevated). Note that Kim Jong-un has now straightened his wrist.

The two men's hand-contact lasts about 13 seconds. As Kim Jong-un breaks eye contact first, and begins to rotate his head, Kim's mouth displays a mild expression of pain (0:21). It's probable that Donald Trump deliberately exerted considerably more force than was necessary - or than was wise.

Too many Americans erroneously believe that a handshake should be conducted with maximum squeezing. A proper and rapport-building handshake should include a grip strength equal to the other person's grip. Squeezing too strongly during a handshake is considered rude across the vast majority of cultures.

Less than a second later Donald Trump touches Kim Jong-un again - this time on Kim's left upper arm with Trump's right hand.

A nonverbal display which Trump repeatedly uses with virtually everyone, is he openly choreographs the other person's next move by displaying a palms-up maneuver pointing in the direction in which they were obviously moving. This gives Trump an advantage - for it makes the other person feel like Trump is directing, in charge, and giving orders (and that Trump is hosting even when they're obviously not on US soil).

The facial expression Trump is displaying in this moment is highly indicative of disgust.

In this brief video, Donald Trump touches Kim Jong-un's arm or back at least seven times (not including the handshakes). However, the North Korea leader reciprocates only once (1:07).

Partially obscured from our view by a pillar, the two men then shake hands once again (note the position of Kim's hand and wrist). Kim Jong-un's smile is feigned, however - it's a social smile (albeit a fairly good one compared to most). Sincere smiles do not display one's bottom teeth.

SUMMARY: Although Donald Trump watered-down his typical version of a hyper-alpha handshake, he still asserted significantly more dominance in his greeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4303: Donald Trump, the G7 Summit, Women's Empowerment, and Rage

Body Language Analysis No. 4301: Donald Trump and the G7 Summit "Family Photo"

Body Language Analysis No. 4299: Bill Clinton confronted regarding Monica Lewinsky Affair

Body Language Analysis No. 4297: Donald Trump's Fearful Forefinger

Body Language Analysis No. 4295: Elizabeth Holmes, Theranos, and Red Flags 

Body Language Analysis No. 4257: Mark Zuckerberg Testifies Before The Senate

Body Language Analysis No. 4254: Tony Robbins, Nanine McCool, and the #MeToo Movement

Body Language Analysis No. 4241: Vladimir Putin responding to a question regarding the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal

Body Language Analysis No. 3983: Female Kurdish sniper fighting IS narrowly cheats death

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3320: Pope Francis speaks before the U.S. Congress - Body Language of Boehner and Biden (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Earlier today Pope Francis gave the first ever Papal address before congress. The word "historic" has even thrown about.

The photo above was captured in the instant prior to the handshake between Pope Francis and Joe Biden. Note that the Vice President holds his hand perpendicular to the floor (which, in most all other scenarios would be highly recommended - but not in front of the World - with the Pope - particularly if you're Catholic [as are both Joe Biden and John Boehner]). Such a hand orientation suggests parody. Yet with a high-level religious figure such as Pope Francis (regardless of one's spiritual practice), Mr. Biden would be well advised to adopt a handshake with deference.

In the image below (at the very end of the same handshake), Mr. Biden realizes his mistake and although not optimally configured, he attempts to salvage the situation and partially retracts his fingers - and more fully repositions his thumb. Despite Biden being significantly elevated, this allows Francis' thumb to be on top and thus shifts the Pope to a relative alpha status.

In contrast, John Boehner, either via instinct or from witnessing the Vice President's mistake, offers his hand in a palm-up manner from the beginning. Normally neither Biden nor Boehner would want to accept a beta role in the context of a handshake - or otherwise.

Of course, many other people in power positions have egos which crave the lowering other high-power alphas to relative beta positions. Yet Pope Francis is an exception to this very human foible (He doesn't "need" or want others to behave this way). And Boehner and Biden are wise to make this exception versus their typical salutations.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3319: Donald Trump Feels He Has Nothing to Apologize For - Body Language on Stephen Colbert's Late Show

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3207: Vladimir Putin, Pope Francis and Body Language

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret No. 1131:  Romney's Handshake, Santorum's Bicep's, and Dominance

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3318: Barack Obama and Pope Francis - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2424:  Giada De Laurentiis on Conan O'Brien  Beautiful Teeth but Insincere Smiles and  Some Body Language Signals of Waning Love   

Body Language Secret No. 483:  Handshake on the 18th - not so fast

Negotiation Secret No. 703: Bad Handshake?  Let me count the ways ....


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3310: Carly Fiorina's response to Donald Trump's, "Look at that Face!" - Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Earlier this month Rolling Stone magazine quoted Donald Trump speaking disparagingly about Carly Fiorina, "Look at that face! Would anyone vote for that? Can you imagine that, the face of our next president? I mean, she's a woman, and I'm not s'posedta say bad things, but really, folks, come on. Are we serious?"

Carly fought back though - or rather her super PAC - "Carly for America" - did so. The above video - titled, "Look at this Face" is the ad they released just yesterday. One nonverbal display is particularly noteworthy here.

At multiple times when Ms. Fiorina is shown in this video she is displaying a fairly vigorous "Self-Righteous Head Wiggle" (SRHW).

The characteristics of the self-righteous head wiggle include:

• A side-to-side movement of the head & neck
• Displayed by a person who has very strong opinions about a specific opinion
• Often feels they've been personally attacked in some way
• Relatively high frequency (speed the is head moving back and forth) - although this may vary
• Amplitude is variable (the amount the head & neck are moving)
• May be of varying duration (microexpression or lasting for several seconds)
• May be isolated or in occurring in clusters
• May have a similar jaw movement component (and sometimes jaw movement is all that's displayed)
• May have a similar movement of the torso or abdomen (also sometimes exhibited in isolation)
• Displayed by an alpha personality or one who believes they are an alpha
• Often seen in a hierarchical setting (e.g. a speaker or "leader" on stage or on camera)
• Accompanied by self-assured emotional vocal tones
• Often the vocal pitch, volume and speed of speech all increase simultaneous with the SRHW
• May have a forward-vectoring additional component (indicating contempt, disgust or incredulity) 
• May have a backward-vectoring component too (indicates arrogance and condescending emotions)

The self-righteous head wiggle is a good example of a body language which must be viewed in the dynamic context of a video - for it's impossible to capture the gist in a video.

Thus in this example Carly Fiorina's display of the Self-Righteous Head Wiggle, is completely normal-for-context and very congruent with her verbal message as well as her vocal qualities. This trifecta (verbal, nonverbal and paralanguage all in agreement - indicates a high sincerity quotient.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3309: Delta State University Shooting (Mississippi) Suspect Shannon Lamb - Body Language Red Flags

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3075: Franklin Graham (Billy Graham's son) Blasts Duke University for Muslim "Call to Prayer"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3263: Barack Obama on Jon Stewart's "The Daily Show" - The Sarcastic Bobble Body Language 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3275: Carly Fiorina, The Republican Debate and Likability (or not) 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3297: 70th Anniversary of the End of World War II - Height, Intimidation and Surrender on the Mighty Mo'

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3255: Donald Trump and a Body Language Signal of Social Fear and Hesitancy  

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3271: Donald Trump, Smiling out of Context and Running as an Independent
 
 
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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3143: Jay Z's "Tidal" Music Service - An Alpha Dominant Display - Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Yesterday Jay Z launched a music streaming service - "Tidal". Of course it's in its infancy - but this innovation has as a primary goal of putting more money in the musicians' pockets - even at the expense of less profit for the company. Jay Z has a little help from family (Beyoncé) and a few of his friends - Kanye West, Madonna, Jack White, Jason Aldean, Deadmau5, Rihanna, Daft Punk, J. Cole, Nicki Minaj,  Alicia Keys, etc. - but make no mistake Jay Z is at the helm. And although most feel this video is slickly produced - it's full of insincerity and thin veneers.

The palm-down, hand gesture Jay Z repeatedly uses here is termed "The Dominant Spider". This illustrator is used by those with an alpha emotional tone. It tends to be displayed primarily by alpha males and somewhat less-so with alpha females. The up-and-down motion amplifies this emotion (He strikes down on the table multiple times [0:45-0:47 and 1:19-1:22]). When directed toward the audience - it grows even more aggressive and is then called "The Claw" (and in the vast majority of scenarios, the claw is too aggressive).  The dominant spider is not as dominant or as negatively received as the palm-down, closed-fingered or gesture. The dominant spider should be used sparingly - only for a short moment or two in order to assert dominance, confidence and authority. As with most alpha body language, it's very often over-used - which doesn't take much - and thus backfires and becomes offensive and specifically will project arrogance as well as condescending and patronizing emotions (Notice that Kanye is gazing at his hand).

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3142: Mike Pence - Governor of Indiana interview with George Stephanopoulos & the Religious Freedom Restoration Act - What Makes Gov. Pence Look Worse?

Negotiation Secret No. 702: The Dominant Spider - Muammar Gaddafi (Moammar Gadhafi)

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret No. 1059:  Santorum's Dominant Spider

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 1871: Barack Obama  Explains His "Private Sector is Doing Fine" Comment -  The "Dominant Spider" vs.The "Split-Finger Fastball"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2132: Variations on a Theme - The Palm-Forward Dominant Spider (The Claw) vs.  The Split-Finger Fastball

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2499: NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly, "Stop and Frisk" and a  Body Language Display of Dominance

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2827: Caroline Wozniacki and Rory McIlroy - She was the Alpha, He was the Beta (PHOTO)

Rory McIlroy and Caroline Wosniacki have provided a lot of nonverbal displays in the last several days - and this image is yet another fantastic example.

This photo was taken in London about a week before their break up. Note Wosniacki's feet are planted entirely on the ground. Notice also her knees and feet - and their distance apart. This is consistent with high confidence and an alpha dominance. Both McIlroy's feet and knees are quite close together - and his heels and mid-feet are also off the ground. This is highly indicative of a role-reversing display of low confidence and beta-submissiveness.

A similar configuration can be seen with each of their upper arm's as distanced from their torso's - McIlroy's are much closer while Wozniacki's are considerably further away and forward - again displaying an absolute and relative alpha over her then fiancé's beta emotional tone.

Rory is looking at his phone and probably reading a text; so his relatively beta (almost feminine) body language may have nothing at all to do with the couple's impending break up. However - when viewed in the context of the previous two posts (Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2825: Rory McIlroy and Caroline Wozniacki break off their Engagement - Body Language Tells and Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2826: Caroline Wozniacki & Rory McIlroy Call Off Their Engagement - Body Language and Dominance) - this nonverbal cluster is highly suggestive of McIlroy's submissiveness and Wosniacki's dominant role in the decision making with regards to the couple's very recent break-up.

See also:

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2770: Oscar Pistorius and Contrasting Confidence Levels - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2767: Barack Obama Meets Pope Francis - The Body Language "Being Beta"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2822: Ludacris, Low Confidence, High Confidence and Contempt - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2616: John Kennedy and Richard Nixon Handshake at Kennedy Inaugural Address, One Body Language Maneuver to Counter a Dominance Display

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2555: Nancy Pelosi's Beta Body Language - Dialing it Up to Alpha (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

This blog is not about politics - it's about body language. Please leave your partisanship at the door. 

Throughout most of this video, the House Minority Leader displays a hand-arm configuration that conveys an unassertive, acquiescing and "I am beta" emotional tone. At some times however her alpha qualities take a more prominence over her beta characteristics (although they were far outnumbered).

Note: The original video has, since the original post, been removed from its online source. The images below however, were captured from this video. 

Knowing when - and exactly how - to look more assertive and dominant is of dramatic importance. Most are oblivious to where they are, at any given moment, on this alpha-beta continuum. This profound unawareness is particularly pronounced during moments of anxiety - precisely when it is needed the most.

Note how Nancy's elbows are in close to her torso in this photo (at 0:18). This body language screams a timid and unassertive mindset. Of course the vast majority of others who see this posture never have had a course in nonverbal communication, but their interpretive and subconscious psyches' will notice it none the less.

In a similar moment (at 0:53), Ms. Pelosi's elbows remain close to her torso, and as in the photo above her hands are touching. This is a form of self-comforting and in body language parlance is known as a Manipulator, Adaptor or Pacifier (aka MAP). This is an additional sign of a demure and "I tend towards acquiescence" emotional-thought status. Such posture signals weakness.

In this short-lived yet significantly more alpha posture, Representative Pelosi displays a thumbs-up as she points behind her just after she says, ".... as you know if we default, the markets could freeze, the dollar could plummet, interest rates could sky rocket ...." (0:55). (Yet immediately after this she reconfigures to her default posture - nearly identical to the above photo).

Significant to this nonverbal is that her hands are not touching (no MAPs present) and her left elbow has modestly left her side - significantly elevating her alpha. The lifting of her hand/arm significantly higher here also elevates her strength and authority.

At this moment (1:20), Ms. Pelosi grips the forward-sides of the lectern in a Kennedyesque posture (While Kennedy had great natural instinct when it came to body language, this lectern gripping maneuver may very well have been a fortunate accident as it was used to take pressure off of his back which gave him chronic pain).

This arm-hand nonverbal is significantly alpha transmitting emotions of strength, authority, assertiveness and confidence. Of course as with all body language, care must be taken not to over-use any posture.



See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2539: Calvin Johnson, the Index Finger and Alpha Behavior - A Body Language Tell of Mobile Phones

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2487:  Chelsea Clinton's Beta Body Language - The Elevated Fig Leaf

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2339:  Alpha, Beta, Body Language & Rapport Destroyers

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2491:  President Obama's Reaction to Egypt Military's Massive Killing of Protesters - Beta Body Language  Where Alpha Had Been Barack's Baseline Behavior

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2530: Tom Coburn, Obamacare and Anxiety - Body Language Tell on a Senator's Face

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2499:  NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly, "Stop and Frisk" and a  Body Language Display of Dominance

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2522: Jake Gyllenhaal and Jimmy Kimmel, Part II,  Body Language and Anxiety in Hollywood

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2519:  Vladimir Putin Speaks Syria, Chemical Weapons and Disarmament - Body Language just after his New York Times Op-Ed


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2282: Jay Carney and the Dominant Spider - White House Press Secretary's Body Language re: National Labor Relations Board Vacancies

An appeals court just ruled that President Obama acted unconstitutionally when he bypassed the U.S. Senate to fill empty positions on the National Labor Relations Board. In this video, a recent White House press briefing, as Press Secretary Jay Carney says, "...dating back to 1867...", his right hand-arm extends, palm down, fingers open and toward his audience. This is a nonverbal illustrator known as the "Dominant Spider". It is a body language hand-arm signal (in nonverbal nomenclature this general class of gestures are known as illustrators) which indicates its user believes he/she is an alpha and has relative power and dominance over those to who(m) they are speaking. It also indicates that Mr. Carney believes that Barack Obama was in the right and that President's appointments for the NLRB vacancies were fully Constitutional - and that he believes the appeals court's decision will be overturned. 

It's important to note that the dominant spider is not used by betas to alphas, e.g., even though Mr. Carney exemplifies it here to reporters in the White House Press Briefing Room - he an alpha relative to them. But Jay Carney's subconscious would never let him use this illustrator to the President - for the Press Secretary is a beta relative to Barack.

Palm down gestures are often over-used and thus backfire. Like all dominant body language, they must be used sparingly and essentially choreographed into a speech, lest the audience feel patronized and disrespected. Palm down with the fingers closed (together) indicates an even stronger dominance belief on the part of its user (think Adolf Hitler). Handedness also carries an important significance, e.g. if a right-hander uses a palm down gesture with his right hand, this again indicates an even stronger dominance, confidence & successful-outcome belief. However if the right-hander uses his left hand, this nonverbal would indicate relatively less of these emotional tones/beliefs.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1871: Barack Obama  Explains His "Private Sector is Doing Fine" Comment -  The "Dominant Spider" vs.The "Split-Finger Fastball"

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1059:  Santorum's Dominant Spider

Negotiation Body Language Secret 731: Super Mario Monte's Dominant Spider

Negotiation Secret # 702: Moammar Gaddafi's Dominant Spider

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 554: Ron Paul's Palms Down Faux Pas

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 555:  How Facial Expressions Correlate with Palm Positions

Body Language Leadership Secret # 222: Palms Down vs. Palms Up - Angela Merkel's Mistake

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1899: Rep. Bill Cassidy and "Obama-care" - Letting your Body Language Detract from your Message

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2242: Rihanna & Chris Brown at Lakers Game Body Language of Dominance, "Ownership", Narcissism and Submission

On Christmas Day for the first time Rihanna and Chris Brown displayed the fact openly that they are back together as they watched the Lakers defeated the Knicks, 100 to 94. This after Chris Brown plead guilty to acts of domestic violence (felony assault) against Rihanna for which he is still on probation. While every man, when walking hand-in-hand with his significant other occasionally walks ahead or faster - and the fact Rihanna is wearing 5 inch stilettos perhaps slows down her walking speed, this body language is very troubling. 

Albert Camus once said, "Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend". This quote springs to mind when seeing Brown's body language. One who, when holding hands, consistently walks in front (which thus takes into account the exceptions, e.g. in a hurry, etc.) signals a strong nonverbal signal of alpha personality and dominance. More troubling still it is a body language tell of narcissistic personality disorder.

Understandably, whoever allows her/himself to consistently/often to be led in tow, as Rihanna exemplifies here, signals a very beta, submissive, overly-demure personality. More to the point (and here through very obvious retrospective insight), displays a body language signal of she-who-will-be-"owned". This, and other similar post-abuse "return-to-the-one-who-beat-you" behavior, follows an unfortunate but well-established statistical pattern.

Among other things, this body language is a warning signal that violence will again rear its ugly head. The recidivism of domestic violence is very high. So to any girls or women who may read this - beware of this nonverbal, lest you too become a victim.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Secret # 341: Body Language of Narcissism, Parking and Cell Phones

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1912: Ann Curry's Tearful Goodbye Matt Lauer's Body Language of Insincerity

Nonverbal Communication, Negotiation and Dating Secret # 111: Body Language and the Great Phone Tell 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 113: What Blagojevich's Body Language can Teach Us

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 359: Last Stop for the Cain Train - Herman's Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1874: Body Language of a Bad Handshake - Political Prevalence

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1503: The Body Language of the Conventional Steeple vs. The Basketball Steeple -  Seeking a Balance

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2174: President Obama, Hurricane Sandy, Body Language and Thumbs Backwards Arms Akimbo

President Barack Obama and Governor Chris Christie are shown here at the Brigantine Beach Community Center in Brigantine, New Jersey on 31 October 2012 speaking with residents affected by Hurricane Sandy turned Frankenstorm-Superstorm. One notable nonverbal here is the President's, Thumbs Backwards Arms Akimbo. This body language combined with his feet placement a shoulder's width apart conveys a very alpha, dominant emotional tone. It projects power and authority.

The thumbs backwards arms akimbo is also commonly seen when the mind is made up and a person is ready to take action.

Thumbs Forward Arms Akimbo has a completely different meaning.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 89: Silvio Berlosconi, Body Language, Karima El Marhrough and Opposite Facing Arms Akimbo

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 33: Zelda Williams & Thumbs Forward Arms Akimbo

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2034: Even Physicists have Body Language - Beta behavior at Higgs Boson Conference

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 831: Santorum's Hands and the Alpha-Beta Hybrid

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 14: High and Low Confidence Drivers - Arms Akimbo and Assertive Attitudes

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1867: Ann Romney - Demure vs. Assertive Stance

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2172: Governor Chris Christie's Body Language of Contempt - Microexpressions and Subtle Displays




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Negotiation Secret # 702: The Dominant Spider

This is a classic display of what I call "The Dominant Spider". Palm down gestures are always taken as dominant and overtly authoritative. Audiences receive them considerably more negatively versus palms up displays - even with an audience of one (Pease). Although gesturing with your palms down is not as negative as pointing - it should, in most cases, be avoided. This display of The Dominant Spider by the late Libyan Dictator, Muammar Gaddafi (Moammar Gadhafi) - while a bit more subtle than Khrushchev banging his shoe, is an example of a gesture I will coach-out of most people.

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Leadership Secret # 17: The Only Time for the Politicians' Double Hander

Politicians are well known for their "Double-Hander" handshakes, in which they will sandwich your right hand with both of their's.  The Double-hander is universally received as negative - interpreted as "inappropriately friendly" at best - and patronizing and condescending by most - yet many people, especially politicians continue to use it.  However there is one occasion to use the double-hander - it's one of two ways to counter an overly-dominant handshake.

Here, United States President, Barack Obama was briefly in the dominant handshake position in two ways - a moment before this photo was taken.  First, he is on the left side of the photo. This is considered dominant because his hand will be closer to the crowd (and cameras), much more visible and thus perceived to be "on top" even if it's in the neutral/vertical position.  Additionally, Mr. Obama has maneuvered his hand to be even more dominant by rotating his arm inwards (clockwise from Obama's point-of-view) & thus his hand is on top of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's hand. This is easy for a taller man to do - for his height affords greater leverage.  Mr. Singh is left with two ways to counter this double-dominant handshake - he has chosen the simplest - by "sandwiching" Mr. Obama's right hand between both of his.

Like a game on the playground though, Mr. Obama further counters Mr. Singh's sandwiching using the last counter-move remaining - to put his left hand on Prime Minister Singh's upper back/right shoulder region - which he does here. Although it would have been a bit more dominant if Obama's hand was on the top/front of Singh's shoulder - so that the audience could visualize his fingers/hands (and Singh would feel more patronized) - Obama nuances the narrow grey zone of not being "overly-alpha" and thus builds rapport.

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