Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3152: Hillary Clinton First Campaign Ad - "Getting Started" (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

To no one's surprise, Hillary Clinton launched her candidacy for President today. Between Mrs. Clinton's official campaign and outside super-PACs, estimates of $2.5 Billion in donations are realistic. Yet despite this very substantial funding, Hillary's very first ad included some stunningly novice nonverbal faux pas.
 

This image is the very first frame from the very first scene featuring Mrs. Clinton (at 1:31).

Why on Earth is her back to the camera? This is about as basic as body language gets - turning your back to anyone projects disrespect, non-importance, destroys rapport and loses votes.

In this second Hillary-scene within the same ad, Mrs. Clinton is in a conversation with a gentleman in a restaurant or public gathering. Notice her torso - as well as her hips and feet although they're not visible, we clearly can see they're all pointed substantially away from him. This sends strong signals of low importance, disrespect and low mental-emotional engagement. It's essentially saying, "I'm here in body, but not in mind" and "I'm only here because I have to be here." (A Marshawn Lynch impersonation?).

A common over compensatory side-effect of such feigned and insincere presence is staring. Note that Hillary's eyes are locked on his - which does not "feel" natural (even to a child). Eye contact within the context of a healthy conversation has a random-movement pattern to it - and should for about 60-70% of the time, be centered around the other person's eyes, but not staring at them (Exceptions for this include romantic moments, other times of high affection - or during portions of an apology - of which none apply here). Moreover Hillary's upper eyelids are opened significantly wider than her normal baseline. This adds to the staring effect and projects a feeling of anger (What's another possible cause to her very-widely opened eyelids?).

Hillary's arm and shoulder are also blocking any sincere conversational-connection (which any good ad person should be attempting to engender within the context of a political advertisement). So although we're NOT this guy - we are feeling a vicarious rejection via Hillary's cold shoulder. Ouch.

Any candidate for high office will not win unless a majority of the electorate feels they are "likeable" - and a huge portion of such likeability has its foundation in body language. This is not to say leaders must pander or be weak in any way. But we simply want to - and need to like our leaders. To feel this way is fundamentally human. And if we feel they aren't respecting or liking us, we're not going to give them our votes. 

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See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3151: Barack Obama and Raúl Castro Shake Hands - Body Language

Negotiation Body Language Secret No. 483:  Tiger & Zach Johnson - handshake on the 18th - not so fast

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2765: Obama, Romney, Russia and Facial Asymmetry - Contempt at The Hague

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3134: Ted Cruz to Announce his Candidacy for 2016 Presidential Race - Why He Will Never Win - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3106: Amazing Selfie Proposal - Body Language Components of Surprise

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3056: Jeb Bush Interview - 14 Dec. 2014 - Body Language Tells

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2855: Hillary Clinton, 2016 Presidential Race and Duping Delight - Body Language Tells (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Hillary Clinton gave a "Town Hall" type interview with Christiane Amanpour yesterday on CNN. At the beginning of this video clip, an audience member asks the former U.S. Secretary of State what she would do about the problem deportation and the splitting up of families.

At 0:26 Hillary begins, "[deep inhale] ...Well even if I don't re-enter politics, I will continue speaking out for comprehensive immigration reform ..."

From about 0:26 - 0:30, Mrs. Clinton displays a "suppressed smile" [red highlight] on the left side of her mouth. This is a form of a duping delight (Ekman), (image below) - for it betrays her full intention to seek the Presidency in 2016.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2854: Dr. Oz Testifies Before Congress - Does He Believe? - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2564: Hillary Clinton Stumping for Terry McAuliffe ... but Did She Hint at Running in 2016?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2850: Hillary Clinton, Sonia Sotomayor and Costco - Body Language Tells

Negotiation Secret # 140:  Duping Delight Microexpression

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication # Analysis 1492:  Ben Bernanke's Duping Delight &  Partial Emblematic Slip

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2660: Chris Weidman after Anderson Silva UFC 168 Fight - Body Language "Duping Delight" Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2182:  Jennifer Granholm & Newt Gingrich  the Day After the 2012 Election -  Governor Granholm's Duping Delight and Suppressed Smile 

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2569: Hillary Clinton, Visibility, Trust and a Harbinger of 2016 (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Hillary Clinton was campaigning for Terry McAuliffe on Saturday and therein revealed a multitude of Body Language take-away points. One was that Hillary is absolutely running for President in 2016 (see Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2564: Hillary Clinton Stumping for Terry McAuliffe ... but Did She Hint at Running in 2016?).

In this image captured from the video above, the former Secretary of State is seen introducing Virginia Gubernatorial Candidate Terry McAuliffe.

Note she is standing behind a lectern which is composed of a thin central metal beam. This allows for much greater visual exposure of the speaker. Greater visibility translates to heightened levels of trust felt by the audience. People trust what they can see, and hiding behind a conventional wide and high, wooden lectern blocks the view of most of one's body. Along with Plexiglas lecterns, these minimalist designs are becoming increasingly popular in the last several years - particularly among political candidates.

Intriguingly, all factors being equal, those who use a minimal lectern - or even none at all - will speak with a higher energy level, a greater confidence and enjoy a greater flow and ability to "think on their feet" compared with other times when speaking behind a lectern. This change in tactic, while seemingly trivial to some is extremely beneficial.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2490:  Hillary Clinton and the Two-Handed Point -  The American Bar Association, Body Language and  Variations on a Theme

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2523:  Hillary Clinton, Body Language and the 2016 Presidency -  Rapport Builder vs. Rapport Destroyer

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2534: Bill and Hillary are going to be Grandparents; President Clinton's Body Language is Telling Us that Chelsea is Pregnant

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2363: Hillary Clinton, Body Language and the Political Point -  Hand Tension Correlations with Facial Tension

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2385:  Hillary Clinton & Henry Kissinger at  Atlantic Council's Leadership Awards  Her Body Language Betrays Anxiety at a Key Moment

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1923:  Hillary Clinton's Body Language re: Syrian Government - The Self-Righteous Head Wiggle 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2379:  Bill Clinton's Speech at the  George W. Bush Presidential Library Opening  Body Language of Former and Current President

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