Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1403: Gustaf Gets Galled

King Carl XVI Gustaf is angry. What key cues can you spot? There are several that you shouldn't miss.

The most obvious (and somewhat less reliable) sign of anger is the drawing together and downwards of the Swedish Leader's eyebrows. If this were the only facial change we saw, then we also have to consider that Carl was perplexed or intensely concentrating. People in the midst of times of intense thinking are often mistaken for being angry. But as usual, there are other nonverbal cues available.

If you see an increase in exposure of the "whites of the eyes" (sclera) - three primary and common emotions (there are other less common ones though) should immediately spring to mind - anger (moderate to severe), fear and surprise. Note that in particular, the King's right eye has an increased "white and wide" appearance. However, even if we didn't observe this ocular body language, the tension we see in his "mustache area" is certainly driven by this negative emotion. Both of Gustaf's nostrils are flared - consistent with anger and disgust. In particular, the thinning of his lips is highly correlative with anger.

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Five Leaders Walking Together but Four Showing Deference

During recent Middle East Peace Talks in Washington D.C., this photograph was taken as the leaders of five countries walk toward the East Room.  Left to right they are Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. President Barack Obama, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and King Abdullah II of Jordan. President Obama is walking at the front of this group. 

While they are all leaders, the United States is the organizing and host country. The other leaders are not subordinates in in the classic sense, but on the World Stage they are viewed as such in this context. Subordinates walk in front of their leaders at their own risk. If a group of employees is walking with their boss down the hall way, they walk in front of him at their own risk. It will be considered an affront and doing so puts their job at risk.

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