Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1650: Ozzie Guillen Gets Suspended by Miami Marlins Team President

In this video excerpt from the Showtime series "The Franchise", Miami Marlins president, David Samson suspends the team manager, Ozzie Guillen for positive statements he had made regarding Cuban Dictator Fidel Castro. In any other city in the U.S., it would have a no-no. In Miami it was a disaster.

At the beginning of the video, when Samson walks in the room, Guillen has his legs on his desk - something many boss do. In this context it demonstrates alpha superiority, dominance, relaxation and confidence - but Samson is Guillen's superior, so Ozzie's alpha gets dialed-down and his legs accordingly come off of his desk when the big dog walks in. He who was once alpha, now becomes a relative beta.

At about the 0:11 mark, David Samson is leaning forward - demonstrating relative assertiveness - he's in the driver's seat. However his arms and legs are crossed - displaying defensiveness and a closed mindset. His forward lean and his crossed limbs are in direct contrast, demonstrating emotional dissonance. Samson feels conflicted - he doesn't feel fully committed to do what he is about to - suspend his team Manager. Emotional dissonance like this is very common and if you spot it, it will give you a distinct advantage.

At the 0:17 mark, Samson says, "... we're going to win championships here...." he then immediately scratches his mouth and "mustache area". In this context, this nonverbal indicates a high probability that Mr. Samson does not believe his own statement is true - or at the very least is highly doubtful.

See also:
Secret # 652: Megan Fox has got an Itch - Not!

Ozzie is leaning back in his chair - disengaged. He is physically and emotionally distancing himself from the team President. When he's told that he's going to be suspended - he scratches heavily behind his left ear, the back of his head and his neck. He's in disbelief - and experiencing significant anxiety. Guillen's trying to emotionally process what is transpiring.

Another significant body language signal is seen at the 0:25 mark when Ozzie puts both hands behind his head and elbows pointed out and forward. This nonverbal is often seen in office settings and indicates a high alpha behavior - however, in the world of sports, on the battlefield and in law enforcement - it indicates acquiescence & surrender - and that's what we see here. 

See also:
Secret # 1490: Kansas Surrenders
Secret # 21: A Classic Emblem

At the very end of the video, Guillen is walking out of the Marlins' stadium tunnel, and he puts his left hand in his pocket. This is a body language tell of a relatively beta emotional tone and disengagement. Ozzie doesn't want to talk. Like anyone in similar shoes, he just wants to get out of there, into a familiar environment with friends and family - and further emotionally process the events of the last few minutes.

See also:
Secret # 913: Low Confidence, Low Trust and Demure
Secret # 831:Santorum's Hands and the Alpha-Beta Hybrid
Secret # 1143: Santorum Video Analysis - R2E2 and other Tells
Secret # 19: Don't talk to me
Secret # 103: High Confidence vs. Low Confidence Stance - Who's leading Who?

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis #1516: Ozzie Guillen Apology, his "Sincerity Quotient" & Fidel Castro

Ozzie Guillen, the outspoken manager of the Miami Marlins, and the first Latino manager to win a World Series (with the Chicago White Sox in 2005), has landed himself in hot water recently for positive comments he's made regarding the Cuban dictator, Fidel Castro. He has since been issued a five game suspension.

In the two videos included in this post, Guillen has a very high "Sincerity Quotient". He's certainly an alpha male who's very good at what he does. In strong alpha individuals, it's extremely rare that a genuine apology or an honest and open discussion takes place when such an incident arises. You may like Guillen or "hate" him, but you've to respect this quality. "I'm sorry", "It's my fault", "forgive me" are three of the rarest statements, made in any language - particularly made so authentically.

When I began watching the second video, I was thinking - he should really take off his sunglasses - people will perceive him disingenuously if he leaves them on, etc. Then Ozzie himself spoke about the importance of "looking people in the eye". Later he repeated this as well as the significance being "face to face" when trying to patch things up. Guillen then took off his sunglasses. It was important for him - that other people to look him in the eye and see the sincerity and honesty in his eyes and on his face. He recognized the value of the human-to-human connection made during an apology and the increased ability to transmit such a very heart-felt emotion beyond that of just the words. Words are the symbols for the feelings which are the real movers in the hearts and minds of all those involved. I doubt Ozzie Guillen ever had a body language coach or read a book on nonverbal communication (indeed too few people have experienced either) but he certainly has and listens to his instinct.

Note that Ozzie did not stare at people when apologizing or discussing, if a person's eye contact increases over what it had been (generally speaking over 70% of the time when speaking in good, rapport generating conversation) - particularly when the STARE at someone's eye/eyes - there is an increased chance of deception taking place. Ozzie was not staring. His eyes naturally moved around to different people. If the amount of eye contact drops from baseline (or if a person keeps/puts their sunglasses on) - this also increases the likelihood that a lie is being told.

See also: Secret # 335: What does "Eye Contact" really mean?

Ozzie is sincere. If I were an attorney conducting voir dire (jury selection), I'd pick him any day.

What Guillen may lack in verbal discretion, he certainly makes up for in nonverbal intuition. Go Marlins!