Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2577: Bill Clinton and Terry McAuliffe - Alpha and Beta Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

In this image below, captured during the 3:54 - 4:03 segment in the above video, Bill Clinton is shown campaigning for Terry McAuliffe - who is running for Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Here we see an example of two different hand nonverbals - one is advisable while the other is not.

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

Bill Clinton is exampling a "Basketball" steeple. In a simplistic way of thinking, the basketball steeple is a "watered down" version of a "conventional steeple". However, while basketball steeple is certainly less alpha - it also has the effect of building rapport, conveying confidence and assertiveness - without being hyper-alpha as would be projected an extended conventional steeple. Conventional steeples should be used very briefly - otherwise they will destroy rapport, alienate and project arrogance.

The basketball steeple is one of the best examples of a class of body language signals (here specifically an illustrator) known as alpha-beta hybrids. Alpha-beta hybrids are the nonverbal equivalents of "having one's cake and eating it too". Knowing when and being able to dial down the alpha emotions a bit or fine-tuning the beta body language - is paramount in projecting leadership and confidence without alienating ... something few people can do.

What other alpha-beta hybrid body language combos can you name? How many and how often do you use these?

In dramatic distinction to the former President, Terry McAuliffe is not projecting confidence by picking his fingers and fingernails. This is an excessively beta, nervous and acquiescing body language. Even when standing next to a Head-of-State - no one should be doing this. McAuliffe knows better. This nonverbal display projects weakness, anxiety and insecurity. It in no way projects anything resembling strength, power or leadership. It also does not convey respect to the speaker.

What simple maneuver would you advise to prevent this demure, self-touching faux pas?

What undesirable nonverbals did the former President display in this video?

See also:

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

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

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

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 # 2360:  Bill Clinton and the Body Language of a  "Loose Hand, Palm Up Point" 

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

Former First Lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton went stumping today for Virginia Gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe. There were many nonverbal and paralanguage qualities of her speech which signaled Mrs. Clinton's intention of running for Presidency in 2016 - some of which are described below.

At 0:47, Hillary Clinton continues, " ... What kind of leadership is required to keep in great ... "

At 0:50, the former first lady displays a prolonged eyelid closure as she says the word, "... required ..."

This prolonged closure as she says this strongly suggests she is referring to herself, not Terry McAuliffe.

At 0:52 Hillary Clinton displays a partially suppressed smile. Seconds later it blooms to a full "Duchenne" aka sincere smile as she is unable to squelch her joy.

At 0:53 we see the former Secretary of State maintain an open mouth as she draws out a pause - while inhaling.

Her deliberate pause facilitated by this prolonged inhalation after this specific verbal delivery in order to allow an applaud to crescendo - is another indicator that it was herself to which she was referring rather than candidate McAuliffe.




No doubt about it - Hillary Clinton is running for President in 2016.

What other body language tells did you see in this video?

See also:

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 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 # 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 # 2202:  Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and the Body Language of the "Fig Leaf"

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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