Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2602: Barack Obama at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Yesterday was Veteran's Day in America (Armistice Day, Remembrance Day, etc. in other countries) in honor those who fought and those who died in World War I. President Barack Obama paid his respects at United States' The Tomb of The Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

There are few occasions when a Head-of-State should stand with his feet so close together and his hands loosely clasped in front as Mr. Obama does here. Hands held clasped in front of one's lower abdomen or groin is known as the "Fig Leaf" (aka "Genital Guarding"). Also known as genital guarding, it normally sends signals of low confidence and a demure emotional mindset.

The same principle holds true for feet which are planted closely together - also sending out signals of low comfort and beta behavior. Standing with feet shoulder-width apart (and slightly less so for women) in most scenarios is recommended as this transmits confidence, emotional-comfort and significant alpha signals. 

In a few select settings - such as meetings with religious figures, funerals, receiving remains, weddings or other religious ceremonies, such a stance of deference projects respect, empathy and other non-egocentric leadership qualities.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2595: Barack Obama's Emotional Dissonance, Low Confidence and the "Turtle Retreat" - He Does Not Want To Be There

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2541: Barack Obama, Permanent U.N. Security Council Members, Syria's Chemical Weapon Disarmament and a Presidential Gaffe - Body Language in the Oval Office

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2568: Barack Obama Catches Near-Fainting, Pregnant Woman (Karmel Allison) During Speech

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2511:  Barack Obama & Vladimir Putin  Handshake at 2013 G20 Meeting

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2190:  President Obama's Body Language -  Press Conference 14 October 2012 - Defense of Ambassador Susan Rice 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2560: A Debt Default is (for now) Averted - President Obama's Microexpression of .... 

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1153:  President Obama's Tongue in Cheek

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Negotiation and Leadership Secret # 415: When is it Appropriate for a President to Stand in the "Fig-leaf"?

Yesterday, Veterans Day in the U.S., President Obama attended a ceremony in Arlington National Cemetery. Here is is pictured at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The President is standing with his hands-clasped in this very familiar "Fig-Leaf" formation. While the fig-leaf usually is a signal of low confidence - in some contexts it certainly indicates other emotions. One is respect and another is reverence. These are two leadership-appropriate messages a President or Head of State should desire to convey using the fig-leaf. 

So when is it appropriate for a President to Stand in the "Fig-leaf"? Very few times. One example is a funeral or a ceremony to honor those who have died serving in the military - as pictured above. Another is at any religious service. If he were meeting with the Dalai Lama, the Pope or another high religious leader he/she may want to adopt this pose as well - even if there was no service or ongoing religious activity. If a past-president or head-of-state was standing next to the current equivalent leader at a ceremony or introduction, the former leader may want to use the fig-leaf here as well. Weddings are another venue for the fig-leaf.

With these few exceptions, and perhaps a few other respect-reverence scenarios which I have omitted, a head-of-state should never stand in the fig-leaf pose, lest he/she convey low confidence. A head-of-state should not adopt this pose around other World leaders if he/she is to command respect (unless of course at a funeral, etc. as detailed above). It will certainly place them at a leadership and negotiation disadvantage. Moreover, standing this way will even change your physiology and actively lower one's confidence. Nonverbal signals are indications of what the emotional brain is feeling in real-time, and maintaining the body language will engender and reinforce the emotion.

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