Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2199: Thailand, Body Language, Barack Obama and Yingluck Shinawatra - Mirroring and Foot Point

President Obama and Hillary Clinton are pictured here during their recent trip to Thailand. In this image they are meeting with the King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej (to Obama's immediate left) as well as Thailand's Prime Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra (to the King's immediate left). Baring some country & cultural idiosyncrasies, we point our feet to those who commands the most respect (even if it's someone who is disliked) - or to those to which we're physically attracted. 

Another notable body language exampled here can be seen with all three Thai leaders - they are leaning significantly forward in their chairs - mirroring President Obama. The mirroring nonverbal is further reflected in the position of Prime Minister Shinawatra's hands as well as the other Thai official to her left - relative to Obama's. Nonverbal, verbal and paralanguage mirroring are signals of rapport (and possible attraction) and when continued, they will engender these mental-emotional tones further. A drop-off in these mirroring phenomena will destroy rapport and when witnessed, should send up strong alert signals.

Both foot pointing and mirroring are, like 99.9+% of body language, initiated subconsciously. These are both very reliable nonverbal signals to use in sales, the negotiation process, in the court room - or during dating & romance. Care must be taken to avoid mirroring others too exactly or to quickly - lest it become obvious and backfire.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 731:  Body Language, a Beautiful Prime Minister and a Bad Handshake - Yingluck Shinawatra

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2196:  Cross Species Body Language Contagious Yawning of Dogs Mirroring Humans  An Indicator of What Dog Lovers Already Knew - Canine Empathy 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 801: Mirroring Down Under - Barack Obama and Julia Gillard

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1239: Benjamin Netanyahu, Barack Obama and Iran

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2161: Body Language of the Third Presidential Debate -  Barack Obama and Mitt Romney - What Did They Do With Their Hands When They Weren't Talking? 

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Negotiation Body Language Secret # 731: Body Language, a Beautiful Prime Minister and a Bad Handshake - Yingluck Shinawatra

Yingluck Shinawatra is the first female Prime Minister of Thailand. Here she is shown shaking hands with Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda - although for a head-of-state, she's not doing so very well.

The handshake is great example of a "Goldilocks" body language. Similar to the fairy tale of the same name, it has to be performed in a "not too much, not too little, but just right" manner. Neglecting to use this nonverbal middle ground sends very wrong messages. When there isn't enough extension of the arm during a handshake (e.g. as Ms. Shinawatra displays above), messages of non-engagement and aloofness are transmitted. However extending the arm too much (see Negotiation Secret # 299: At Arm's Length) sends signals of distancing (e.g. "I'm not really sure about you", or "I don't really like you that much" or "I don't really want to be here", etc.). Prime Minister Noda strikes a happy medium however, and is extending his arm in an ideal in between (Goldilocks) manner.

Notice also how much Prime Minister Shinawatra is leaning forward. Having a table between two people shaking hands (as in the above example) is highly discouraged. Taking time to walk around to the other side of the table/desk when shaking hands builds warmth and rapport. Ms. Shinawatra amplifies this error by engaging in the handshake while standing further from the table than her Japanese counterpart. This increased distance necessitates a forward lean - and along with the interposition of the table sends a distancing, non-rapport, non-bonding building body language message identical to that described in the above paragraph. The opposite scenario of shaking hands standing too close - will make others feel uncomfortable, sometimes very uncomfortable. Entering into another's personal space should be reserved only for those who we know very well and feel comfortable hugging.

The Thai Leader is also not making any eye contact. While this is obviously a posed photograph, it is imperative to remember that quality and sincere eye contact (as Prime Minister Yoshidiko Noda exemplifies) cannot be over-emphasized. Not all "Bonding Moments" are created equal - and those during the few seconds of a well executed handshake will set the tone for entire diplomatic, business and personal relationships.

To her credit, Prime Minister Shinawatra is displaying a fairly good social smile - however Mr. Noda's smile has a higher "Sincerity Quotient" and indeed is a sincere smile - highly indicative of happiness-joy emotions. Each leader's hand and finger position is optimal here as well - with a symmetrical, neither-on-top, equal-dominance configuration - each palm being perpendicular to the floor.

A quality and sincere handshake has more components (some but not all of them delineated here) than most otherwise socially adept people realize and even very few CXOs perform them well - thus they squander the precious moments and opportunities of an initial greeting or re-greeting. Shakespeare's Brutus spoke it well:

There is a tide in the affairs of men, 
which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune.
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat,
and we must take the current when it serves,
or lose our ventures.

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