Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2295: Marco Rubio - Three Magazine Covers Three Different Body Language Signals

The body language displayed in this first Time Magazine cover (left) is by far the best of the three Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) shown on this page - although it can certainly be improved upon. His feet cannot be seen but are clearly "felt" to be about a shoulder's width apart - which is very alpha and what is expected to be seen-felt in a leader. Woman leaders, often in an effort to appear feminine, stand with their feet close together and thus appear diminutive and very beta. While the "not-too alpha-but-not-too-beta zone" is (very unfairly) more difficult to navigate for women (a huge double-standard), every female leader should nonetheless endeavor to do so. Women should stand with their feet just slightly closer together than men (about an inch less than shoulder's width) during any such "leadership moments".

The Junior Senator from Florida's hands are relaxed - showing no tension. This lack of tension is important. It sends signals of a person who is comfortable in his/her own skin and confident. He looks as if his right hand is about to reach out (perhaps in a handshake, note also that his right shoulder is lower) and he also seems to be leading slightly with his right foot-leg. Although this a "static" image and thus only a moment in time, this implied motion gives Rubio a bit of dynamism here. 

In this close-up from the above cover, Marco Rubio's facial expression shows a trace of contempt. Not the best choice - however it is subtle.While his face is probably meant to show readiness and assertiveness, it would have been considerably better to show a sincere smile.

In this National Review cover from September 2009, Senator Rubio like many alpha's - male or female, politicians or CEOs, actors or athletes - have and will continue to pose in this arms-crossed configuration on the front of magazines. It's not only old and it's tired - it's WRONG. It does not send the message they want to project. They are never sending signals of confidence when they pose or adopt this configuration - for this nonverbal is consistent with a defensive and closed-off mindset.

Senator Rubio's face also shows clear signals of anger with mild incredulity.

In this lower resolution image of an earlier Time Magazine cover, Senator Rubio is shown in a lower confidence body language stance. Nearly all forms of self-touching signal anxiety, and his particular hand-to-hand nonverbal here is a good example of a beta body language. In it, Senator Rubio's nonverbals are considerably non-assertive and demure. He is hesitant. While most people cannot necessarily "bullet point" and dissect this image, they are certainly left with these emotional impressions.









See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2215:  Paul Ryan and Marco Rubio Joke and Hint regarding the  2016 Presidential Race - "Tongue-in-Cheek" Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1600:  Senator Marco Rubio - Sincerity, Self-directed Incredulity & Humor, Blocking and Appeals for the Vice Presidency

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1869:  One Body Language Signal a President Should Never Display

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 199:  When a Lie is Told, Heard or Visualized by ....Vladimir's Eye

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 913:  Low Confidence, Low Trust and Demure

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1085:  Low Confidence vs. High Confidence  Kennedy and Eisenhower

Nonverbal Communication Analysis #1843:  United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice  in Response to Syrian Government's Houla Massacre

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1901: Maria Sharapova's Anxiety

With her victory at Roland Garros, Maria Sharapova has regained the number one World tennis ranking (a position she has held four times before). She is as beautiful as any model, the highest paid female athlete on the planet, a savvy business woman and has now has the elusive career grand slam (only accomplished by five other women in the open era). Yet, like many people who have no apparent reason to be, she displays significant anxiety on camera.

Early in the video (0:09 - 0:11) when Mark Phillips asks, "Do you feel that you're hungry to achieve it still?" Sharapova reaches up with her left hand/arm to rub the opposite side of her neck (Then a few seconds later she persists with a similar gesture just below her right shoulder). This across-the-front blocking coupled with the MAP (manipulator, adaptor, pacifier) signals to us that the nature of this question has significant anxiety for Maria.

At 0:36 Sharapova suddenly displays another MAP - which is a beacon of verbal course correction - as she adjusts her hair/rubs behind her left ear with her left hand: "...So I think,....[here she changes her mind on what to say]....yeah,...it's just one of those things where you try and believe in what you have - and hope that what you have is good enough to win". 

The tennis star also can be seen in a similar configuration with her right hand to her right temporal-parietal region at 0:57 at the beginning of a question regarding comparisons to Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert and Steffi Graf - with respect to consistency in grand slam wins. Again, anxiety.

[Very demonstratively, during the 1:51 - 1:55 when Maria looks up to her right - visually constructing her future from the point-of-view of herself at seventeen (which is now her present and past). This body language (for the vast majority of right-handers) is highly consistent with sincerity and truth. Her words are highly congruent with her nonverbal displays. If you were picking a jury, you'd want a girl like Maria - at least based on this portion of the interview.]

All of the above referenced MAPs signal anxiety in Maria Sharapova. Again, she is extremely accomplished and has few obvious reasons for anxiety. As it often is the case, when a person is out of their element or for reasons which aren't visible to most - and many would doubt even exist - people at the top/in positions of power/alpha personalities have anxiety too. Being able to spot these moments allows us to know their Achilles heel and exploit it - or come to her aide - or perhaps back off - whatever and whenever we so choose in a highly nuanced fashion.

P.S. - Today during the first round of Wimbledon: Maria Sharapova def. Anastasia Rodionova of Australia 6-2, 6-3

See also:

Analysis # 1863: Sharapova's Lips of Anger

Analysis # 51: Dominance Display in a Couple - Sasha & Maria

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1869: One Body Language Signal a President Should Never Display

Most forms of "self-touching" fit into a body language classification referred to as Manipulators, Adaptors or Pacifiers. These are also known by their acronym - MAP. When a MAP is displayed, at best it indicates increased levels of anxiety - thus any speaker, particularly a C-level executive, an attorney, physician, or one who holds high public office should never self-touch - even in front of an audience of one. Very rarely will anyone in a typical audience have any formal nonverbal training - but particularly MAPs involving head (and especially the face) will leave the audience with a sense of unease. They almost never can tell you why, but none-the-less they feels the speakers anxiety. It's essentially transmitted to anyone watching. Barack Obama certainly knows this, and he knew it when he committed this faux pas - but he couldn't help it. Despite having a very good nonverbal skills, he has a subconscious just like everyone else - and anxiety shows itself when it pleases.

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Negotiation Body Language Secret # 339: When a Lie is Heard or Told

Self-touching fits into a class of nonverbal behaviors that are known as Manipulators, Adaptors or Pacifiers (MAPs). MAPs are significant body language signals of anxiety. When the area being touched involves the ear, eye, nose, mouth, cheek or anterior (front) neck - there's an even higher correlation with deception. The remainder of the head and neck have a lower correlation with lying.

Jon Corzine, former Chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs, U.S. Senator and Governor of New Jersey testified before the U.S. House Agriculture Committee today. He resigned on November 4th of this year from MF Global, where he was CEO and Chairman since March 2010. MF Global declared bankruptcy on October 31, 2011 - the eighth largest in U.S. history. The company is under investigation by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Among other things, $1.2 billion is missing. Hmmm...

Corzine was asked repeatedly during his testimony about the missing money: "I don't know whether this is inadvertent. I don't know whether in the flows of transfers someone held on to some funds," Corzine said. "I don't have the ability other than to speculate where they would be."

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Negotiation Secret # 135: Negative Clustering

This image of Johnny Depp is a great example of a Critical Evaluation Cluster (B. & A. Pease). A "Cluster" is when two or more body language signals occurring simultaneously or in a very short period of time (two or three seconds) - that when congruent with each other, is consistent with a very high degree of accuracy. Here, Mr. Depp's mouth is slightly tightened (mild anger), the entire width of his forehead is contracted (here, apprehensive/incredulous), while he is self-touching his right eye brow (here, anxiety associated with disbelief). In addition, Johnny is not looking directly at the person(s) to who(m) these emotions are directed. We don't look directly at those we don't like, don't respect or don't believe. Johnny Depp is one of the most respected and most liked actors of our time - but here he's not acting. Thanks for the lesson Mr. Depp.

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