Sunday, March 28, 2010

The body doesn't lie

Body language is crucial in helping to create a positive impression. This includes the way we enter a room and the way we stand and sit. Even the way you walk and hold yourself is fundamental to displaying clothes to their best advantage and projecting a confident, positive image.

Some recent events have highlighted how critically important body language is. If we take Tiger Woods mea culpa, watched by practically the entire world, some have criticized the “emotional detachment” with which he delivered his apology. His expression was mostly deadpan except when he was speaking about the media intrusion on his family and the work of his foundation. When you walk into a room (facing your harshest critics or otherwise) stand tall with your head up and your eye line directed to the person or people you are going to talk to. This automatically makes you look and feel confident and at ease. It does not mean sticking your nose in the air because you feel mightily aggrieved, but rather show your stoic side by standing with your shoulders back and your head facing forward to create a positive impression. You should also aim to look alert or have some sort of positive emotion – there’s nothing worse than having a blank face that says "the lights are on but nobody is home."

The Hellon – Arunga show (sorry press conference), played out to an incredulous Kenyan public also showed some interesting body language. Laughter and smiling is said to increase the flow of blood, producing positive emotions and helps us to achieve a natural high and a release from tension. That is why some people laugh when they are in trouble. When she wasn’t berating the attending press corps, Arunga was at times laughing and smiling which was clearly nervous laughter to release the tension. Other positive body language to use in such a situation include having hands visible and keeping hands and arms open rather than closed i.e clenched, crossed or folded which are all barrier positions and come across as defensive. Sitting upright and looking alert but relaxed and not constantly touching the face as this signifies nervousness or even that you're not being truthful. When she did excoriate the media – her body adopted an aggressive posture, belligerent hand movements and if she honestly has political aspirations she will need to work better on handling tough questions, innuendo and accusations which comes with the territory. This will include using positive body language and avoiding negative signals so as not to alienate the audience.

And talking of alienating an audience, the embattled head of Toyota, was roundly criticized for not bowing "deep enough" while issuing his own mea culpa for the recent problems Toyota cars have had. This in a country (Japan) where body language is everything and the angle of his bow was deemed insufficient for the magnitude of the apology. Poor body language displays unattractive traits like weakness, nervousness, insecurity, discomfort, and submissiveness.