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Showing posts with label confident body language. Show all posts
Showing posts with label confident body language. Show all posts

Body Language of Fashion Designer Michael Kors


























The Daily Front Row asked Patti to read the body language of fashion designer, Michael Kors, for their Chic Report. Viewing Michael as he posed on the red carpet, Patti commented, "he's amazingly comfortable in his own skin" Check the link below to find out more of Patti's insights!

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Elevator Body Language


How we behave in those seconds of entrapment says alot about us. Bloomberg Businessweek asked Patti to share her insights on the behaviors of elevator riders from 10 of Manhattan office buildings. Check the link below to find out which catagory you're in!


http://www.scribd.com/doc/46012966/ElevatorBehaviors


Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Body Language Read of Fed Chair, Bernanke 60 Minutes Interview

Body Language Read of Fed Chair, Bernanke 60 Minutes Interview by Scott Pernelli. was by MSMBC to analyze Bernanke's body language and I also talked to AOL.com and NBC.com. I am a body language expert and a media coach. I was interested in how confident Bernanke appeared during the interview. If his goal was to instill confidence, he really didn’t give a good interview. He looked scared, close to tears at times and defensive when he was asked the tough questions.
The editing of the interview was interesting. They always ended with his response to a tough question both in the first segment break then at the very end. You really see the primacy and resencey persuasion theory effects I talk about with my media clients and public speaking workshop attendees.
If you saw the interview edited to just his statement of the Feds plans he is confident.

I will put up a link to the video and links to any press quotes of my read.


In The first segment in the darkened room chair to chair with the 60 minutes interviewer, Scott Pernelli, Bernanke often appears to lack confidence in his responses, his voice cracks, he retreats and head tilts. He confidently responds to his plans, but not to our future. Also it was clear he was very tired in this first segment. It looks like Bernanke didn’t sleep the night before; in fact I had written that in my notes then in the second segment Pernelli asks, “What keeps you up at night?”
Bernanke responds to the first question from Pernelli, “When is this going to end” by smacking his lips together. This indicates that his mouth is dry, a sign of nervousness and in this case his facial expression and smack indicate he wants to be careful and thoughtful in his response. Sure enough he gives a slowly delivered prepared answer rather than a fast confident, spontaneous answer.
I wish there was a two shot. If you look at his head placement his head is “off center” and pulled slightly back. That indicates his fear and defensiveness. The off center placement may be due to where the interviewer is seated or matching and mirroring of Pernelli, but a confident person who has one clear vision typically holds their head in center position. Head tilts back and forth like he does throughout the interview read as if he was flip flopping on his beliefs. I advise my media coaching clients to be careful of head flopping because it can be read so negatively. Also the way Bernanke is pulling back his head slightly as he begins each statement shows a lack of confidence in the answer. What we want to see is someone who moves his head and body forward with confidence. His head is also slightly tilted to the side, though again this may be a response to how the interview or camera is set up. But to the public a tilted head held throughout statement shows deference, uncertainity and in this case makes us feel like he is afraid of our negative response to him and what he is saying. Frightened children tilt their head when they are telling their parents they did something wrong and fear punishment. It is not the normal head placement for a power government employee.

“We do have a plan and we are working on it but I do think we will get it stabilized. Again his head tilts. He does hit the right words strongly the do and the will showing the correct paralanguage emphasis to instill confidence. But then he hesitates in the middle and stumbles verbally and uses a BUT that seems to cut one half of the sentence from the other. That can happen subconsciously when you’re sure about one thing you're saying but not the other. Also look how he pulls his head back. Specifically how the right side of his face pulls back and “retreats as he goes into the next sentence and he changes his vocal delivery and says, now I am seeing the interviewer model the head tilt
The interviewer steeples (think of him holding a king's crown out in front of himself when asking him about the end of the recession that is an aggressive way of asking.) And Bernanke does get vocally defensive and picks up the pace saying the begining of the next answer very quickly.
We will see an end of this decline, stop “I hope”

You seem to be saying we are not heading into a depression,
“I think we have averted that, pause that risk. I think we have gotten past, that risk. This delivery makes me feel that he has compartmentalized his statement. He thinks we have averted THAT risk, but to me obviously feels there are other risks. (I listened to the rest of the video and just found out his research specialty was the great depression. He really does define it differently. )

Listen to his voice as he is asked if he made a mistake letting Lehman brothers fail. His voice is actually cracking, you can hear the stress, and the voice sounds like he is on the edge of tears.
…people said let em fail...and he shakes his head no. Showing he really didn’t believe we should let them fail. Then he says, “… and I think (again that word) I knew BETTER than that.

There have been four rescues of AIG of over a….why is that necessary,
Watch Bernanke carefully- again you can see him get chocked up. Let me first say, (By the way this is a common bridge statement I teach my clients who are going to be interviewed by the media. It allows you to go to a planned statement you as the interviewee have written or practiced ahead of time. I think he did a good job of holding back his anger, but gracefully using the words causes me the most anger... angst. His voice gets strong for a bit here.

Later I thought we were close to a global financial meltdown.
How close
It was very close.

It’s not tax money… talks about printing money his voice stresses again.

When asked about the multiple bailouts. He slumps back in his chair and again his voice falters in mid sentence showing a lack of confidence. “Part of the issue is well, pause; you know the economy has gotten….. That has meant again he stutters out.
The interviewer gets usually aggressive and brings his entire body towards Bernanke and stays in Bernanke’s space that is not creating a neutral response. He is really trying to get Bernanke back up …really pushy and says, “There are so many people across this country that say, to hell with them.”
Bernanke is doing some odd partial head nods that go from side to side disagreement to up and down agreement. Then he gives another prepped response, “Let me give you an analogy…pause stutter... if I might. As a media coach. I would have had him just strongly go into the analogy that is a really weak bridge statement to use in response to a question that strongly delivered.
He voice gets much stronger as he talks about the stress tests they are giving to the bank. He feels really good and confident with this plan. I wish he had said this earlier as I think by this time the viewing public would be disgusted and tuned out the significance of the stress test plan.

Next he sounds really scared. Wow this was not a strong way to end this segment. The last thing you say and do effects your personal credibility and a show like this can choose the segment that airs before a long commercial break.
Keep you up at night... Here Bernanke blinks and pulls back his head as he says, “The biggest risk is that we pause you know, that we don’t have the political will he shakes his head no, we don’t have the …
In which case, we can’t (he pauses and shakes his head no,) we can’t count on recovery. (His voice breaking.


The read of the Job segment
Bernanke asked, “How long before we get those jobs back?”
Freeze at 14:50 He does a head sadness bow and a head back retreat and gives a window shade blink you are obviously right.
If you freeze there you can see his sadness
Four or five years for jobs to come back. His voice cracks.
Bernanke is sitting in a very guarded protected position. His legs are crossed away and he has his arms and hands in a defensive arm and hand position protecting his ventral front (His belly.)

Some people think that the six hundred billion is a terrible idea,
Bernanke moves forward and actually sounds agitated and angry… his voice speaks up and he energetically says “I know that some people think that ...ahhh pause ahhhh... What I think there.
His hand goes gently forward as he says the word policy. (He believes the policy is sound)
This fear of inflation is much overstated. He shakes his head in strong, quick up and down motions; He moves his head in a strong and angry manner.
Now he says myth we are printing money, we are not printing money what we are doing is….
He gets riled up here as he continues. He is good at saying what the Fed is doing.
He is really talking fast as he talks about how they can halt inflation… really fast compared to his baseline.


It looks like Beranke didn’t sleep the night before.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

OchoCinco and Owens Making Comments About Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromarti and Body Language Read - Cocky or Ready to Play?

This is a body language read of OchoCinco and Owens on a show on the Versus Network.
I usually just report on the body language and don't editorialize but in this case these players were putting other players down and thinking they were cool. I was not impressed. I actually like the rowdy, loud team members who shout and jump up with raised arms and high fives saying, “We are going to win!” “We are going to pulverize them!” Athletes do that to get their limbic brain pumped with adrenaline and other hormones so blood goes to their brain and limbs so they can move and “fight.” Glucose gives them intense focus. That is fun! That energy is contagious and gets the fans fired up.


OchoCinco and Owens will be facing the New York Jets on Thursday night in a nationally televised game and they will be going up against Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie, two of the best quarterbacks in the game. Revis and Cromartie will be charged with the responsibility of shutting down OchoCinco and Owens, which leads to this exchange in the video.

http://www.versus.com/tocho-show/videos/tocho-jet-promo/


Questions about the overall exchange and demeanor of the two:

Are they dismissive? Is it in fun? What is the overall tone and tenor? What can you tell us about their delivery that would give some insight into their intentions throughout their delivery? Are they uncomfortable? Cocky? Joking? Self-assured?

The guys were reading their pre-written lines off a teleprompter with a delivery that was stiff and awkward rather than alpha cool dude energetic. Even when OchoCinco used the bullhorn, his body (head, shoulders posture) didn’t go up with enthusiasm nor did his paralanguage, (voice tone, volume, speaking rate) show he was energized. They appeared so cool with the relaxed shoulders, torsos/stomachs, relaxed back and low energy, slow vocal delivery by both guys they didn’t even have to work hard or give it their all in this piece.

Why do they choose to call Revis and Cromartie “Ren & Stimpy?" Does that make it obviously a humorous statement or is that a slight?

The nonverbal delivery, I'm sure, was planned as a comic put down. If they wanted it to be a powerful put down it would have been given spontaneously with a strong stare and vocal emphasis.


How would an athlete who has these statements directed at him react?

As a media coach I would tell Revis and Cromartie not to be worried. Chad OchoCinco (Johnson) and Terrelle Owens are over confident. If Revis and Cromartie are questioned directly by the media about the "Ren & Stimpy," I might suggest a comment such as “Let’s let go of thoughts of cartoon cats and dogs. Let's be great sportsmen and play great football for all our great fans.”


How about carrying over onto the field, what is the impact? If they are joking in their comments, would that mean that they are taking them lightly? If they’re serious and putting them down, does that mean that they might be prone to be too cocky?

It is clear from all this planned buffoonery and their poor delivery of it that they think they are too cool for school.

Final question, number six I know. Can you give me a three sentence intro about you? I’d like to give you a solid plug and while my editor is anti-plugs, we need to do our best here to get you out there, right? Patti Wood MA, CSP in a media couch, who has been researching, reading and speaking on body language since 1982. Author of “Success Signals –Understanding Body Language.


Okay, and here is a bit of background on OchoCinco from a story I did on him a few weeks ago:
http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/31/how-ochocinco-embraces-fans-of-the-enemy/?src=twrhp


Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

What's Revealed By A Hand On A Thigh?


Patti Wood, body language expert, shares her insights about Carson's hand on the thigh of his girlfriend, Josephine, for In Touch Weekly. Look at how far apart Carson's legs are in this photo. Also notice how he reaches his arm all the way across her body.
Check the link below for the story behind the pic!

http://www.scribd.com/doc/37822080/CarsonDaly


Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

During A Meeting Or Media Interview, What Are Some Common Body Language Signs Of Discomfort Or Nervousness?

During a meeting or media interview, what are some common body language signs of discomfort or nervousness?
Closing off your body windows, self comfort cues, getting small.

What kind of body language exudes confidence and approachability in an interview or meeting? Prepare. Find out if you are going to be standing or sitting and if you’re sitting whether you will be on a stool, chair or sofa. Ideally you want your body to be relaxed and open. You want to show your confidence by taking up space, leaning backwards and forwards as the interview or meeting goes on rather than freezing or planting in one fixed pose.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.
Look at the confident and assured body language of this ten year old fashion designer. An interview on the Today Show and she speaks and moves like a pro


Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional The Body Language Expert Web- http://www.PattiWood.netI have a new quiz on my YouTubestation. Check it out!YouTube- YouTube - bodylanguageexpert's Channel

Body Language Tools to Build Confidence in Job Interviews

I just responded to a media request for tools to "... prepare people mentally to go into the interview and do the best they can. With the job market in the shape it is in now, people who have an interview are extremely lucky and they cannot afford to become stressed or "psyched out" before talking to a potential employer. I responded.

I am a body language expert I just had a coaching session with a client where we used some of my confidence building tools for job interviews.


One powerful technique to gain confidence and keep yourself from getting stressed during and interview is to imagine the emotions you want the interviewer to have about you and deliver the body language that elicits those emotions. For my client today the emotion he wanted the interviewer to feel was excitement. So you he said the word excitement and then moved and held his body up and leaned forward and gestured as he shared his positive work experiences . He smiled and even laughed as he relayed one particular story. He didn't feel excited in the moment before he started moving his body, he felt afraid. But he said, "It was weird as soon as I brought my shoulders back and smiled and put some energy in my voice I got it sighted." "It felt like I had just had a cup of Starbucks" So go into your interview showing excitement with up, energetic nonverbal behavior. Do know, of course that there are caveats to excitement being the appropriate response. But overall your demeanor can illicit the appropriate emotion for the situation.

A second techniques to build confidence is to move and hold your body “UP!” I created the label UP. to describe all upward posture and movements and facial expressions such as, head held up, gestures with up motions. When we are happy are body naturally moves up and holds itself up. When you hold or move your body the way you would like to feel the posture actually sends a message to the brain, “Hey I am feeling great, positive and up.” As you hold your body the little pharmacy in your brain starts producing the chemicals that match that state, (in as little as a 40th of a second.) and pumps them into your body and you begin to feel up. The combination of your up posture and movement up and chemical up state is felt by the interviewer. They start to give you attentive nonverbal cues and that makes you feel more confident. I call this the fake it till you make it technique. You only have to fake it for a fraction of a second before it actually effects how you feel.

A third tool is to choose a word that expresses how you would like to feel in your interview and then get into a posture that matches it. So if your word is CONFIDENT your put your body in an open position, arms away from your body, legs uncrossed shoulder back heart forward, extending eye-contact for as long as three seconds, and make your voice going down at the end of sentences. (We tend to tighten the vocal chords when we are tense and the high, sometimes screechy sound is not powerful. When we use positive words we can alter how are brain functions by increasing cognitive reasoning and strengthening areas in our frontal lobes. Using postie words in your life more than negative ones can kick-start the motivational centers of the brain, propelling them to action.

And a forth techniques is to use that same magic word to replace any negative thoughts you have about the interview. For example, replace the though, “ I am going to mess up is and forget what to say with your magic word. “I am going to be CONFIDENT and remember what I want to say.”

So imagine confidence and use the word to motivate yourself and move up to be more confident!

E-mail Patti - Patti@PattiWood.net