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Showing posts with label posture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label posture. Show all posts

What Does Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Body Language Say?

What Does Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Body Language Say?
An Expert Weighs In on Their First Appearance Together



Yesterday, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made their first joint appearance together. Yes, an event so groundbreaking, so invigorating, so miraculous that it must be put it in italics! (No, we aren’t obsessing over two strangers just to briefly distract ourselves from imminent nuclear obliteration or superstorm destruction or some freaky combination of both. Why do you ask?)
At the same time, it was almost too much of a good thing. Mere days ago there were only a few of photos of them together—and those were all grainy, out of focus, or taken from a distance. Now there are pages on pages of high-quality ones, and gasp, they capture so many different emotions! There’s laughing. There’s pondering. There’s gazing at each other and off into the distance. There’s hand holding. There’s hand-folding. There’s whispering. And while it was easy to dissect the small amount of pictures before, now it’s nearly impossible for even the most dedicated of Meghan-Harry over-analyzers.

It’s a job for an expert: a body language expert, that is.
Vogue asked Patti Wood, the “Babe Ruth of body-language experts”, to decode Harry and Meghan’s facial expressions, positioning, posture, and hand-holding from their big debut. Are they in love? Or is the pressure of the public eye taking its toll? Wood weighs in, below.


Photo: Getty Images
“This is a connection moment—we are going to laugh together in the same moment. We are having this experience of joy and fun together. It’s a purely happy moment. Big, big grin, showing upper teeth, which men typically only do when they are super happy and joyful and laughing. It’s really great.”


Photo: Getty Images
“It’s a pre-touch. We see that smile again—she’s just gleeful with that smile! He’s smiling too. Even if they aren’t looking in the same direction, it’s a cool moment. See how his legs are spread out? He does that all the time when he’s confident and relaxed. He goes into the ‘alpha male’—legs spread out. That’s just guy behavior. It means he’s really relaxed, open, connected with the experience.”


Photo: Getty Images
“There’s a lot of shared intimacy there. He kind of kisses her head, she’s smiling, his left hand holding her, and then they are holding hands with the other hands. I just love double touches! This is a spontaneous double touch hold! It’s really, really good—with royalty, there’s not a lot of double touching. Maybe you’ll see it on a red carpet, but you won't necessarily see it spontaneously. It’s a great sign. He’s not pulling her, he’s just holding her. This is very, very nice and relaxed.”


Photo: Getty Images
“He’s on the bottom, holding her hand up. He wants to be connected, but he wants to take care of her. I love that! He is leading her—but I don’t like when men lead and hold downward. That’s like a child—you have your hands on top and you are pulling them. In this case you are cupping and holding, and that is much more care-taking.”


Photo: Getty Images
“I love it. She’s comfortable leaning forward. It’s a comfortable moment.”
Wood’s final prognosis: Meghan and Harry are in love—and, incredibly, incredibly happy together. “They are used to sharing intimate conversations and intimate moments. They are having fun together, and a lot of the little touches and facial expressions—this is not the first time. This is something that they do together. They have fun times together.”



Patti Wood, MA - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com.
     

What You Communicate Without Saying a Word

Patti was interviewed by The Job Scholar on what you communicate without saying a word. Patti says to maintain eye contact without giving the "Death Stare."

What You Communicate Without Saying a Word


Our experts say a well prepared candidate will not only say the right thing in an interview, but will also communicate through their body language that they are the right fit for the position.

Body Language Matters

Bill Balderaz, president of marketing firm Fathom, says that what a candidate’s body language communicates can be even more influential than the spoken word. “I pay much more attention to body language than I do to the words someone says. Do they project empathy, confidence, and knowledge?” Balderaz says he looks for signs that the candidate is engaged in the interview, such as head nodding and leaning into the conversation. “I think of myself as a prospect, is this the body language that will make me want to work with a person, and a company?” Balderaz says that taking notes is another sign that the candidate is engaged in the conversation, but warns against taking notes so rigorously that the candidate is no longer actively taking part in the conversation.

Sit Up Straight

Jonathan Simon, vice president of talent acquisition and human resources for Forman Automotive, Inc., says that a candidate’s posture enables him to envision the type of employee they will become. “A person sitting too relaxed in their chair is a turnoff for me. It shows a bit of cockiness and is unprofessional,” Simon says. Simon explains that while he is looking for a candidate that exudes confidence while remaining relaxed, slouching or slumping in a chair takes it too far.
According to Patrick Lynch, president of executive and career coaching firm The Frontier Group, a candidate who doesn’t slouch or lean back, but instead leans forward into the conversation, demonstrates that they are interested in the interview and have a good energy level. However, Lynch cautions candidates from leaning too far forward. “People all have their own comfort zone or personal space. Leaning too far forward makes some interviewers uncomfortable,” Lynch warns.

Maintain Eye Contact – Without Giving the “Death Stare”

Body language expert, Patti Wood, says that in a typical conversation eye contact is usually made 60% of the time, and it is expected that a candidate look away here and there. “It is normal to look away from time to time as you speak, because you’re accessing information from your brain. Actually, the listener should be the one making the most eye contact. So when your interviewer is talking, lock in. Keeping the eye connection tells the interviewer you are paying attention and are interested in the job. After giving an answer, remember to make eye contact with the interviewer, don’t ‘click off’ when you are not ‘on’,” Woods recommends.
Kiah Jones, strategic planning officer at recruiting firm Windsor Resources, agrees that eye contact is essential, citing it as one of the ways an interviewer can determine if a candidate is excited about a position, and if they would be a good fit. “An attentive candidate with strong listening skills that involves eye contact can be revealing. These candidates are present, engaged, and interested. If a candidate doesn’t convey excitement for a role in an interview, they will most likely not have any passion or creativity if they are hired,” Jones says.

Keep Arms Uncrossed

“The worst thing a candidate can do is sit with their arms crossed. This gives the appearance of ‘holding back’, and reflects negative energy ranging from nervousness to combativeness,” warns Jones. Instead, Jones recommends that candidates carry themselves with relaxed (but not stooped) shoulders, demonstrating that they are both poised and comfortable. Again, Jones stresses that if a candidate gives off a defensive or low energy during the interview, this sends the message that the candidate will become a low energy and defensive employee if hired.

Understand You’re Being Watched

Our experts have established how a candidate needs to present themselves once in the interview room, but Mario Almonte, managing partner of Herman & Almonte PR, says that body language outside of the interview room matters, too. “The interviewing process begins the moment you enter the reception area. The receptionist and anyone else in the office are assessing you. If they see you fidgeting, acting strangely, or otherwise not acting like a professional, they’re going to tell HR later,” Almonte warns. Almonte says that while waiting to be interviewed, candidates should sit calmly and their body movements should show confidence and professionalism. “The bottom line is that you should consider yourself under 24/7 surveillance the moment you enter the office for a job interview. Assume that people are watching your every movement and that they will report any suspicious looking characters to management,” Almote cautions.
All of our experts agree that the unspoken communication of body language plays an important role in their selection process, so remember, they’re watching you.

Article Link Below:

http://thejobscholar.com/communicate-without-saying-word/

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com. Also check out Patti's YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Interview Body Language Mistakes That Can Cost You The Job

Patti shared with Forbes Magazine that a candidate can give out thousands of non-verbal cues within the first minute of meeting a hiring manager, and those messages make more of an impact than the words that you use during the interview.  Click the link below to discover what body language mistakes you could be making without even knowing it!

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2012/08/20/interview-body-language-mistakes-that-can-cost-you-the-job-2/

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com. Also check out Patti's YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

7 Things Your Body Language Says About You

I recently was interviewed by Fightyourcase.com sharing my insights about what your body language says about you.  To find out the 7 things, click the link below for the entire interview.

http://www.fightyourcase.com/blog/2012/06/7-body-language.aspx

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.

When is it Time to STOP Selling the Dress?

Patti is featured in the Jan/Feb issue of VOWS magazine which recently hit the stands. Check the link below for her insights on knowing when to STOP selling!

http://www.scribd.com/doc/84575364/Time-to-Stop-Selling

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 Your Body Language Says About You

Some people always do well during job interviews, seem to have more fun at cocktail parties and generally get along better with other people. Wouldn't you like to know their secret? The answer may be no secret at all. They could simply have more awareness of body language -- both their own and that of others.

Patti shared her insights on what your body language says about you with Healthy Life. Click the link below to find out!

http://www.healthylifect.com/home/article/Talk-This-Way-3377426.php


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 Mistakes That Can Cost You Your Job

A candidate can give out thousands of cues within the first minute of meeting a hiring manager, and those messages make more of an impact than what you say during the interview. Our body language says a lot about who we are and our emotional state, and poor body language often sends a message that we are stressed or fearful.

Check the link for Patti's full interview with Forbes Magazine.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2011/08/31/interview-body-language-mistakes-that-can-cost-you-the-job/

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.