Search This Blog

Showing posts with label president obama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label president obama. Show all posts

Obama & Christie Handshake Analysis

Patti was interviewed by The Washington Examiner on the recent pic posted by the White House of President Obama and Gov. Christie in a brotherly handshake.  Click the link below to read Patti's insights!

http://washingtonexaminer.com/white-house-features-obamas-brotherly-handshake-with-christie/article/2530817

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.

Obama's Thumb Jab - What does it Mean?

Patti was interviewed by the BBC on 10 of the lesser-spotted things about American presidential politics - and about this campaign.  Patti shares her insights on the "Thumb Jab" gesture that President Obama has used throughout his campaign. Click the link below to read about the 10 Oddities explained!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20072338

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.

Patti's Insights on the 2nd Presidential Debate on Americas Radio Network


http://www.americasradionewsnetwork.com/body-language-expert-patti-wood-analyzes-second-presidential-debate

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.

Patti's Insights on the 2nd Presidential Debate - October 16, 2012


Shake with a one, two and three.

Obama and Romney circled and spared one another in last night’s Town Hall Meeting battle of the body language.

 

Romney jumped up out of his chair and ran to the front to answer the first question leaving President Obama sitting in his chair behind Romney making Obama look less powerful and ready to take action for the country.

 

Body language and Paralanguage (the nuances of the voice) affect the voter’s perception of first impression factors such as Credibility, Likeability, Attractiveness and Power. This opening made Romney win on Power.

 

Romney obviously was coached to smile as much as possible.  Romney has been practicing his smile.

Romney also did a good job of answering the first questions.

 

Did you see how Romney jumped out of that chair to answer the first question?

Interesting gestures being cut off on CNN.

Long answer - Romney is starting with a loud whisper.

2014 lots of smiling

 Obama is using his big booming voice.  It does not work when he is answering the first question.  He is not personal enough.

The resting face on Romney is a big smile. Very interesting change. He really has been working on it. He has been coached to smile whenever he can to counter that angry demeanor he had last time.

Romney faces toward Obama to engage about Detroit bankruptcy.

Obama’s energy is good but didn’t like that he turned around and walked away after his Detroit answer. He can‘t turn his body language on and off.  He has to stay engaged.  Body language of a battle. 

Watching Obama bring up his gestures. He is doing some great grabbing motions. It looks good. High and above the heart looks positive and winning.

Governor Romney is doing pushing down and away motion when he talks about Obama’s policies.

Romney knows how to do battle body language.

Romney is doing the counting with his fingers gesture as he talks about what he will do that I suggested today in my interview with the AP news wire.  That was what he needed to do to look like he had steps in mind.

Obama does a great, but too brief engagement in battle with Romney as he talks about Romney closing coal plant.

Think Obama does a great job with government owned lands for oil and gas. But then it goes to battle and Obama losses. Obama starts to interrupt and then backs down. Visually Romney is nice striking out with his hand and arm.

“What I want to do is create an economy that is strong” and Obama uses his strong, loud voice.

Romney is relentless.  He ignores the rules on the wind power.

 Obama even retreats, sits down and his head came down as he says he is used to being interrupted.  That is not powerful body language.

Obama is making some sour faces on deductions.  He is seething and holds a tight smile as he and his body is bouncing slightly showing he wants to be out of his chair answering.

Taxes Middle class families - he gestures with an interesting, reaching out, patting down motion that shows we can be hopeful but the taxes will come down.  Great power and forward movement and gesture as he talks about his philosophy about taxes,

Romney speaks on taxes - he does his nice, soft but loud voice his five point plan he counts again. That works for him.

Tax cut they are both smiling with their chins up. Oh my gosh they are matching each other What a great screen grab they are equal in battle power in that moment and they feel it. (About 25 minutes in)

Romany is doing his smarmy TV preacher smirk like smile as Obama talks about tax rates.

Romany does this gesture sweeping his left arm back to show how his discounts Obama.

Romney looks so rude.

Female’s 72 percent of what males counterparts earn.  Finally got a nice story in. She didn’t complain he does a tongue eraser that makes me think she did complain.

Woman increasingly the bread winners but didn’t answer the question.

60 billion dollars going to banks for Pell grants.

Both Romney and Obama are gesturing a lot more than in the other debates.

I am now so engaged I don’t want to stop watching to Type. That indicates the energy, passion, movement is intense.

Biggest difference from Bush.

 Last contraceptive care. Changes his mind. 

Romney getting his say in at the top of his response and Obama sitting there and letting him makes Obama look less powerful. Siting and standing so interesting nonverbally.

Small business plans - Obama needs to gesture back and pat down motions to Romney not gesture toward the audience.

 Earn my vote question - Needed more energy and smile and upward movement to look hopeful and positive.

Illegal immigrants - The camera on the listening Obama is shaking. That makes Obama look bad, like he is shaking.

 I like how both candidates are.

Obama goes back to his chair with his head down.

Romney uses a fencing move at the retreating Obama and Romney insists on having the last word. It looks and sounds like he wins the round but he has to have the last word in the round.

 In the pension battle Obama loses.  I do like that he stood but Obama looks at the moderator to “save him” and fight for him. The limbic brain of the viewer wants to vote for a president that looks like he can stand his ground and win.

Kerry Ladka, Libya state department, shows his disrespect for the president.
Obama stuttered his answer.

“When it comes to National security I mean what I say” the president did some rapid blinking that leads me to believe he doubts that rather than he means what he says.

Romney’s voice is very passionate in his response on this question. The day after the attack his fist down to those who committed this crime and his lips show he is holding his emotions.

The battle of the rose garden was so intense I wanted to leave the room where I was watching the TV.

Closing

 Romney – “government does not create jobs.”  Romney goes up not on his turn to disagree with the president.  He is not just rude but made me feel he was ready to hit Obama. He went in to disrespectfully close space.

“Promises failed to deliver” was strong for Romney.

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.

How Did the Candidates Measure Up According to Patti's Tips for the Oct.3rd Presidential Debate?


Below is a re-cap of Patti's tips for President Obama and Governor Romney for the October 3rd Presidential Debate.  How do you think they did?  Which candidate came out ahead during the debate?
According to Patti Wood, Body Language Expert President Obama needs to:

1.     I suggest he come out strong, warm and charismatic before he begins speaking and make a strong positive first statement before he responds to the first questions.

2.     I would coach him and say, “President Obama, smile more as you make strong positive statements. When you speak about how great and hardworking Americans are and what this country is and has become. “

3.       He needs to relax his voice so he can use it to make us feel confident in him.

4.       He had great positive emotional moments and gestures in his DNC speech. He needs to pull some of that emotion and passion into the debates.

5.       He needs to gesture upwards above the waist as he speaks about where we can go to symbolically show he wants and can bring us joy and hope.

6.       He also needs and look up and out to the future.

7.       He has started this new bizarre habit that I call “The Tobacco Chew’ where he seems to cleanse his tongue in his mouth, pursing his lips then pushing his lips outwards and down and out as he says distasteful things  in his DNC.  He did this over 20 times in his DNC speech. He needs to look at that tape and note what motivated him to do that. Stop making statements that call forth that emotion and smile more instead.

8.       He is speaking to everyone so he needs to connect more with the audience, he can’t seem angry with his audience or he’s ashamed of us.

According to Patti Wood, Body Language Expert Governor Mitt Romney needs to:

1.       The single most important piece of advice for Governor Romney is to show genuine warm emotion in his voice and body language.

2.       Governor Romney should move more to illustrate what he is saying so that we feel he is speaking sincerely.

3.       Gesture more over all. He can move and he needs to have more animated and passionate emotional movement, facial and vocal expression.

4.       He needs to be present in the moment and connect more with the audience.

5.       He needs to look out at everyone and then speak using the power of the pause.

6.       Make sure his emotions and his nonverbal messages are in sync.

7.       Be likable – Let his emotions show.

8.     He needs to show nonverbally he is not keeping anything from us.


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.

Obama Runs the Show According to Patti




WASHINGTON - President Obama was a cool customer Thursday during a high-stakes powwow with Chinese Premier Hu Jintao in South Korea.

The leaders' 1-hour-and-20-minute summit focused on currency rifts, human rights and the rogue regime in North Korea. More so than the words, however, it was the body language that showed Obama running the showdown with the Red leader.Here's how Patti Wood, author of "Success Signals: Body Language in Business," saw it:Obama: "President Obama is in a very relaxed body position and a less defensive body posture. That's the best indication that this can be a positive communication for the President."I'd say overall he has the upper hand."Hu: "Hu Jintao is defensive. That's the defensive posture with his arms clutched and his legs spread."His arm over the side is protecting himself from Obama."



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

Charisma of President Obama






Psychology Today's body language expert, Patti Wood, reads the gestures of President Obama when he stops to talk to someone in a crowd and compares him to Bill Clinton. http://www.scribd.com/doc/34852080/Psychology-Today-Obama





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.

Finger Pointing, Obama.

What does finger pointing mean? I just got a call from Salon.com. The journalist was interested in knowing what Obama's finger pointing meant. Obama is a masterful speaker and often plans open handed finger pointing in his speeches to emphasize his strong feeling about a particular issue. It is most interesting to me when he uses it in response to a tough question, as then it shows his desire to "shoot" the questioner.
Here is an excerpt from my book on the topic.

Here is an excerpt from my book success signals. I would love a link to the article.
Pointing
One of the first things most of us learned about body language is it’s not polite to point. Why? Pointing is a potent gesture of power, a symbolic weapon. When you make a fist and thrust your finger out you’re symbolically shooting someone. It’s threatening.
When Bill Clinton turned to the nation, pointing his finger and said, “I never had sex with that woman,” he was lying. This is often the case, especially during testimony in front of congressional committees. So, does pointing a finger mean you are lying? Absolutely not. The average Joe would never do that. In fact, when I teach law enforcement, I say pointing can be a sign that someone’s telling the truth because they are passionately defending themselves. I see pointing used by powerful men who are used to getting their way and who have lied successfully in the past. They use it when they are cornered to defend themselves by counterattack. Speakers use a different version of pointing to show conviction of thought.

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

Obama's gray hair

I just read in the New York Times that they wonder why Obama's hair has turned gray. They wonder, "Is he under too much stress?" Perhaps he is staying up at night worried about our economy. Keeping the doors of the white house open to let in the homeless and offer them cookies. No, stress is not the reason his hair is gray. I think he stopped dying it. I am a body language expert and I just started dying my two or three white hairs blond.
Stress should not make Obama’s hair turn gray. Hair turns gray because the pigment cells in the shaft of the hair stop making pigment.
There is a theory that the shortened stages of hair growth as we age lead to less pigment i.e. gray hair or alternatively, little to no pigment at all--white hair. Another factor in graying hair is hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is a natural oxidant; we produce an enzyme called catalase that breaks down hydrogen peroxide turning it into water and oxygen. As we age the catalase function decreases, but the levels of hydrogen peroxide increase. High levels of hydrogen peroxide block the production of pigment, leading to gray hair. There are very few people who we like and respect more with gray hair. The President of the United States is one of them. Peter Frampton, David Cassidy, The Beach Boys and Paul McCartney, not so much.
I think Obama dyed his hair during the political race and now he wants the world to know he is wise so he has stopped coloring it. Paul McCartney is coming for a concert in Atlanta next week in Piedmont park. I plan on getting close enough to notice his natural hair color. I bet he knows we want him young and hip.

More on the body language at the Obama presidential inaguration

The most remarkable aspect of the Obama's body language at the presidential inauguration was the lack of reaction to the enormous crowds on the mall. I know he was trying to be presidential I watched him take on the mantel of seriousness and change his facial expression to a down turned mouth as he came out for his swearing in, but why not react at all? Why make the entire speech so practiced and rehearsed that he couldn't even have one spontaneous smile or wide open eyes and raised eyebrows in awe at all the people who have put their trust in him? Why not reach out his hands or look directly out at them one time as he spoke?
What do you think?

Check out my other posts on the inaguration and Obama.
on the blog or my website www. PattiWood.net

Inauguration Body Language Reads Continued...

I watched the Inauguration today for a body language read on Obama's presidential inauguration ceremony today.

Coming out of the white house to go the inauguration the "still president" Bush stepped behind Obama going down the stairs and then put his arm around and guided Obama down the stairs. This was particular interesting as I did a body language read of their first meeting after Obama was elected, for the New York Daily news, and in those photo stills Obama had his arm around Bush guiding him. This was Bush's last chance to look like the leader! Interesting, especially when you learn that Bush said something to the effect of, "Your on your own, go to your people for guidance" When Obama told Bush he was going to go to him for advice during his new presidency. Oddly this is what Bush senior said to Bush junior when Bush junior became president.

When Bush senior came down the steps he looked unusually ebullient. It was clear from his large smile and eye contact with the crowd of photographers that he was happy to be back in the limelight. You might have missed it but there was an odd moment that showed just how oddly happy Bush senior was as he came down the stairs he reached over and patted the rear end of one of the guards!

Former president Bill Clinton had his own "emotional moment" as he was entering the inauguration. When he was in the darkened hallway just before coming down the stairs his eyes wrinkled down and his mouth twisted back and down intensely as he held him his sadness. Then as he came out into the light and the crowd he lit up with his 'game face" with his great big charming smile and raised eyebrows. Hilary Clinton was calm her facial expression showed true power and pleasure. An interesting combination. I really admired that strength.

Soon to be president Obama's daughters came down the hallway and down the stairs walking several steps ahead of their grandmother, neither looking at her for comfort, support, or even acknowledging her. There posture was erect and lady like and very at ease. They seemed confident until it came to their seats. Then the youngest daughter sat down and had trouble with the blue blanket that was provided and then realized she should be standing. They kept looking at the immense crowds on the Mall. They where the only people filmed that seemed to acknowledge the incredible crowds.

When Obama came down the hallway you saw his face change from smile to a rather affected serious face. In fact I saw him put on the serious face and force it their. Odd that he chose to be serious instead of joyous throughout the inauguration.