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Room Set Up. Why You Should Not Have a Big Center Aisle


I was part of an awesome event recently. Before I do a presentation, we send graphics of my ideal room set up with our contract but this client just knew! He had a great room
Set up!  "Why is the aisle in the middle of the room so wide?” Yikes! How did I miss that? It is one of my own pet peeves, The Moses Effect. The same way that Moses parted the Red Sea, I allowed the room setup to have a huge center aisle.
So here is why you try not to have a wide center isle or make it very small! 


https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/whats-wrong-picture-darren-lacroix



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.
     

Shift Away From Formal Lectures in the Classroom.


This is a long but interesting article. I have created and used an experienced based learning model for all my programs for my entire career. It just makes sense to have an interactive learning experience. This is not a new concept. All teachers, assistant professors and professors should have ongoing training, presentation skills, interactive learning,and accelerated learning techniques.They need more than just a single day of training before school starts. I think our attention spans are shorter so being a dynamic facilitator is even more critical. 

http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/07/eliminating-the-lecture/491135/?utm_source=atlfb


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.
     
I knew my, "silence baths", (a day that  I don't watch tv, listen to any music or podcasts and don't talk on the phone and try not to talk at all.) were rejuvenating. Now it seems silence may help our memory.

http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2016/07/scientists-are-discovering-the-neural-benefits-of-silence.html



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.
     

What Do I Think of Hilary Clinton's Body Language


Do you think Hillary Clinton has a personality that attracts voters?
Hilary has a different personality style than many candidates. Hillary has always been highly competitive and laser-focused on her goals.
She has a commanding D Driver-style personality paired with the strategic, methodical approach of a C Corrector style personality. This combination of traits makes her very ambitious and very knowledgeable about the inner workings and details of the system. She is not warm and fuzzy. If someone who had suffered a great loss was talking to her, she wouldn’t say, “I am so sorry for your loss you must feel so bad.” She would be direct and solution oriented and ask the person for the details of what happened and offer a specific solution. She is a thinker not a feeler.  It would be great if she could be a bit more sensitive to people’s emotions, but she is a DC personality and they can sometimes be seen as overly task-oriented.

What are the elements that could show Hillary as a more humane candidate and closer to the people?  If I was her nonverbal communication coach. (and yes I am a personal coach as well as a professional speaker on body language.) I would create video and photos of her hugging people and being warm and genuine and playing with children, and people who have undergone hardship and even video of her being warm and relaxed around her close friends and family.

Does Hillary have charisma?

Let’s break down what Charisma is and talk about her specific nonverbal behaviors. Charisma is comprised of likability, Attractiveness and Power.
Likability is created non verbally through smiles and eye contact, animated and expressive facial expressions, gestures and rapport building skills such a matching and mirroring and staying connected and leaning forward when someone is talking. In the past, Hilary did not have a relaxed warm smile. Her smile was often often small and looks tense. (That’s a common characteristic of a high C on the DISC) She is super smart and results oriented so if she is listening to you and she gets your point, she is on to solution and she stops listening!!!! I have seen her do this in countless TV interviews. She has worked on her smile a great deal but, was blasted for smiling too much or having a odd smile in the first presidential debates, but over all the change in her smile made her look unruffled and warmer. Yet the media criticizers her if she doesn't smile enough an when they feel she smiles too much or in oddly. Her husband Bill Clinton who is high on Charisma and and does smile as much as he wants and we love it. He is high in Charisma and his smile is large warm and sincere.  He has  charismatic laser focused eye contact that makes a listener feel like he is the center of Bills universe and the most special person in the world. Talk to anyone who has met him and they will talk about his eye contact and how he lingers to listen to the them and connect evening extending length of handshake to linger and connect.
Attractiveness is the second charismatic factor and this is so hard to say, but Hilary looks professional but she does not fit the typical attractiveness standard. She looked great in the first presidential debate That irritates me as a woman, and really as a human being, But it is important in a presidential candidate.  Years ago, when Sarah Palin was selected as a Vice Presidential candidate I was doing media interviews about Sarah's body language and my hosts always mentioned her attractive appearance..
Power is the last component of Charisma. This is a tricky characteristic for a women. Hilary is very powerful. She has many power cues. But, there is a difficulty again with a women looking too powerful. Hilary walks the B line. The line between warm and feminine and being a B---h. She also has a strident voice. But she has worked on it considerably.  The biggest issue is that her nonverbal cues are not as powerful as Trumps and they cannot be!!! We would despise a female candidate who screamed and yelled, interrupted and stabbed the air and grimaced the way Trump does. The bigger problem is that the public tends to vote for the most ALPHA powerful candidate for president. Regardless of their party.
So, to answer your question, though in person she is highly charismatic, in interviews and televised speeches she does not have the likability specifically the warmth that voters like. It may not matter and it may make all the difference. 

Do  you believe that that charisma is necessary to win an election in the United States? 

Historically, yes. The public tends to vote for the most charismatic candidate. 


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.
     

Bernie’s body language. What does he really think about Hilary? Convention Endorsement.

Media sources are asking me what Bernie really thinks of Hillary.
I analyzed this clip that shows two of Bernie’s speeches. First, there is Bernie saying negative things about Clinton before the Democratic convention then in the same clip of his endorsement of her at the convention.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVrti6Jt0BI

The first part of the clip shows Bernie Saunders’ body language as he talked about Hilary Clinton before the Democratic Convention and again during his speech at the convention when he endorsed her.
Bernie sanders endorsing Hillary and getting booed is in the second part of the same clip.
In the first part of this endorsement speech when Bernie is talking about Hilary’s lack of qualifications, he brings his arms and hands up to either side of his head, in what I call a “high head” gesture that shows he has confidence in what he is saying.

He gestures, giving air quotes just before the word “qualified” and says, “I don’t think you are qualified….” This is called before-say order. Bernie gesturing before words shows his authentic belief that she is not qualified to be president of the United Sates. In authentic Body Language, we gesture then says the words. Gestures come from the emotional limbic brain, so when we really feel something we feel it and show before we say it with words.

When he goes to say, “We have got to elect Hilary Clinton...” his gesture should have started and peaked at the word “got” but his arm came up slowly and hit downward as he pointed when he said the word “elect”. Instead, he motioned late and his gesture showed his lack of enthusiasm, and that electing Hillary is a downward move.

As he is quieting the crowd, he brings his arm and hand up high to pat down the crowds booing. These high above the head gestures show he knows he has power over the crowd. He also brings his hands up high on the right then on the left, in what is almost a slow motion flailing, drowning motion as if he is saying, “I know I have power and I am giving it up.” He then sways his hand up high with the crowd showing his connection to his brothers and sisters.







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.
     

Programs Customized for You by Patti Wood MA

Communication Dynamics Inc.
 Programs Customized for You
Patti Wood MA


First Impressions and Body Language - For Conferences and other Networking Opportunities.
Attending a conference is a great opportunity to make connections, get new clients and strengthen your existing client relationships. In this program you will enhance your first impression skills and build your networking skills. You meet someone, and on average, within 10 seconds you decide whether or not you like them. How is that first impression formed? Is your gut reaction accurate?  In this program you will learn to read the thousands of nonverbal cues hidden in the hello and the handshake that can make your interactions more genuine and more productive and get you that contract. Based on Patti’s books: “SNAP Making the Most of First Impressions Body Language and Charisma” and “GOING UP! Elevating Your Elevator Speeches.”

Pitch Perfect - Nonverbal Skills to Enhance Your Pitch Meetings.
In this program you will learn how to have professional presence to pitch to high level executives and learn to win over everyone with ease. You will learn how to read the audience and their nonverbal cues that show their level of interest, understanding, and whether they are convinced and in agreement.  You will also be able to generate active participation, and skillfully seek and answer questions. Based on Patti’s books: “Easy Speaking - Dynamic Delivery “and  “Easy Speaking - Q and A and Dealing with Difficult Audiences” and her chapter on presentation body language in the National Speaker Association’s book, “Paid to Speak.”

  • Nonverbal Methods to prevent problems before they happen
  • How to meet and greet with finesse
  • Use the agenda method to make Q and A work for you
  • Practice three ways to get potential trouble-makers on your side before you even begin to speak
  • 12 secrets to make Q and A the best part of your presentation
  • Learn five ways to recapture attention
  • Learn three ways to encourage participants, to talk and participate
  • Learn four ways to project powerful, self-confident body language so you don't get attacked
  • Learn two ways to use your voice to project power and self-confidence
  • How to use breathing to relax with a tough audience and other methods to counter anxiety and stress
  • How to close and call to action with confidence


Success Signals - Body Language in Business One-on-One

Have you ever started a one-on-one interaction with someone and wondered what the other person was thinking? Would you like to change your power and confidence through a simple shift in body language? Would you like to have the winning edge in sales and negotiations? Do you know how to spot a liar? Eye blinks to head tilts, palms up to leg locks, this extremely popular program, based on Patti’s’ research and books, “Success Signals Understanding Body Language” and “People Savvy Body Language,” you will learn how to read and use body language in one-on-one interactions. The insights will help you gain and maintain your business relationships. In this course you will not only learn to watch for cues but also to use questioning techniques and  special "monitoring" cues of your own to check for honesty. In addition, you will learn how to be a better listener and be and look credible in your business and personal relationships.


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.
     

Hillary and Trump's Body Language

I am giving quite a few media interviews today about Hillary and Trump's body language. You may be able the catch the radio interview on AM radio 1590 WCGO Chicago at 12:45 CDT or Trending Today USA Today with Rust Humphries at 2:20 EST





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.
     

Hillary and Trump's Body Language

I am giving quite a few media interviews today about Hillary and Trump's body language. You may be able the catch the radio interview on AM radio 1590 WCGO Chicago at 12:45 CDT or Trending Today USA Today with Rust Humphries at 2:20 EST





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.
     

Why do many police forces have badges that feature an upside-down star, usually a five-pointed one?

Symbols have so much power. Your nonverbal expert here has to weigh in on the Badge Trump said his star represented in the anti Hillary add. Not sure what sheriff in the old west carried modern cash. Perhaps one that went back to the future.
If he meant a modern day Sheriff you can see in this article the star shape varies. Also you can tell he is not familiar with the duties and responsibilities of sheriffs.


Heraldry: Why do many police forces have badges that feature an upside-down star, usually a five-pointed one?

The inverted pentangle seems to be common in law enforcement in the United States and Australia. Google Search brings up a lot of suggestions that this is a satanic symbol, but somehow ... I don't think so. Another theory, that the symbol originated with Freemasons is only marginally more plausible, as is one involving a chief of police in New Orleans.
(P.S. I see that the badges of a lot of UK police services feature six or eight pointed stars – not unlike sheriff's badges in western movies – except that the uppermost point is obscured by a crown or similar device. That suggests that six or eight-pointed stars are the older/original version.)


Htttps://www.quora.com/Heraldry-Why-do-many-police-forces-have-badges-that-feature-an-upside-down-star-usually-a-five-p


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.
     

Dealing with People in Pain, Body Language Expert

I see to the pain in people's hearts every day. It's the hardest aspect of the work I do. The pain seems so obvious.
When someone is in pain they can only think of their pain. It's amazing that a person in pain can go to work and take care of their family and just keep going. It can be tough. They could use some kindness. Listen. They may talk about their illness, their losses and their challenges they may push all their pain down, but it bubbles up nonverbally. It aches to the surface of their skin.


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.
     

FightUnfair Campaign Exposes How Homeless Children Are Treated, Body Language Expert Explains


These results align with other research on dressing, but it is deeply disturbing considering it was a child who was all alone. I will say looking at the footage her body language was entirely different when she was poorly dressed. She looked forlorn, unhappy and slightly angry when she was poorly dressed which would have had an effect on people's response to her. The anger may have allowed people to think she could take care of herself. I know that sounds bad, but that is what research on response to  facial expressions would indicate. But, how can we ignore a child in need?

#FightUnfair Campaign Exposes How Homeless Children Are Treated
This abandoned child was treated very differently depending on how she

https://www.facebook.com/NowThisNews/videos/1094289017327888/

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.
     



Bullying Body Language 11 Bullying Body Language Cues That Red Flag Someone As A Bully Before They Even Open Their Mouth

We talk about bullying statements, but what are the nonverbal cues that they may be “bullying.” Overall you see tightening of muscles, forward movement, and expansive movement or sounds.
Here are specific cues of bulling and aggression:
Let’s start with the top of the body and move down to the feet.

  1. The Head Jut -The head juts forward. It is one of the “I can take you, I dare you to go against me moves.”  The chin moves first and may go upward in defiance and then the head goes forward. There may be one jut or a repeated boxing ring head dance motions.
  1. The Head Butt- The chin goes down, the top of the head moves forward like a football player head butt move. It may be a single motion but it may be repeated in a taunting way.
  1. Teeth Barring- Barring the teeth lifting the upper lip and pushing the teeth forward so that the upper and lower teeth show. This is attack body language. It’s a signal that the person could bite you and that he has the big bad wolf teeth to do so.

Tension in the mouth and jaw and overall tightening of the lips clenching of the teeth typically signal tension. That tension can be motivated by fear or anger.
  1. Mouth Fist- Holding the mouth tightly shut and pulling the lips tightly back and downwards and the head going forward and a glare in the eyes, make the mouth fist fearful to others. I call this a mouth fist because when somebody uses it, they typically want to bring their hand into a fist and propel it forward and they may use it in combination with fisted hands. If the person is feeling fear rather than intending to be fearsome you will see quivering or downward gazing or tearful eyes afraid. The lips are actually protecting the teeth in this mouth cue.
  1. Chest Bump or Chest Pump- In this bump, there is a springing your chest out, up and forward to pretend or fully ram another person’s chest.  In the Chest pump the person’s chest seems to pump up with air like a Rooster and is held up and out and forward.   

Moving the arms and hands away from the body may be a signal of the desire to fight or threaten.

  1. Weapon Gestures- Clinched fists are obvious weapons, but there are also symbolic weapon gestures such as Pointing, Jabbing, and Stabbing, Slicing the hand through the air in sword like motions, striking out and or forward in stop or pushing motions.

  1. Object Aggression- Holding and motioning with an object, throwing an object, or hitting or kicking an object. If you see these cues, I recommend you leave the area as soon as you safely can.
  1. Cowboy Stance- Bringing the legs apart further than 14 to 16 inches apart combined with hands on the hips gives a “John Wayne cowboy stance” showing ready to fight pose. This human Silhouette is read by the brain as danger and this expanded feet and sharp angled elbows out motion is threatening.

Enlarging the stance or taking up more space are also signs of aggression.

  1. Space Invasion - Stepping or walking forward or even sideways pacing movements are all ways of taking up and invading space.

  1. Prey Circling – Circling the person you are speaking to or coming up in their space. Real threat of attack occurs when inside their intimate zone of space which is getting closer than 12 inches from them.
  1. Vocal Intimidation – Raising the volume of the voice, lowering the voice, speeding up or slowing down, punching certain words or growling, yelling and making your voice significantly louder than the other person or people that you are with.  Some people do this simply to command attention or get a turn to talk but to do it over and over again is a bullying paralanguage behavior.


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" atwww.snapfirstimpressions.com. Also check out Patti's YouTube channel athttp://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.





https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/bullying-body-language-11-cues-red-flag-someone-bully-patti-wood





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.