Patti Wood Body Language Expert Blog

Body Language Read of Model Gigi Hadid and Singer Cody Simpson

Body Language Read of Model Gigi Hadid and Singer Cody Simpson, by Patti Wood, Body Language Expert for Life & Style Magazine.

The body language of Model Gigi Hadid and singer Cody Simpson in the photo of her in that fabulous black dress is very stiff and awkward. It almost looks like they are on a Hollywood set up date rather than two people who like each other. Look how Cody leans away like she is a tree and he is a cute koala bear leaning out and away from her. His weight is out and away from her, his hand around her is held cupped away from her body and he leaves a big space between them at the hips and waist not wanting to show they are sexually connected. She is standing straight (like a tree) focused on the camera and her hand on his shoulder is also cupped out and away. Even though there are a few positive cues the negative override them so I give this couple a 1 on Life & Style’s True Love Rating Scale.

She is doing a Sports Illustrated pose in the bathing suit photo. Seems she has difficultly letting her model mentally go. He is showing “Ownership” cues. His right hand wrapped on top of her hand, his left hand wrapped around her pulled away arm with his thumb up showing his desire to have boyfriend power over her. His kiss gently placed on her cheek which softens the ownership cues. She is so posed she could be a big doll he is holding and kissing. She is not giving him very much just allowing him to kiss her and letting her fingers interlace with his. But notice the left shoulder blocking, her arm pulled away from him and even her hip jutted away from him. I can’t read her smile as sincere she is showing happiness, but she is a professional poser. He is giving a 4 photo rating but she, being so posed is a 2 so I give this couple a 2 on Life & Style’s True Love Rating Scale.

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.

Will Smith and Jada Pickett Smith Still In Love

Patti Wood, Body Language Expert. read the body language of Will Smith and Jada for Life & Style. Read her insights on this "Still In Love" couple below.

Body Language Read of Nick Gordon during the Dr. Phil Interview

Body Language Read of Nick Gordon during the Dr. Phil Interview by Patti Wood, Body Language Expert for Radar Online

Nick Gordon is clearly an emotional wreck in the highly-publicized promotional trailer for his upcoming interview with Dr. Phil McGraw. But although the boyfriend of Bobbi Kristina Brown has faced scrutiny in recent weeks regarding his behavior in the wake of the incident that left her comatose, body language expert Patti Wood tells RadarOnline.comexclusively, “Nick Gordon is not faking any of this. He is in horrific pain.”

When Gordon sat down for the interview, which will air on The Dr. Phil Show on Wednesday, March 11, it turned out to be more of an intervention and, as a result, Gordon has checked himself into rehab.

But his emotional breakdown, according to Wood, was not for show.

“I can just tell you that Nick Gordon is in his limbic primitive brain, which is the part of the brain that is responsible for adrenaline flow, emotion and behavior,” says Wood, who is the author of Snap: Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language, and Charisma.

As Radar previously reported, Gordon’s behavior has raised concerns in recent weeks. He posted a desperate tweet on Tuesday that read “I’m so hurt I wanna do myself in.” And he’s been trapped in a long battle with Bobbi Kristina’s father, Bobby Brown, over not being able to visit the hospital bedside where his 22-year-old girlfriend is in a medically induced coma. In addition, he is facing the pressure of an ongoing criminal investigation regarding the near-drowning of the woman who called herself his wife.

Wood, who has not treated Gordon, tells Radar, “He is in a truly charged emotional state and, judging from his paralanguage [vocal and physical cues], his pain is authentic and real.”

Watch the video on RadarOnline.com:

http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2015/03/not-faking-it-nick-gordons-pain-is-real-authentic-during-dr-phil-interview-says-body-language-expert/

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.

Body Language Speaks Volumes - Non-Verbal Ways You Might Be Inadvertently Dissing Your Boss

Patti was interviewed by the Toronto Sun on how your body language could be speaking volumes and non-verbal ways you might be inadvertently dissing your boss. Below is the article and the link where it appeared in the Toronto Sun.
http://save.sunmedia.ca/Save/classic/doc?docid=289505890&q=%22joanne%20richard%22%20AND%20date(last%2014%20days)&stem=false&spaceop=AND&ttype=xsl&tval=headline_sun&pos=0&hn=1&pubAbbrev=sunmedia&dtokey=loljgcszh#anchor289505890

The Toronto Sun Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Body language speaks volumes

Non-verbal ways you might be inadvertently dissing your boss

JOANNE RICHARD

Special to QMI Agency

Your constant tweeting and texting speaks louder than words!

So does your lateness, silence and poor posture. These are just a few of the

ways you’re telling your boss that you don’t want to be there, says Patti Wood, of

pattiwood.net.

What you do — and don’t do — at work speak volumes about you. And some behaviours

are even dangerous to your job security — they’re firing-worthy, says Wood, an

internationally recognized non-verbal communication and human behaviour

expert.

Even if you are unaware of it or it’s unintentional, your body language speaks volumes

about you. It can lead to people thinking you’re incompetent or totally disinterested,

so clean up your act if you want to stay. If you’re looking to go, keep it up!

Check out these non-verbal ways you might be inadvertently dissing your boss,

according to Wood, author of Snap: Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language

and Charisma (snapfirst impressions.com).

Your posture is slumped down, informal and a little too relaxed.

Spending hours a day, on average, hunched over our devices makes it hard to sit

up straight, admits Wood. But here are the straight goods: Sit up and appear interested,

engaged and engaging. Whether you are with someone or alone at your desk, sitting

slumped over sends a message of disinterest and disrespect.

“Instead of hunching over, keep your shoulders back, your head up, and open

your hands and move them upward when you gesture.”

You don’t give your full attention to your boss — from the feet up.

Your voice or body language can send messages that you don’t really care,

says Wood. One specific non-verbal behaviour area to focus on is your feet, she

says, as they reveal where you really want to be.

“For example, if you are in a meeting but really want to be back at your desk getting

other work done, your feet may point toward the door. You might think that

is a subtle cue that others couldn’t possibly notice, but where your feet point actually

affects the rest of your body’s alignment. To be more present and train yourself to

be fully attentive, point your feet and the rest of your body toward the speaker.”

You don’t get to the meeting a little early to talk and stay after the

meeting to visit.

Beginnings and endings are critical, stresses Wood. “By not spending time visiting

with people before the formal meeting begins and getting up and leaving quickly or checking

your phone before you leave the room, you are saying non-verbally, ‘I am not interested

in you and I have more important things to do.’”

Face-to-face interaction helps establish a bond and get an emotional read of each

person. “This helps you make connections and alliances, and helps you persuade others

to see your viewpoint,” says Wood.

You’re purposefully late when you could be on time.

You figure you’ll show up when you’re good and ready? “There are also people who

are late as a form of passive-aggressive control over those they make late,” says Wood.

Arriving late sends out the message that you think you are more important than others

and people must wait for you. “There are no good reasons to constantly be late for

work or work meetings.”

You don’t turn off technology or put it away before talking, and you

focus on technology when people are with you.

Being stuck to your technology is no longer considered a sign of being hard-working

and committed. “Now, you just look like you’re rude, and that you believe your time and

your needs are more important than the person(s) you are with.” Think of your device as

you would a toddler. Ask yourself, ‘Would I have my three-year-old with me during this

conversation at work?’ If the answer is no, put the device away or don’t even bring it. “If

you can, don’t take your technology with you, or keep it turned off and completely out

of sight. Don’t put it face up on the work space between you and the other person.”

You don’t reply to e-mails.

Not responding will have people guessing as to why and “remember, when you don’t

give a reasonable behaviour, people will guess why and those assumptions tend to be

negative. At least say, ‘I will get back soon,’ or ‘I read your e-mail and I will be responding

soon.’ Otherwise, people think you just don’t care,” says Wood.

You only e-mail or text; you don’t give face time.

Recent University of Illinois research indicates that communication done mainly

through e-mail will result in co-workers trusting you less. “Face-to-face contact yields

the most trust and cooperation while e-mail nets the least, with video conference

interaction ranking somewhere in between,” says Wood.

“Your boss and co-workers need to be face-to-face to read the thousands of non-verbal

cues that give them a read of you and help them decide the best way to interact with you.”

You are invisible; you keep your head down, don’t socialize and think your

work speaks for itself.

Slipping in and out of work silently sends a loud and clear message — and it’s not a good

one. Small talk can be big — “time is a communicator of respect and common courtesies

go a long way. You need to say hello or good-bye as you arrive or leave work. You

also need to visit or socialize, speak up and contribute in meetings, ask for time to discuss

projects face-to-face, go to lunch with your boss and team, and compliment others’

success or work effort,” says Wood. Face-to-face interactions build trust. Your boss is

watching so you need to participate and collaborate with the group.

You don’t think about others when you get dressed for work.

Office wear is indicative of where your head is at. “How you dress shows your respect

— or lack of respect — for others. It is actually discourteous to dress inappropriately for

work,” says Wood. One study indicates that 75% of Americans think a well-dressed

man is more successful than his causal co-workers, adds Wood, so dress to represent

your company well.

You’re a woman who does not wear makeup.

Okay, so this likely won’t get you fired, says Wood, but “research shows people judge

the beauty of a woman based on how much makeup she is wearing.” Makeup makes her

look more professional — one study reveals that it actually boosts a woman’s ranking in

competence and trustworthiness, says Wood, while “a study in the American Economic

Review said women who wear makeup can earn more than 30% more in pay

than female employees who don’t wear makeup.” Put your best face forward so you send

the right message.

Non-verbal bahaviours

Your facial expressions show disrespect and/or derision: Those eye rolls are inexcusable!

So too is sighing heavily when someone else is speaking. They’re both signs of disrespect

and contempt, says Wood, adding that many people don’t think these non-verbal

behaviours are a big deal “till their job is threatened.”

joanne.richard@sunmedia.ca

What you do — and don’t do — at work speak volumes about you. And some behaviours may even be dangerous to your job security, says Patti Wood, an internationally recognized non-verbal communication and human behaviour expert.

Ways to be a Better, Nicer Person

Ways to Be a Better Nicer Person

By Patti Wood Author of Snap Making the Most of First Impressions Body language and Charisma

There is no greater gift to give to someone than your interest. Here are Great Tips to Be a Better Person.

Give a Compliment
Why it works. If a compliment is gently given and very specific it makes a person feel seen. They light up and open up to you, the person that has made them feel so good. Ideally find something very specific to compliment. Otherwise, the person may feel that you have a general compliment ready to give to any person you see coming down the street. You can say something about their appearance, “I like the leather on your shoes, or I like the design on your shirt, or “I like the way your smile lights up the room." Be specific for example instead of just saying, "Susan that was an excellent meal” after that say, “That was so good, I could eat the rest of the pot with a spoon." or “That brownie dessert you made was melt in your mouth tell your momma good,” “I loved how you made it so pretty on the plate, you’re a real artist.”

Ask a Question

You can start with a simple, “Hello my name is ….and what do you do for fun?” Then listen, resisting the urge to jump in and talk about yourself. The information they share about themselves and their problem can help you determine how you can best serve them and thus help you craft what you will say in your elevator conversation.

Lean in Close and Flirt with the World

My mom never meets a stranger. I remember when my mom and I would go into Walgreen’s soda fountain for a BLT after a day of shopping. My mom would sit down with a big smile, and the waitress would walk up and my mom would turn to her and lean in close as if she had known that waitress all her life and start talking. But most of all she would start listening. She would look that waitress in the eye, nod her head and keep saying say "uh-huh," and by the end of the meal she would leave the place knowing the waitress’s name and the names of her children. She did this everywhere she went and she still does it. She flirts with the world, and everybody loves it.

Ask more questions and listen some more

This back and forth flow gives you rapport with the other person. Years ago I strained my voice singing in a community theater production of Godspell. It hurt to talk so I began asking questions as I met people instead of spouting off what I did. I am a communication consultant so I asked questions like, “What’s going on in your organization? “How’s the communication in your company?” “What are you doing to deal with your communication issues?” It’s amazing what I learned and how much business I got from people I barely said a word to. Because I listened to their problems, they believed (and rightly so) I could solve their problems. You might be memorable to a stranger because of what they said about themselves in your presence. Be memorable for what you don’t say.

Turn off technology or Don’t Answer It or get off of it when people are present

We have become so accustomed to answering the phone and looking at our computers, leaving our hands on the keyboards when someone comes into our offices to talk and leaving our cell phones in our hands and talking on them in public that we forget how rude all those things are. When you are standing in the checkout line, talk to the cashier and the people in line. Be present. If you are out with someone, try turning off your cell phone and say out loud, “Let me turn this off while we talk.” It’s amazing what a difference it will make in the impression you give because so few people take the time to be that polite. I suggest that when you are going into an important meeting, especially one where you will be presenting, you remove any visible technology. Hide your cell phone and PDA, rather than wearing them on your waist. When you have them in view, you’re saying nonverbally that someone else is more important and could interrupt you at any time.