This publish might include affiliate hyperlinks and Corporette® might earn commissions for purchases made via hyperlinks on this publish. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Right here’s a little bit of an odd query right this moment: how delicate are you to physique language, at work and past? For instance, do you’re feeling like you possibly can pinpoint a mansplainer from throughout the room by how he sits, or if he strikes sure poses? Do you’re feeling like adopting sure physique language helps clean communication in unstated methods? Do you keep away from sure physique language (arms on hip, arms crossed) since you really feel prefer it has detrimental connotations?
We’ve talked about find out how to get a poker face at work, in addition to mentioned the (now-debunked, I consider) fantasy of the ability pose as a method to overcome imposter syndrome… however I don’t suppose we’ve talked about this.
Right here’s the premise for my query: many, many moons in the past I used to be in an interview with a fellow who rested each arms on his head, leaned again, and proceeded to be an entire jerk to me. Hilariously (to me, on the time at the least), he had an assistant sitting in on the interview, and when The Jerk adopted this pose, so did the assistant (who was additionally male).
(In my reminiscence his arms had been clasped on prime of his head, not behind his head, however the inventory photograph is shut sufficient…)
Was the assistant aware of this mirrored pose? Was he doing it deliberately to attempt to say, “I’m considered one of you,” or maybe “I’m extra such as you than she is.” Was the preliminary pose a play for dominance or one thing, in that he was taking over house? Had he determined sooner or later in his youth that this was a “considerate” pose, and he pulled it out for moments when he had Opinions to Share?
On my finish, I sort of puzzled what would occur if I additionally adopted the pose whereas sitting within the interview. Would all of us begin laughing about it? Would they suppose I used to be mocking them? Or would they not even understand I had executed it and but slowly start to suppose “hey, I preferred her greater than I assumed.”
Within the a few years since this interview (which I didn’t nail), I’ve usually considered this pose and that interview.
I’ll admit I’ve adopted it in some uncommon conditions, primarily in conditions just like the one wherein I first skilled The Pose — I’m pressured to be sitting with somebody in an interview or work state of affairs, and I don’t just like the individual or what they’re saying, so I simply casually put my arms on my head and lean again.
In my thoughts I’m saying the entire issues that I felt that interviewer was saying to me way back — isn’t it cute that you’ve got opinions? can we finish this factor but? wow you’re nonetheless speaking — however possibly that way back interview has ceaselessly soured me on The Pose, and completely regular, considerate individuals undertake The Pose on a regular basis.
So — bizarre query, sure — however what physique language communicates one thing to you? Individuals who stand method too shut to speak to you, individuals who unfold their legs once they sit to take up more room, individuals who put their arms on their heads and lean again? Do you typically end up adopting sure individuals’s physique language in intentional methods?
On the flip facet, do you keep away from some physique language as a result of in your thoughts it’s speaking one thing dangerous? For instance, placing your arms in your hips, crossing your arms — I really feel like even arranging your face a sure method to keep away from RBF sort of suits this description.
Inventory photograph through Deposit Pictures / Wavebreakmedia.