If a speaker's gestures are not in full agreement with the spoken words, the audience perceives duplicity
Have you ever noticed that when people are passionate about what they're saying, their gestures automatically become more animated? Their hands and arms move about, emphasizing points and conveying enthusiasm. You may not have been aware of this connection before, but you instinctively felt it. Research shows that audiences tend to view people who use…
From helping Parkinson’s patients to creating more realistic video game characters, paying attention to gestures can improve how we communicate, according to U of A linguist
A shrug of the shoulders, a raised eyebrow or two hands weighing alternatives. Physical gestures may be intrinsically linked to human expression, but linguistics hasn’t always recognized their vital role in producing meaning, seeing them as mere adornments to speech. Linguist Jennifer Hinnell is determined to change that and she’s off to a brilliant start. Her…
People believe what they see, not what they hear
Of course I'm not talking about you. You may be a respected professional whose expertise speaks for itself. Your body language is a minor consideration. Or is it? Here's an email I recently received from an engineer: 'The Project Manager introduced a new consultant. The new guy smiled and shook hands with everybody, but it…
The new leadership is a blend of personal and interpersonal skills that form the basis of your ability to impact, influence and inspire others
Most executives agree that collaboration is more important than ever in today's turbulent business environment. A company's very survival may depend on how well it can combine the potential of its people and the quality of the information they possess with their ability – and willingness – to share that knowledge throughout the organization. Deloitte’s Future of Work research…
But you can genuinely project it through tapping into authentic emotions, expanding your posture, and dressing for success
Think about a time when you needed to project confidence but felt uncertain or insecure. How did you handle it? Did you try to hide these feelings and just "fake it 'til you make it?" If you did, it probably didn't work. The problem is that attempting to suppress genuine emotions requires so much conscious…
Think about your audio, consider your video, watch your body language and be sure to record a trial run
The right stage presence can make or break a performance, regardless of the words coming out of your mouth. But as the COVID-19 pandemic has forced us online, new off-stage video conference rules apply. Off-stage includes online meetings, webinars, interviews and recording podcasts. We’re trained to live and work face to face, not in the…
The goal of leadership without authority is to get others to willingly co-operate and engage, rather than following directives because you’re the boss
With flatter management structures, increased outsourcing, and the moves toward collaborative cultures and cross-functional teams, the criterion for the job of leader is changing. More and more people are assigned to leadership roles in which they have no positional authority. The goal of leadership without authority is to get others to willingly co-operate and engage,…
If you have to choose between what I’m saying and how I look while saying it, you will intuitively discount my words and believe what you see
If I am dropping eye contact or checking texts messages or rotating my shoulders while you are speaking, you don’t feel heard – even if I tell you I’m listening and can repeat every word you just said. Here’s why . . . Most explanations of human behaviour assume that people are strongly influenced by…
Your audience is assessing your tone of voice, facial expressions, hand gestures and posture for clues about your credibility
As more interactions move from in-person environments to online events, your ability to project virtual leadership presence is quickly becoming the key to your continued success. Whether you’re interviewing for a new job, presenting to the executive team or facilitating a team meeting, you’re most influential when you express your core values and show up…
Charisma is all about an individual's infectious positive attitude and personal energy, as projected through body language
Charisma has been described as personal magnetism or charm. To me, charisma is all about an individual's infectious positive attitude and personal energy, as projected through his or her body language. People are the most charismatic when they are genuinely enthused, confident and upbeat about themselves and their topic. And as a leadership coach, I…