When a young child lies to you they might cover their mouth or ears or eyes.
This habit stays with you into adulthood in a more subtle way.
Adults might touch near their eye, scratch their ear or cover their mouth with a finger in a thinking pose when they are not telling the truth or when they hear something which they believe to be bullsh1t.
This is useful information when playing poker (maybe not if my poker circle reads this) and of course in business and life!
These are just some cues you can pick up from body language.
So this little book: “The Definitive Book of Body Language” by Allan Pease and Barbara Pease that I picked up in an airport earned a well deserved place on my book-shelf.
It is amusing and amazingly insightful.
Here were some of my key takeaways:
1. Face and Eyes
The eyes and face show what words hide. Raised eyebrows mean surprise.
A smile can fake happiness but not always. Real smiles reach the eyes
2. Arms and Hands
Crossing arms shows defence. Open arms mean welcome.
Hands reveal the truth. Hidden hands can signal deceit. Open palms show honesty.
3. Legs and Feet
Legs speak too. Crossed legs can mean discomfort.
Pointed feet show interest or direction of thoughts.
4. Posture and Space
How we stand matters. Leaning in shows interest. Standing tall means confidence.
Personal space is key. Invading it can make others uneasy.
5. Mirroring
We copy those we like. If someone mirrors your moves, they are likely comfortable with you.
6. Cultural Differences
Body language changes with culture. What’s friendly in one place may be rude in another.
Talk soon,
Lloyd
PS – Need some external support reading your team? Let’s chat.