Watzlawick describes in one of his axioms, “one cannot, not communicate”. So whenever people meet, they communicate in some way. And so it is with the body. It is never silent and often says more than a thousand words. According to the Allensbach Institute, gestures and facial expressions account for 55% of communication. 26% is accounted for by the voice and only 19% by technical content. This means that gestures and facial expressions must fit together and underline what is being said. It is important that you are authentic and do not try to fulfill the expectation of others, slip into another role and change your body language. There are probably no typical ‘leader’ gestures, but the gestures must fit you.
Classics include: the welcoming gesture: open arm position as well as inviting wrists. Did you know, for example, that Northern Europeans gesture more from the wrist, Southern Europeans more from the shoulder and elbow?
Or also the handshake: this says a lot about a person, it stands for assertiveness. Is it firm or loose? If the palm of the hand points upwards, someone is modest and shows submissiveness. On the other hand, if the palm is pointing down, someone is trying to dominate you.
The hands also say a lot: Clenched fists or hands pressed together are signals of insecurity or bad moods in most cases. The same applies to situations in which people hold small objects with both hands. Why don’t you pay attention to your own gestures and use them consciously the next time you meet your colleagues or give a presentation? If you want to learn more tips and tricks, feel free to visit our trainings.
