Top 6 Body Language Tips for Success in 2016

The Steeple: The steeple is made with the fingers pressed together and pointing toward the sky – resembling a church steeple. The steeple gesture signifies confidence, power, and authority. If you want to get your point across to a friend or co-worker, whip out the steeple. This silent gesture conveys the message that you’re confident in your delivery and you have wisdom to share. It subconsciously tells the receiver that you indeed know what you’re talking about, even if you don’t. Warning: Don’t use when building rapport because it can seem arrogant. Do use at the end of a job interview or end of a date!

2. Fronting: We show agreement, liking, and loyalty by aligning the upper body with that, e.g.,

of our boss. It is often possible to identify the most powerful (i.e., highest status) person

seated at seated at a conference table by the relative number of torsos aimed in his or her

direction. While the less influential may glance freely about, and turn their heads toward

colleagues as they speak, their torsos remain loyally oriented to the individual they most

respect. Aiming the upper body conveys greater feelings of liking (i.e., of immediacy) than

when the body is angled away. A non-aligned, parallel orientation discloses neutral or

passive moods which may grade into disliking or disagreement.