Body Language Tips/Body Language of Leaders
Body Language of Leaders

Body Language of Leaders

Vanessa Van Edwards6 minJan 8, 2014
6 chapters
  • Introduction to Leader Recognition(0'001'17)
    The video explores how leaders naturally carry themselves differently and how we intuitively pick up on someone's ability to lead through body language cues.
    A study showed that people could identify the most profitable Fortune 500 CEOs just by looking at their pictures, indicating non-verbal cues signal leadership effectiveness.
    • Levels of testosterone • How they carry themselves • How they hold their face • How they interact with people
    Learn body language cues to become more powerful and leader-like, and how to spot the leader in any room.
  • Smiling as a Subordinate Behavior(1'172'07)
    Leaders smile less than commonly expected, while people around them smile more at them.
    • Smiling is an appeasement behavior used to connect with others • Women are taught from a young age to smile when nervous • Smiling is expected to appear friendly and approachable
    In a room, the boss will be the one not smiling while everyone around them smiles at them, making it a clear indicator of submissive behavior.
    Smiling is a subordinate behavior that signals lower power and status in social hierarchies.
  • Interruption and Vocal Power(2'073'14)
    Leaders interrupt more frequently because when they speak, people naturally quiet down and pay attention.
    An alpha is someone with the highest rank in a community, either having the best physical prowess or being the smartest, and they interrupt as a natural consequence of their power.
    • Leaders speak from a base tone of confidence • They have vocal power that naturally commands attention • Everyone intuitively pays attention when they speak
    If a leader interrupts you, you can say 'I can't get a word in with you' to cue them that they're interrupting, as they often don't realize they're doing it.
  • Eye Contact Dynamics(3'144'40)
    Leaders hold eye contact more when speaking to you, but hold eye contact less when you're speaking to them.
    At parties and social events, some people have wandering eyes and look around instead of maintaining eye contact with the person speaking to them.
    Eye contact breeds trust, making someone more likely to trust you if you maintain a deep eye gaze with them while explaining something.
    • Pause and wait for the leader to look back at you before continuing speaking • Touch their elbow slightly to redirect their attention back to you • Use these tactics to break leaders out of their overhead gazing habit
  • Physical Stillness and Purposeful Movement(4'405'35)
    Leaders stand still and move very purposefully, rather than pacing around or being constantly in motion.
    Like grizzly bears which are alphas of the animal kingdom, leaders conserve energy by standing still and avoid unnecessary movement.
    • Leaders hold their shoulders back • They stand still and observe everyone around them • Subordinates are typically running around, similar to cartoon dynamics with smaller characters around the leader
    To show power in a room, stand still, take a deep breath, and stand firmly planted, rather than moving around constantly.
  • Head Position and Confidence(5'356'17)
    Nodding excessively, like a bobble head, makes you appear more subordinate, while holding your head still projects more power.
    Leaders hold their heads still and hold them proudly as they speak, never bobbing excessively.
    The more you nod your head, the more subordinate you appear in terms of power and status.
    To maximize your power and authority, be still and proud with your posture and head position.