How can you communicate leadership potential with your body language?

A smile goes a long way It makes you seem approachable Plus thinking about the signals you are sending So your face, it is relaxed or looking strained, this includes your frown, eyebrows, eyes… they all say something More importantly it’s about talking to people and showing an interest in them Looking at them when they are speaking Stopping doing other things Being attentive and focused Actively listening

Pat Kirkland at patkirklandleadership.com teaches a whole course on Executive Presence. It includes many of these suggestions -- gestures, pausing between sentences, speaking slowly, having an open posture, and downward inflection. once you've taken the course, you see people who are good and bad at these things immediately!

Firstly lean into being YOU - Stay authentic. This is the biggest mirror you can show yourself and others to see who you are. Because who you are is your personality but how much people know you is your influence. Be humble but not bent. A joyful, pleasant though a flexible body language that meets the cause of the situation is important. You don't have to adopt a stylish posture but show a receptive style that is willing to embrace all types of situation. Smile, be open and use gestures decently. Small tweaks in your body language can have a potentially big impact on how people view you — and how you view yourself. Your body language can help you embrace a more positive mindset, which impacts what you think, and how you feel.

In my experience, here are 3 most important tips: 1. Control your facial expressions: Project a positive and composed demeanor. Avoid frowning or looking disinterested, as these expressions can send the wrong message. 2. Speak confidently: A strong and steady voice conveys leadership potential. Avoid speaking too fast or too softly. Practice a clear and well-modulated tone. 3. Maintain composure under pressure: In stressful situations, try to remain composed and calm. Avoid nervous tics, excessive fidgeting, or visible signs of stress.

Just like animals use their bodies to show they're in charge, people do it too. We use our body language to look confident and act like we're leaders, especially in groups. When we stand tall and use "power poses" by taking up space and making ourselves look bigger, it tells others we're in charge. To be a good leader, stand with your feet apart, face people directly, make strong eye contact, and use open postures like putting your hands on your hips or behind your back to show you're confident and influential. As the famous TED Talk by Dr. Amy Cuddy highlighted, you can even fake confidence exude power until you make it by doing power poses before public appearances and presentations.

From a financial point of view, smile cost nothing however it has a huge ROI (returns on investment) in any situation at work and in personal life. As a leader, you must have a pleasant personality and that can be demonstrated by a natural smile which indicates others that you are open, honest and approachable. Also you need to be humble and polite. Give a warm welcoming gesture when meeting with people.

Establish and maintain appropriate eye contact with your audience. When speaking or listening, engage with individuals by making brief but meaningful eye contact. This demonstrates your attentiveness, confidence, and a connection with others. Avoid prolonged staring, as it may come across as aggressive.

While maintaining eye contact and smiling are generally seen as positive body language cues, it's essential to recognize that cultural norms and individual preferences can vary significantly. In some cultures, prolonged or intense eye contact may be considered disrespectful or confrontational. Similarly, an excessive or constant smile can come across as insincere or unprofessional in certain contexts. Instead of rigidly adhering to these cues, it's essential to adapt your body language to the cultural and social dynamics of the situation. Pay attention to the cues of your interviewer and those around you. Some individuals may prefer a more reserved and formal demeanor, while others may appreciate warmth and enthusiasm.

Eye contact is fierce. Learn to look at who you speak to. Look at them from the deepest levels of your beliefs. Look as if your eyes are the conduits to the most important information they will hear that day, that week. As for smile.. depends on the topic.. just believe in the value of your words and the rest of the face takes care of itself

I just watched an interview with a neuroscientist who recommends focusing your eye contact by using your right eye and looking into the left eye of the person you are connecting with. I have been using it for a couple of weeks now and it really makes a difference in the connection you have to the person.

Given the virtual environment, mirroring is more critical than ever before. And it can be subtle, and even with a lag to ensure that it doesn't seem insincere. An alternative to nodding is also leaning in to demonstrate engagment.

Begin with keeping your mobile inside. Nodding & Mirroring is a powerful tool if not overdone; when over done it starts looking like buttering & a submissive ; and most do not respect that !

In my experience: 1. Excessive nodding sends out a wrong signal and should be avoided , as it distracts the speaker. 2.Eye contact should be subtle and one shouldn’t keep staring back . 3.Mirroring should not become too obvious ,as it may put off the other person. Bottom line is that one should always have the power pose ( chest out , stomach in , legs slightly apart ….) Red tie , is scientifically proven to convey subliminal message that YOU are in control. Please add anything else which you feel I have missed. Thanks. #ASmusings

If you are genuinely interested in what the other person is saying then nodding and mirroring will happen unconsciously and authentically. If you find yourself drifting away then consciously move your head and then ask a question as this will bring your focus and attention back to the person.

I would say not just nod and mirror rather a powerful posture can help you command attention and establish authority. Stand tall and confident, with your shoulders back and your head held high. Remember, your body language should match your words. It’s not just about what you say, but also how you say it. Your body language can either enhance or undermine your leadership potential

Changing your pitch makes you sound more interesting. Listen to sports announcers, they produce many highs and lows in their intonation that make every moment of their message worth listening to. This variance in pitch is crucial for effective speaking. You don’t want to sound predictable and monotone. Low pitch comes from the diaphragm and lungs; middle pitch from the upper chest and throat; and the high pitch from the head, mouth, vocal cords. When you have the pitch you need to match it to the right vocal power – if you are presenting in the front of a room project to the back of the room. Record yourself by placing a recording device in the back of the room – does your voice carry?

Speak with a clear and confident voice. Avoid speaking too softly or too loudly; aim for a balanced tone. Enunciate words clearly, and vary your pitch and intonation to maintain engagement. Speak at a measured pace, avoiding rushed speech. Confidence and clarity in your voice demonstrate leadership potential.

Communicating leadership potential with your voice involves using vocal variety and pauses effectively. Here are some considerations: 1. The speed at which you speak can have a significant impact on how your message is received. If you speak too fast, your audience may not be able to absorb the information you present. If you speak too slowly, they may lose interest. Varying your rate of speaking within a middle range can keep your audience engaged. 2. The loudness or softness of your voice can also affect how your message is perceived. . 3. Research suggests a general preference for lower vocal pitch, with participants ascribing more positive personality traits to lower pitched voices

Your vocal patterns are key to communicating leadership potential. Warm downward inflection, the chunk-pause pattern, and using fewer words are all skills we recommend. In order to lead, leaders must be heard. Practice speaking one level above the conversation in the room.

Vocals are a core part of how we communicate. To improve your vocal range read stories, articles, scripts out loud. Experiment with your voice by emphasising key words, reading loudly or quietly and reading slowly and fast.

The minute you say something you do not mean, the audience or other person knows. This is because we process what we see faster than what we hear. To be credible and believable our content, vocals and body language must all be aligned. Your message must mean something to you first before you relay it to others.

Active listening & being present in the moment with your team are two other important points for every business leaders. Listen purposefully to your team without any distractions, Empathy can make you a better leader and provide inputs only to take the discussion forward.

I've learned that it's beneficial to focus less on perfect alignment as a performance and more on internalizing the message you want to convey. For instance, even if your stance and expressions are well-rehearsed, any inconsistency between your words and actions under pressure can quickly erode trust. People are incredibly perceptive and can detect dissonance, which might signal to them that you're not as transparent or as confident as you claim.

There is no shadow of doubt that body language plays very important role in communicating your leadership potential. Always make sure that your words match your actions and impressions. A word without supporting actions will never let anyone march in the right direction GAURANG

Honesty happens with words, non-verbal communication, and also with actions. All of them must be consistent with one another. Leaders' narratives may be caring, kind, and respectful, and they must convert these words into a compatible energy form.

Active Listening: Show that you're engaged by nodding and using facial expressions to indicate understanding and interest when others speak. This displays empathy and approachability, essential qualities of good leaders.

The key to making sure your leadership style is effective is to first understand the room. I never go into a meeting without carefully looking at the attendee list, thinking about what they are experiencing on the topic of the meeting and trying to kick it off so that they feel comfortable. That can be some meetings are much more formal than others. If it’s a large meeting and I know it may be contentious, I often sit at the end of the table so I have full visibility. I make sure that when I speak I make eye contact with the person in the room with the least amount of experience. It’s important as leaders to prep before the meeting and plan your style and approach accordingly. Your team and colleagues deserve that.

I have run multi-stage research on a different subject about leaders, and one of the questions was about leader behaviors. After analysis, I have coined an acronym named APARTS for leader behaviors. The two As in it are Agility and Adaptation. I met a Manufacturing Manager who worked in one company for about 35 years, and the company didn't have low employee loss. I remember one of the qualities that helped him continue there was adaptation. It was adapting people, culture, environment, etc. Research and experience proved to me adaptation is vital for business leaders. Putting businesses aside for a moment and looking at life or animals adaptive ones live. In the business, adaptive ones sustain and become facilitating leaders.

Adapting to the situation and feedback is like being flexible and responsive as a leader. It involves being open to change and adjusting your approach based on what's happening around you. When you receive feedback from your team or from the circumstances, it's important to listen and consider how you can improve or make necessary changes. By being adaptable and responsive to both the situation and feedback, you create a dynamic and resilient team that can navigate challenges and seize opportunities effectively.

Adapting to situational cues is akin to a dance with the dynamics of interpersonal interactions. It's about sensing the rhythm of the conversation, the tone of the environment, and adjusting your body language in a way that harmonizes with these elements. This adaptability not only demonstrates your keen awareness but also your respect towards the prevailing norms and the people you interact with. It's about finding that sweet spot where your gestures resonate with the vibes of the room, showcasing your leadership potential in a respectful and relatable manner.

+ Exude warmth + Adapt contextually + Demonstrate presence + Convey approachability + Individualize to the audience + Express & command attention + Modulate between confidence and compassion + Employ full range of verbal/visual communication Plus what David Glick said about Pat Kirkland! She is the best executive presence coach out there.

An additional consideration is to identify how people typically experience your communication and non-verbal style and to play with 'opposites'. For example, I once worked with a CTO who was boisterous and would interrupt others. He knew this. While it wasn't an ideal style, he knew that if he wanted to create impact in meetings about what was important - he we would slow down and create space for others to contribute. His use of the 'long-pause' was brilliant as it was unexpected. In turn, I know a creative leader who is naturally quiet and selective when to contribute. Her power comes when she stand in a room of those sitting and leans into the table to ask an important question. ... Know how to create focus by doing the unexpected.

Communicating leadership potential through body language involves several key elements: Postures and Gestures: Maintain an upright posture, use purposeful and expansive gestures to convey confidence and authority, and avoid fidgeting. Eye Contact: Establish and maintain appropriate eye contact to demonstrate attentiveness, confidence, and a connection with others. Facial Expressions: Project a composed and approachable facial expression, using smiles and appropriate emotions that align with your message. Vocalics (Voice): Speak with a clear and confident voice, balancing tone and pitch, enunciating clearly, and varying intonation to maintain engagement.

By concentrating too much on that, there is a possibility that we will turn out to be fake. And that is what today's leaders must not be. There are so many tips about the subject of body language, that people end up losing themselves when they try. People need to see that we are authentic. Younger generations no longer look up to leaders who have excellently practiced body language to show authority, confidence, too strong charisma. That doesn't impress them. They are more impressed by leaders who are genuine, humble, fallible, ready to listen, appreciate and see the other person. Your body language should be as sincere, as the things you say. Don’t overdo it by practicing too much.

1) Demonstrate “Being present in the moment” by not looking at your phone or alternate screen trying to respond to an email or IM in parallel to listening to the presenter. 2) Putting people at ease with a calm demeanour especially if a junior or new team member is the presenter is another attribute that leaders could use as part of their executive toolkit.