IS THERE A NONVERBAL HEAD NOD “TELL” WHEN YOU GREET PEOPLE?
Melinda Marcus, M.A., CSP
Shows leaders how to read Body Language and Influence Decisions? Speaks and Consults on how to win new clients, career opportunities and support of stakeholders ? Author of "Read The Zoom"
I’ve seen?many?articles about how we greet people?nonverbally?while walking by them on a sidewalk or in a hallway.?All the articles are?based on men greeting men in situations where there is no intention to do what Larry David refers to as the “stop and chat.”?Consistently, the observations suggest?that we give a quick head nod down if we don’t know the person and we nod up when we know the person.?
WHY WOULD WE NOD DOWN TO A STRANGER AND NOD UP TO SOMEONE WE KNOW?
So far, I have not found a scientific research study on this topic, but I did find?published?studies on nodding in meeting situations that would support the observations. The nod down is a simple acknowledgement, which in this context?says, “I see you.”?It?is?also?a nonverbal signal?that keeps the peace by saying,?“I am not a threat.” The nod up is what my mentor?Joe Navarro refers to as a “gravity-defying” nonverbal. When our gestures?lift, it is almost always a sign of good feelings. In?the?Mens Health magazine?article, they refer to?a man’s upward nod?as the “Silent ‘Sup” that?nonverbally communicates a friendly, “What’s up, Dude?” I bet the eyebrows also?lift when giving the “Silent ‘Sup” because that nonverbal has been identified in studies as a universal nonverbal friendly greeting.?
OBSERVE YOUR OWN GREETING NONVERBALS TODAY.
I’ve been?intentionally paying attention to my greeting nonverbals recently, and the nodding behavior holds true for me. I’d be interested in what you observe in your own experience. To get a sense, just imagine seeing someone you know walking by. Do you nod up or down?
For me it depends on the type of person, in general a young person or trendy person will get a head up an older or business like persona will get the head down.
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1 年Oddly enuff, Melinda, guys have a tendency to nod up to other guys - - whether or not we know the other guy. It's this weird thing of "I'm a guy. You're a guy. Hey." Using the Larry David reference, Seinfeld used this in one of the Seinfeld's episodes and when he was exampling it, he nodded up. #GuruRichard says: I dig this. Hope your week is going well. .
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1 年It’s a great observation and I find myself fitting this picture. When thinking about it, I will try to observe it with others. First example that comes to mind; let’s imagine you have a new job in a big company and your new manager or colleague is giving you a tour in the company. Observe how your manager/colleague is nodded to by others and you already have a first impression of how many people know your manager/colleague in a particular way. Also vice versa, how does your new manager/colleague approach others?
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1 年Fascinating insight into the different ways we greet people - truly interesting to learn how much nonverbal communication can say about a person's intentions!
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1 年Thanks for the awareness. I strongly suggest we spread the word on this as especially greeting strangers, whether it be by nodding or a simple ‘good morning/afternoon/evening’ etc. is something that makes the world a bit more friendly and social.