Episode 38: The Myth and the Reality of Interpreting Body Language

You only get one chance at a good first impression, right? I went hunting for a funny quote about first impressions (because I generally believe outside of the person's clothing we have next-to-zero information to go on in that very first meeting), and I was bombarded with a catalogue of very unoriginal quotes by quite famous people all extolling the benefits of making a great first impression.  But experience shows this is not true - and that assumptions can lead to  - well, we know where those lead.

Here's a quote that I felt more aligned with the point of my show today, by someone whose works remain wise and quite relevant in today's overly connected and "disconnected" world:   "First impressions are always unreliable" - Franz Kafka. 

In today's episode we're exploring the gesture patterns and pitfalls of getting it wrong when reading body language.  That's it.  No extra fanfare.  What you see is what you get in this show. Enjoy!

Citations and Resources: ✨✨

✅ Jennings, Karla.  “Essential Body Language for Negotiation”.  Lifehack.  Online.  28 Feb 2022.  https://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/essential-body-language-for-negotiation.html

✅ Harvard Business School. “Using Bod Language in Negotiation”.  Online. 330 Mar 2024.  https://www.pon.harvard.edu/daily/negotiation-skills-daily/negotiation-techniques-and-body-language-body-language-negotiation-examples-in-real-life/

✅ Nasher, Jack.  “How to Negotiate via Email”.  Forbes.  Online. 4 June 2020.   https://www.forbes.com/sites/jacknasher/2020/06/04/how-to-negotiate-via-email/?sh=282faa0e5145

✅ Driver, Janine. “You Are Saying More Than You Think”.  United States.  Three Rivers Press.  2010

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