Body Language and Interpretation: How to Find the Most Important Person in the Room
Understanding body language and interpretation is a skill not just reserved for public speaking. It’s useful to know in any social situation to better understand the relationships between individuals as well as how you are projecting yourself. Get to know the subtleties of body language so you’ll be a more effective communicator.
Networking events. Association meetings. Conferences. Regional meetings. Trade shows. Each of these events represents an opportunity. Making the sale. Making the right connection. Exchanging business cards with the right person.
But how do you know who Mr. or Ms. Right is? Who is the person who can green light your product or service within their company?
One option is the internet. Do your research, find the bigwig’s name, do a Google Image search, and you have your target. At the event, you can scan the room until you see the person and introduce yourself.
But what if that’s not possible? What if they don’t show up? What if Google Image search pulls up nothing? What if you’re not sure who your ideal target is?
Thankfully, when this happens, you don’t have to randomly approach people and hope they are your mark. You can be a detective at all your future business meetings and use the skills of deciphering body language to discover the most important people in any group.
After speaking at an event, I went to the hotel’s lounge to relax and unwind. Wanting to enjoy some alone time, I sat in the far corner booth and began one of my favorite activities: people watching.
There was another conference at the hotel and some of their attendees came to the lounge for a social hour. At first everyone was shaking hands, welcoming one another and being very friendly. After awhile the large group started splitting up into subgroups. Five women chatting at one table. Three men laughing at another. Two women standing and gossiping. But, there was one subgroup that caught my attention.
I noticed three gentlemen. One tall, good posture, well dressed. The second was of average height, well dressed, good posture. The third was short, had poor posture, and was – quite frankly – poorly dressed. Who is the most important person of the group?
Most people would say one of the first two gentlemen. They had strong posture, knew how to carry themselves, and their clothing reeked of success. Most people would be wrong.
After knowing a few body language basics, you would know to look more closely. While posture and clothing are good variables to observe, they are surface level indicators that can easily and consciously be altered for any situation. As a body language pro, you would want to look at the unconscious indicators to discover your alpha-person of the group.
In this case – as in most – the feet gave it away. Even though the men were standing in a circle, politely facing each other and looking at one another while they spoke, the feet pointed toward Mr. Important himself, gentleman #3. That’s right. Mr. slumped-over-I-don’t-need-to-iron-my-clothes-or-put-together-a-snazzy-outfit-like-the-rest-of-you.
The feet of the other two gentlemen were pointed directly at guy #3 like a pointing dog during the hunt. The feet give away so much information unconsciously. They almost always will point towards the direction where you want to be or towards the person you perceive to be the most important person in the conversation. (Where was Mr. Important’s feet pointing? The door.)
While initial looks might lead you to one conclusion, body language will give you the power to detect the subtleties that lead you to the truth. Use this body language detective skill for your next meeting. If you want to converse with the “top dog” just follow the feet.
About the Author: Shari Alexander is a business presentation strategist and professional speaker who helps professionals get what they want when they speak. As the owner of Presenting Matters, her many clients have included an Emmy Award winning executive, an NFL player, and an ESPN announcer. Shari’s articles and advice have been featured in Presentations Magazine, Counselor Magazine, Training Magazine, along with other international publications. Shari is available for keynotes and seminars and may be reached at 918.346.8506 or shari@presentingmatters.com. Website: www.PresentingMatters.com
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Body Language: How to Find the Most Important Person in the Room
Before becoming a Corporate Skills trainer, I spent the first 13+ years of my career as a financial services professional. It’s amazing how often you truly cannot “judge a book by it’s cover”.
For years, I always suspected there was some X-factor that could help identify the important person in the room. Now, I’ll be watching the feet in a small circle of people. Connections are EVERYTHING, but connecting with the wrong person is NOTHING! Thanks, Shari’!
Great article! And though I was not aware of the “feet approach”, I write similar material in the companion book to my “message of awareness”: appearances are usually quite deceiving. I’ve come to realize that usually the most powerful people present at any event are…the wallflower types. Very humble. Sometimes quiet. What it all boils down to is simply: NEVER UNDERESTIMATE ANYONE.