Body Language – What Are You Really Saying?

by Pamela Jaye Smith

We've all heard about Body Language and what it can tell us. Crossed arms mean, "I'm blocking out what you're saying". Fists on hips mean, "Oh, yeah? Prove it to me or pay the consequences." Flipping back one's tresses indicates flirtation, and a tilted head indicates curiosity.

What do you want your body language to say during your interview? You always want to have good posture, which means imagining that your head is suspended from a flexible cord attached from the top of your head to the ceiling. You are suspended from above, rather than rising up from below. The idea is that you are bringing in higher ideas that will be of great value to the world below.

Next, consider the position you are taking in the media production:

Are you the Subject Matter Expert (SME)?

Are you the Everyman/woman exploring the Subject for the rest of us?

Are you the Investigative Reporter type going in with a combative position to expose possible wrong-doing?

Each one will be well served by different Body Language positions.

If you are a SME (sounds like a Doctor Seuss character, doesn't it?), you'll want to be gracious and welcoming. This means holding your hands out towards the camera/interviewer, palms up. Smile.

If you are sitting, tilt your chest forward about fifteen degrees towards camera so that you are "leaning in" to the camera (more than that and you may mess up the focus.)

Tilt your head slightly as though listening for a response from the narrator, who is the stand-in for the audience. This makes it seem more like a conversation than a lecture.

As you show off your laboratory or office or workspace, make sweeping welcoming gestures, rather like a Jeeves-type butler showing guests into the palatial home.

Use the steepled fingers gesture [hands together with fingers interlaced and both index fingers pointing up like a church steeple] when pondering the answer to a deep question [and you can even touch your lips with the index fingers if it's a really ponderous question]. It's a gesture we are used to seeing and which means to your audience that we are supposed to pay closer attention now because your words are going to be smart or technologically challenging.

Move slowly and with purpose, but not sluggishly.

If you are exploring a subject for the rest of us, you need to be more broadly animated than usual. We want to hear your curiosity and see your surprise. As you ask questions, raise your voice and your head at the end of the sentence just a bit more than you normally do.

Cock your head and lean it in as though trying to listen more closely.

To illustrate your interest and engagement when seated across from someone you are questioning, lean forward with your forearms on your thighs, hands together loosely between your knees. Then when they make their point, you can straighten up and put your hands on your thighs. This is a gesture that says, "Ah, I see", which of course, you can also say aloud.

If you're standing when someone makes their point, you can put your fists on your hips and nod your head. Again, it broadly says, "Ah, I see".

If the style of the program has you talking directly to the camera, think of yourself as the actual bridge between the audience and the people and things you are exploring. Stretch your arms moderately out to the sides, palms up and fingers spread, to link your audience and a person or thing.

Widen your eyes just slightly to affect greater interest. Practice this in front of a mirror so you don't go overboard.

Move quickly to show enthusiasm, but don't be jerky.

If you're investigating within a combative situation, lean on or touch solidly items of furniture or doorjambs to ground your position and send a subtle signal of territorial invasion.

Never touch the other people, except for a polite handshake.

Fold one arm across your chest and grasp the elbow of the other arm. Raise that other forearm up and put your fingers on your chin and lips. This says "I'm skeptical, but I'm considering what you're saying".

Lean back slightly, particularly if you are seated. This too says "I'm skeptical" or "Prove it to me" and will often draw a more open response from the person you are interviewing.

Tug on your ear with a slight frown on your face. This says, "I don't believe what I'm hearing".

Move with deliberation to convey that you stand on solid ground with your investigation.

More hints

Also, watch your favorite interview type shows and select a couple of body-language items you'd like to emulate. Watch your least favorite interviewers to see what you want to avoid doing.

Most of all enjoy the process and your enthusiasm will come across to your audience!