Being a Body Language Sceptic: Leigh’s Stellar Five Things to Listen to, Watch, Read, Sign up to and Do

In June, I said I wasn’t one for New Year’s resolutions – this month I’m telling you that I’m a body language sceptic! I realise that many of you are now chuckling and shaking your heads benevolently, but as a woman who gets cold, folding my arms is not a sign of defensiveness! It takes the pressure off my shoulders from my bra and keeps me warm. However, I am prepared to acknowledge that this is not a common viewpoint, so thought I’d spend a bit of time investigating it, so this month’s Things to LWRSD is focused on body language. The internet is full of stuff about body language, so below is a fairly eclectic selection of things that caught my attention.…..but if you want to have a deep dive, Google has many sources. And after all this, I’ve not really changed my mind., but did find some interesting stuff.

Listen: Word of mouth Digital body language: how to work online BBC Sounds

This was a great start! We spend so much time online and the points that Erica Dhawan shared with Michael Rosen were really helpful. She covers both video calls and text-based digital communication and has some really sensible feedback. There was a bit of ‘no sh*t sherlock’ about what she was saying, but I also learnt quite a bit – the points about direct eye contact were particularly interesting – and she explains how you can do this online. And…picking up the phones is worth a 1000 emails!

Watch: Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are (Amy Cuddy, TED 2012)

YouTube is awash with videos focusing on body language, but I chose to look at this one as it was about power posing. The premise is that standing in a posture of confidence, even when we don't feel confident, can boost feelings of confidence. Cuddy is arguing that you can change the way that you feel, by changing your stance. It’s an interesting proposition because if it works, we should be able to make ourselves more confident in situations where we feel uncomfortable. The added bonus is that everyone else will think you are confident too. I have to say, I was again left thinking ‘no sh*t sherlock’ by the end of it, but you don’t need to watch the lot – stop as she goes into her personal story.

Read: Body language books get it wrong: the truth about reading nonverbal cues (Geoff Beattie, 2023)

Well this helped with my scepticism! Not only did he challenge some of the common assertions, but he highlighted that those who write about body language can’t agree. It’s short and some of the links go to interesting facts – so worth a read and ignore the references to his book (or buy it)!

Sign up to: A body language newsletter

Like everything else to do with this topic, a quick search on Google throws a number of possible newsletters. In most cases, it lets you see the content of the latest newsletter – so you don’t have to actually sign up. And don’t sign up to Communication Dynamics Inc. I’m still waiting for content.

Do: Power Pose as suggested by Amy Cuddy

It might work so why not give it a go?!

All the very best

Leigh

Professor Leigh Robinson is Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Student Education) at Roehampton University. Leigh has a global reputation for her research and knowledge exchange in the development of competitive advantage and capacity building in developing sport nations. She has worked with a range of global sport organisations, such as the International Olympic Committee and the Commonwealth Games Federation. Leigh is a member of the Board of Sport Wales and an advisor to Olympic Solidarity, the education commission of the Olympic Committee.