Prime Time for Business Body Language Observation

by Barbara Chatzkel

Here in Arizona, we are in the midst of what seems to be eternal summer – day after day of above-100 degree temperatures. But the infrequent summer monsoons remind us that eventually the weather will return to that “perfect temperature.”

The heat is starting to increase in another area and the impact is nationwide. Even though we are 16 months away from the November 2016 Presidential election, there is a lot of summer activity. At the time I wrote this blog, there were 16 announced Republican candidates and three announced Democratic candidates.

With that many candidates vying for coverage in social media, television, and newspapers, a lot of grandstanding is occurring. Over the next several months, our job as citizens and voters is to help narrow the field so that the debates will be meaningful and that in November 2016 we will all go to the polls to vote for leaders.

Simon Sinek, an insightful author and social media blogger, wrote, “We all have the luxury of looking out for ourselves. Leaders have the honor of looking out for others.”

Remember, as you are observing the various political candidates in casual conversations, in televised speeches, in “meet-and-greets” and in their written word: the biggest decision we each will make is answering the question, “Who will make the best leader for the United States for the next four years?” This also applies to all the other local candidates you will be able to observe.

The next six months is the ideal time to observe the body language of all the candidates. This blog has addressed body language from four of the five broadcast centers of the body – Face, Feet, Torso and Arms. Take the knowledge you learned from those blogs and the “homework observations” and evaluate candidates on the following:

• Does the business body language message match the verbal message?
• Has the candidate modified his/her business body language profile over time? What changes have you noticed?
• Are the candidates’ gestures consistent from appearance to appearance? Does their body language tell a consistent story?
• What is an individual candidate’s body language STRENGTH? Do they use it to their advantage?
• What is the individual candidate’s body language WEAKNESS? How do they compensate for it?

The key is that each of us are looking for those individuals who are displaying the characteristics of leaders who will look out for us.

Over the next month,

• Register to vote or update your voting registration if you have moved or changed your name. It’s a privilege that each American should ensure they exercise.
• Observe different candidates speaking about the same issue. Which candidate is more believable for you? Which candidate do you trust more to lead the county? Which body language messages influenced your decision?

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Barbara Chatzkel’s ability to provide a vibrant and behavior-changing book extends across industry segments – everyone uses business body language. Her coaching and consulting expertise on business body language grew from conducting union negotiations, managing difficult personnel situations, managing at multiple levels, and extensive business coaching experience. Her new book, Business Body Language: Your Visual Business Card, will be available in print in early 2016. Visit her website today for further information.