Bush's Body Language

Teaching Elephants to Talk Tip
By Matt Lewis
Feb. 09, 2005

According to a Washington Post article, President Bush understands the importance of body language when he speaks:

“The President walks with his shoulders erect!’ lauds Tom Hopkins, a professional trainer and author of How to Master the Art of Selling and Selling for Dummies. ‘He makes great eye contact! He is buoyant! He walks at a fast pace! You can tell he's a great listener! These are all the marks of successful salespeople,’ Hopkins says.”

No doubt, the ability to connect with folks has helped President Bush become an effective candidate and leader. As the graph illustrates, 55 percent of people judge us visually, 38 percent judge us by our vocal quality, and just 7 percent judge us by the actual words we use. Effective leaders know that body language affects their visual image as much – or more – than any other factor.

Your ability to convey positive body language can mean the difference between making a great impression or a bad one, acing that job interview, or (with Valentine’s Day approaching) impressing that special date.

In politics, learning to use open and inclusive body language can be the difference between winning and losing on Election Day.

Let’s take a lesson from President Bush, and start paying attention to the not-so-subtle messages you and I are sending with our bodies.