Arm SignalsThe Boss vs The StaffStatus can influence arm-folding gestures. A superior type can
make his superiority felt by not folding his arms, saying, in
effect, 'I'm not afraid, so I'll keep my body open and vulnera-
ble.' Let's say, for example, that at a company social function,
the general manager is introduced to several new employees.
playing greeted them with a Palm-Down handshake, he stands
back from them - a yard away (1 metre) - with his hands by
his side or behind his back in the Prince Philip Palm-in-Palm
position (superiority), or with one or both hands in his pocket
(non-involvement). He rarely folds his arms across his chest so
as not to show the slightest hint of nervousness.
Conversely, after shaking hands with the boss, the new
employees may take full or partial arm-crossing positions
because of their apprehension about being in the presence of
the company's top person. Both the general manager and the
new employees feel comfortable with their respective gesture
clusters as each is signalling his status, relative to the other. But
what happens when the general manager meets a young, up-
and-coming male who is also a superior type and who may
even signal that he is as important as the general manager?
The likely outcome is that, after the two give each other a
dominant handshake, the younger executive may take an arm-
fold gesture with both thumbs pointing upwards.
Thumbs-Up: defensive,
but he still thinks he's
pretty cool