The Definitive Book of Body LanguageIf you want to look as if you are confident and have all the
right answers, the Steeple position will do it for you.Using Steepling to Win at Chess
Picture this scene - you're playing chess and it's your turn to
move. You move your hand over the chessboard and rest your
finger on a chess piece, indicating you intend to move that
piece. You then notice your opponent sit back and make the
Steeple gesture. Your opponent has just told you, non-verbally,
that he feels confident about your move so your best strategy
is not to make it. You next touch another chess piece and see
your opponent assume the Hands Clenched gesture or Arms
Crossed position, signalling that he doesn't like your potential
move — so you should make it.
The Steeple has two main versions: the Raised Steeple, the
position often assumed when the Steepler is giving his opin-
ions or ideas or is doing the talking; and the Lowered Steeple,
which is normally used when the Steepler is listening rather
than speaking.
The Lowered SteepleWomen tend to use the Lowered Steeple position more often
than the Raised Steeple. When the Raised Steeple is taken with
the head tilted back, the person takes on an air of smugness or
arrogance.
Although the Steeple gesture is a positive signal, it can be
used in either positive or negative circumstances and may
be misinterpreted. For example, let's say you are present-
ing an idea to someone and have seen them using several