The Definitive Book of Body Language

The Definitive Book of Body Language

If a boss wants to develop a rapport and create a relaxed

atmosphere with a nervous employee, he could copy the

employee's posture to achieve this end. Similarly, an up-and-

coming employee may be seen copying his boss's gestures in an

attempt to show agreement when the boss is giving his

opinion. Using this knowledge, it is possible to influence

others by mirroring their positive gestures and posture. This

has the effect of putting the other person in a receptive and

relaxed frame of mind, because he can 'see' that you under-

stand his point of view.

Mirroring the other

person's body language

to gain acceptance

Before you mirror someone's body language, however, you must
take into consideration your relationship with that person. Let's
say, for example, the junior employee of a corporation has asked
for a pay rise and is called into the manager's office. The
employee enters the manager's office, the manager asks him to
sit down and assumes the Catapult with a Figure-Four showing
the employee a superior, dominant attitude. But what would
happen if the junior then copied the manager's dominant body
language while discussing the potential salary rise?

A boss would perceive a

subordinate's mirroring

behaviour as arrogance