What Every BODY Is Saying : An Ex-FBI Agent's Guide to Speed Reading People

GETTING A GRIP 153

Low-Confidence, Low-Status Thumb Displays

Feelings of low confidence can be evidenced when a person (usually a
male) puts his thumbs in his pocket and lets the fingers hang out on the
side (see figure 54). Particularly in an employment setting, this signal
says, “I am very unsure of myself.” People who are leaders or who are
otherwise in control don’t manifest this behavior when they are working
or performing. A high-status individual who is casually relaxing may
exhibit this behavior briefly, but never while he is “on.” This is nearly
always a low-confidence or low-status display.
Thumb displays are so accurate that they can help you effectively
assess who is feeling good about himself and who is struggling. I have
seen men make a potent presentation punctuated by steepling, but
when a listener revealed an error in the speech, the thumbs went into

Thumbs in the pocket indicate low status and

confidence. People in authority should avoid

this display because it sends the wrong

message.

Fig. 54