The power grip ...................................................................................
People who want to be perceived as strong, serious, and forceful use their
whole fist to make a point (see Figure 9-9). It’s as if they are holding onto a
strap on a fast moving bus or hammering a nail into a block of wood.You can use this gesture effectively in two ways. If you choose to deliver your
message in a mild mannered way, leave your fingers bent, not fully closed. If,
however, you mean business and are taking no prisoners, close your fingers
into a fist and watch the fur fly.Watch a public speaker or politician who deliberately wants to show just how
much conviction and determination she has. Wow! Look at that tightly closed
fist pumping up and down as if beating a big bass drum. Makes you wonder if
more than a bit of showmanship is going on.Another similar gesture is the air punch, where you beat the air with a tightly
closed fist to give force to a strong statement. This gesture is also the one
you can use when your team scores, your proposal is accepted, or you win
the lottery.Figure 9-9:
The power
grip demon-
strates
conviction
and
determin-
ation.152 Part III: The Trunk: Limbs and Roots