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I Am The Boss
Non-verbal Signs That Say "I'm the Boss"
Nierenberg and Calero studied the meaning of non-verbal communication in business and found many gestures that appear on the surface to be casual are in fact signs of dominance and aggression.
Such gestures also include straddling a chair or sitting with one leg over the arm of a chair.
If this seems far-fetched, you may want to ask yourself who appears casual in your workplace.
Is it the boss? A co-worker who seems to rub people the wrong way? A junior employee who likes to challenge authority?
If a junior employee uses such gestures it may be only when the boss isn’t around. If the boss happens by, the employee may “snap to attention”.
Notice the non-verbal communication in your workplace, but don’t assume from a single gesture that someone is communicating dominance or aggression.
A particular gesture may be a habit or may have an entirely different meaning for the person making it.
Watch for clusters (a group) of gestures that communicate a similar message, and notice the circumstances in which they are used.
Does someone adopt dominance gestures during a negotiation or in the presence of certain people? If so, those gestures may be more than just a habit.
Should you use dominance gestures yourself? In a negotiation, such gestures may help to convey that you are confident.
However, if you would not verbally challenge your boss or someone else in a position of authority, you should not challenge them non-verbally either unless you are prepared to face the consequences.
Article courtesy of www.fabjob.com