How Important is Body Language in Interviews? Huge!

Body language played a big role in the first presidential debate between Hillary and Donald. A New York Times journalist could tell, even with the sound off, how well each candidate was performing by his or her body language: Hillary was composed and smiling with “studied serenity”, Donald the opposite (fidgeting, smirking, interrupting, gesturing manically, sighing, etc.). Because nonverbal expression is so telling, watch what you are doing when you present to clients or interview for a job. Know that the audience is not just listening to your words, but also judging your competence by your nonverbal expression. Key takeaways on how to conduct yourself:

1. Project calm. Make eye contact, keep your shoulders back and level, hold yourself tall, and smile. Do not force gestures, clasp your hands, or ball them into fists. Do not blink rapidly (shows anxiety) or too infrequently (are you an alien?).
2. Shake hands with confidence. Yes, handshaking can send signals. When Donald shook Hillary’s hand at the start of the debate, he also touched her back, which was deemed an alpha power move. I don’t recommend doing what he did, though. Shake smoothly, not damply, feebly or crushingly, and certainly not the wrong part of the hand (e.g., the other person’s fingertips).
3. Do not obstruct part of your face with your hands. I have seen attorneys absentmindedly touch their face or neck, cover their mouths, push up glasses, or play with their hair. None are power moves.
4. Respect the space around your audience, especially when you are one-on-one. If you can easily reach out and touch the person you are talking to, you are too close. You can lean in to show interest, however, but do respect the other person’s space.

These points all seem obvious, but you may have tics that you do not even know. Practice projecting power, and you too can be presidential!