The Women's Information Network

Gain the Job Interview Advantage with Top Tips from Body Language Expert Gil Shermeister

liat — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:59:08 +0000

Body language cards teach workers non-verbal cues that position them for hiring

Your body language during an interview may be revealing things to a potential boss that you didn't know. The interviewer's body language also can reveal what he/she is thinking. Learning how to use and read non-verbal cues can give job seekers a clear advantage over other contenders.

"Job seekers invest a lot in preparation for an interview: new clothes; perfect hair and nails; company research, and role playing the interview so they have all the right answers. But knowing how to use non-verbal cues and communication to build trust and confidence is just as important," said Gil Shermeister, behavioral zoologist that 12 years ago co-invented the Body Language Cards, a method used in the training of executives, sales forces and professional security personnel.

Shermeister's top six interview tips include:

1. When entering the interview, people tend to create an imaginary barrier to protect themselves by clutching a handbag or crossing their arms. To the interviewer this "says" insecurity. Keep an open body stance (no crossed arms or legs) and maintain eye contact.

2. Avoid making the upper hand handshake which indicates a need to dominate.

3. If interviewed by several people, always identify the decision-maker. This is the person others glance at when they are finished talking. Direct comments/replies to the decision-maker.

4. Under stress people instinctively tend to protect the main artery. In modern society it is manifested by touching the tie or playing with a necklace. Don't fidget with jewelry or garments in this way.

5. The interviewer may reveal a need for more information by putting an object in his/her mouth or motioning with a pen or the tip of the glasses. Take the cue and provide more details.

The Easiest Way to Discover What Others Really Feel and Think with Body Language Cards

liat — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:04:39 +0000

Body language is a major part of our daily communication skills, 55% of our communication is delivered through our body gestures, 38% of our daily communication is the voice and pitch, and only 7% is what we say. Body language is very important and mastering it will improve your communication and life skills in all aspects of life.

So we've created the easiest way to master body language.

The Body Language Cards were created by a team of experts as a training tool to help you recognize the most common body language gestures, and how to use their meaning to your advantage in a simple and easy way. It is based on the flash card methodology and the visual cards with short description send a signal to our brain that it’s a game and not another bulk of information we have to learn. People like to play and thus the information is more effectively consolidated.

“Using visual perception to master body language utilizes our brain’s natural wiring to process visual information in a remarkably effective way while simplifying and condensing information so that you only learn and retain the important facts.”

Moran Cerf, Ph.D. - Computational Neuroscience

Today, most of the information on body language is organized in books, yet body language is a visual mode of communication, and the crucial aspect is to have the visual memory of the movement in mind when one encounters the relevant gesture.

We suggest few easy ways to learn and master body language. It can be done individually or in a group as a game. For training in a group, each participant receive a card and take turn to act out the gesture. The rest of the participants try to guess what the gesture mean, the participant with the card read the back of the card to the rest of the group. Added training: Ask participants what can be done to change the atmosphere if a certain gesture is exhibited during a sales meeting, a social meeting, at home, at work, at an interview, on a date, at a presentation, etc.

Unspoken Body Language Clues

liat — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:25 +0000

Body language is a mysterious and unspoken way people unconsciously communicate what is really on their mind and when many are either unsure of, or reluctant to openly communicate their intentions, relying on their body language could tell you what words do not say. Remember, body language by itself only tells part of the story you must blend it with the psychological level and behavioural style, and then attempt to get a better context reading. It must be taken in the context of the situation and prior relationship you have with the person, as well as the person’s behavior and culture style.

Having said that, here are few typical, well-known descriptions of certain types of behaviors you should be aware of to provide clues to what is on your interlocutor mind:

Honesty

· Open hands
· Leaning forward
· Taking coat off
· Moving closer
· Uncrossed legs
· Arms gently crossing lower body

Eagerness

· Small upper or inward smile
· Erect body stance
· Hands open, arms extended, eyes wide and alert
· Lively and bouncy voice, well-modulated

Defensiveness

· Minimal eye contact
· Rigid body
· Arms or legs crossed tightly
· Pursed lips
· Head down with chin depressed toward chest
· Fists clenched
· Fingers clenching crossed arms
· Leaning back in chair

Anger

· Fists clenched
· Body rigid
· Squinting of eyes
· Lips closed and held in a tight thin line
· Continued eye contact with dilation of pupils
· Shallow breathing

Readiness

· Leaning forward in chair
· Hand placed mid-thigh
· Relaxed, but alive facially
· Standing with hands on hips, feet slightly spread

Evaluating

· Slightly tilted head
· Sitting on the front portion of chair with upper torso forward
· Hand-to-cheek gesture
· Stroking chin or pulling beard

Nervousness

· Clearing throat
· Hand-to-mouth movements
· Covering mouth when speaking
· Tugging at ear
· Darting eyes
· Twitching lips or face
· Mouth slightly open

In Service to All

leeann — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:16:51 +0000

BEING IN SERVICE TO OTHERS is the hallmark of life. It represents the purpose each of us holds through this mortal experience. And it enables us to move quickly forward on our journey of spiritual evolution. What is the distinct element achieved when one is in service to another? Is it personal gain, financial success, or health improvements? Maybe. But it is above all the exact elevation in our own spiritual attainment as well as the spiritual attainments of those whom we are serving. It is ELEVATION. We are here to receive and to give - to ourselves, to our friends and family, and to those who cross our paths. We're here to make of this excursion a swift and steady lesson in humanity's propulsion toward eternal heights. And we're here to do it together. Isn't it amazing how all our lives we depend on others? Really, if we think about it, we depend on so many people for everything we have. We rely on the grocer for our food - he relies on the producer and packager for his products - and he relies on the farmers and ranchers. We rely on the doctor, the educator, the transportation engineer, the commentator, the politician, the researcher, the author, the artist, the musician, the restauranteur, the gardener, the business owner, the postal worker... and the list goes on. For all of these tasks which must be done, we rely on one another. And in a beautiful kaleidescope of activity and service, our lives are enriched and blessed beyond a single individual's efforts. For this purpose are we - the giver, the receiver - in an ever changing and evolving exchange of service, to lend whatever skills and talents we possess to contribute to humanity's benefit, and to receive whatever gifts of another's skills and talents for our benefit. We must rely on each other. We must cherish each other. We must honor and give thanks for each other. And we must SERVE. It is our highest position, ever.

January - and a New Attitude!

RosR — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 06:14:14 +0000

January. And more than half way through! Does January signify anything to you?

To some, it is a time to burst into the new year with energy and enthusiasm, armed with a long list of new goals to achieve, ready to take on whatever challenges the year might hold.

To those of us who are dealing with heartbreak, however, it sometimes simply signifies the beginning of another unpredictable year, a year that could bring another tragedy, another reason to mourn, and we are already in pain. We see no reason to celebrate.

I’ve been there. My husband drowned in January of 2006. The next year, I wasn’t feeling at all like celebrating when the New Year rolled around. Tragedy struck in 2006, and who was to say what the upcoming year would bring?

Luck or Life? When Bad Things Happen to Good People

AuntieArtichoke — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:23:39 +0000

Luck or Life? When Bad Things Happen to Good People

(c) www.judyhwright.com

Ernest Hemingway once said: "The world breaks everyone. and afterward,

many are strong in the broken places."

When we are going through adversity, it is not always possible to believe that everyone suffers loss and heartache. It feels and acts very personal when bad luck and rotten life experiences happen to good people.

Why Me?

Our first response is " Why Me? " We may question whether we did something to deserve this punishment or trouble. We may feel resentment for others who are not suffering and question why trouble did not choose them. We may even add up all the bad, selfish and dishonest things a certain friend or acquaintance has done and yet still has good health and a big bank account.

It's Not Fair

Life isn't fair. As a mother of six children I tried to hard at Christmas time to make the gifts come out even for everyone. No matter how many times I counted and then made lists and then recounted, on Christmas morning during the bedlam of presents, paper and toys, I would realize it hadn't been fair. Someone had gotten a watch worth twenty dollars and someone had gotten a bracelet worth three dollars. Some one had gotten the exact doll she wanted and someone else got the one that was in style last year.

How to Help Kids be Compasionate, Caring and Confident

AuntieArtichoke — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 20:22:06 +0000

Want to help your children be more confident, compassionate and caring? Read on for ways to accomplish this important life-skill and assist the children you love to gain practice in being kind, thoughtful people.

When children learn to be compassionate, caring and learn they may not be the centre of universe they become more confident. They need to realize that they are an important part of the earth, but it does not revolve around them.

When we teach our children to give service, and care about people outside the family unit it also teaches them empathy. Service teaches them about diversity and to go outside their comfort zone. Children should be taught that the bedrock of civilization is respect for others, and gives the child a connection to the world around them and a stronger connection to the family.

Community Service

Growing up we taught our children that before they turned 16 years of age they had to put in 60 hours of Community Service. The idea behind this was to teach them that there are other people and situations in their community which need attention, and helped them to focus some of their energy on the community around them, instead of just on themselves.

There are literally thousands of techniques to teach children how to be more confident. One of my favourites is to read with children.

Read and Talk With Children Daily

By reading with children we can help expand their way of thinking beyond their small world. Stories can teach them how to be empathetic and show them that there are different types of people and lifestyles in the world. It can take them out of their comfort zone, which helps them to become more confident.

The Secret to Getting Pregnant Fast with Special Guest Gabriela Rosa

sue — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:34:16 +0000

Join Sue Dumais on her Redefining Fertility Radio Show and her special guest Gabriela Rosa and learn the secret to getting pregnant fast—even if you are over 40!

Gabriela is a leading natural fertility specialist, Naturopath and creator of NaturalFertilityBreakthrough.com, a website aimed at empowering couples to reclaim their natural fertility and create truly healthy babies.

Click here to listen online to this Redefining Fertility Radio Show episode.

For more information on the free Natural Fertility Breakthrough 14 day Challenge as mentioned in the episode click here.

Shedding Skins

detailsinc — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 01:54:31 +0000

Not Your Daughter’s Booty! 4 Steps to a Fabulous Derrière

katy_1 — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:10:19 +0000

By Katy Gillis

Falling behind? It's inevitable. But it's not irreversible. There are just a few things that the butt masters teach us about how they got and keep a lifted, perk, fabulous looking rear end – and it’s got nothing to do with jeans (or genes!) and is certainly not limited to the 20-somethings of the world. Since it’s on display for the world to see, most women aspire to have a beautiful bum…“a butt like hers”…and in this very article you’ll know exactly what “she” does to get it so you can get yours, too!

From Flat / Saggy / Jiggly / Lumpy To Round / Lifted / Tight / Smooth (and yes, you CAN have it all in one!)

First, let’s tackle some common myths about the female bum:

1. Once you reach a certain age, you can’t achieve a great rear.

2. A saggy, droopy, fat butt is inevitable because of the hours spent sitting at a desk on the job.

3. I got it from my momma, so there’s no use fighting it…it’s in my genes.

4. It takes 2 hours a day at the gym to get and keep a perfect butt.

These are proven untrue every time. Why? Because the keys to creating and maintaining your perfect butt are within your control, easy to implement, and available to you at any season of your life. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t get a gorgeous backside!

Let's talk about the crucial steps for a beautiful bum: