And learn to leverage what you see.
Job interviews can be one of the most nerve-wracking situations we experience, right up there with driver’s tests and public speaking, but there’s something that can help you navigate this high stakes interaction like a pro and you don’t have to buy anything.
Every conversation we have with another depends on it and most people are largely unaware of this powerful tool.
Reading body language is a super power
If there’s ever a time you’d love to know what other people are thinking, I’d say a job interview is one of those times. Understanding how to read body language provides valuable insight into what other people are thinking when you know what to look for.
It’s about you having the ability to read between the lines, or see beneath the surface or pick up on something others wouldn’t, in any interaction you have.
Having this awareness also means that you’re conscious of the signals you’re sending, which gives you added control over your ability to communicate more effectively and respond more intuitively to others.
It’s a super power that will absolutely help you step up your game.
Common body language terms
Distancing — this is when someone physically moves away from a person, thing or conversation because they don’t like/agree/feel comfortable with what’s being said or done.
Examples of distancing:
- leaning back in a chair
- moving their head back or turning it away
- stepping back
- turning away (also called blading)
Blocking — similar to distancing, it’s a gesture that indicates discomfort with a person, sight or conversation.
Examples of blocking:
- hand over the eyes
- hand to forehead
- a hand up, palm out
- rubbing the eyes
- using an object as a barrier (laptop, book, coffee cup)
- crossed arms
Microexpressions — a very brief, involuntary facial expression humans make when experiencing an emotion. They usually last 0.5–4.0 seconds and cannot be faked.
There are two microexpressions to watch out for in an interview, and in ANY interaction really.
Contempt is a negative feeling of dislike, disrespect, or offensiveness towards someone or something. It’s characterized by a one sided mouth raise. If you see this in an interview, it’s definitely not a good sign. However, now that you know that, you can immediately address it by offering a further explanation and putting their mind at ease.
Disgust — it’s a face you make when you smell something bad or see something awful. It’s the crinkled nose accompanied by narrowed eyes and it can be a very subtle flash but it’s a very powerful indicator.
In fact, if you see this one, it’s pretty much game over. (It’s highly unlikely that you would ever see the above in an interview, but you may see a tiny flash of it and that’s what you can respond to.)
Again, the thing about microexpressions is that they’re involuntary. They happen automatically; it’s what makes them such a reliable indicator of what a person is thinking and/or feeling.
Use this to your advantage
If you see any distancing, blocking, negative microexpressions (basically anything that doesn’t look positive), this is your cue to jump in and offer some more insight or information, and then watch the facial expression change. That’s how you know you’ve eased their concern.
It makes you appear confident enough to address any misgivings you pick up on and intuitive enough to see them in the first place. It makes you a superstar when it comes to addressing potential issues before they may even register the thought. How powerful is that?
Your body language (and everyone else’s) is controlled by the limbic brain (which means that it basically bypasses the cognitive thought processing part of the brain), that’s also the reason why it’s so powerful and why you should learn more about it.
Have a question? Email me at Jen Grigg or check out my website jennifergriggcoaching.com for more info about body language, navigating life as an introvert (who also loves to teach), and being a free spirit.
