Patti Wood MA, CSP. Speaker Body Language Expert Blog

Patti reads Ryan Brunn's Body Language on HLN Special Report

2012-01-31T10:58:00.007-05:00

Patti shared her insights with Vinnie Politan on HLN Special Report Monday regarding the body language of Ryan Brunn while he was being interrogated for the murder of Jorely Rivera. Check the link below for details!
http://www.youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert?feature=watch
Patti's notes on the video:
• Overall notice how he consistently repeats back the interrogator’s words to say no rather than use his own wording to deny. When you are keeping information in, when you are lying an easy way to respond is to repeat back the question as a statement.
• Ryan gives a very subtle mouth tense at 1:42 When Interrogator says, “You haven’t told me everything.” That indicates a hot spot, he is keeping something in.
• When interrogator says “One did you participate?…” Ryan’s breathing changes from his baseline to high up in his chest you can see the rise and fall change at 1:59.
• “That tells me that there was some involvement.” Ryan does a half head shake no. Notice that he does not fully shake his head no. Nor does he interrupt and say no as an innocent person would.
• He checks his phone twice around the Pot questions. I can share why he did that, how it affects the brain and the timing.
• “I am not holding nothing back. I promise you.” He nods no, that head shake seems to align with what he is saying. But notice how he keeps shaking his head this time more quickly and more forcefully shaking no when he says he will retake the polygraph and keeps shaking his head no through the next statement.
• “You said nothing happened in Virginia.
• Caught in the lie about where there were any accusations made 3:07 his breathing becomes fast and again goes high in the chest and his voice goes up. He knows he is caught.
• When interrogator having caught him in the lie about charges in Virginia says, “You see the pattern building up. You can see that when I run the polygraph on you.” Ryan clearly shows he is caught. By his response to that at 5:31 his head goes to the side as if he has been punched and his mouth puckers up with the sourness of feeling caught and then Ryan does a tongue cleanse and licks his lips to get that bad taste of being caught out of his mouth.
I
‘Interrogator says, “Is Ryan a bad person. Is Ryan holding back something?” Ryan jerks back then brushes his hand out weapon like and says, “Has anyone ever said you touched them?” Ryan’s pulls in his lips showing he is keeping the truth about that statement in. I didn’t do nothing to that little Spanish girl and I didn’t do nothing. Look at the gesture smacking down what was just said, smacking down the statement trying to make it go away.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Romney's Anger Real and Controlled According to Patti

2012-01-30T00:08:00.004-05:00

Patti was interviewed by the Associated Press Friday on the recent Republican debate in which Romney forcefully responded to the remark that he was "anti-immigrant." Check the link below to find Patti's insights on Romey's body language.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/01/27/2611931/romneys-forceful-body-language.html

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Patti Reveals if Kim's Confession is Real or Fake

2012-01-29T23:40:00.008-05:00

Patti was interviewed by Hollywoodlife.com about Kim Kardashian's confession to her mom, Kris Jenner, that she wasn't happy in her marriage to Kris Humphries. Click the link below for Patti's insights on Kim's body language. Was her confession real or fake? You can see Kim's confession at the end of the article. Watch it and see if you agree with Patti.

http://www.hollywoodlife.com/2012/01/09/kris-humphries-kim-kardashian-fake-marriage-body-language-patti-wood/

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

What Is The Definition Of Nonverbal Communication?

2012-01-14T17:31:00.003-05:00

A journalist recently asked me, “As a body language expert can you tell me what is Nonverbal Communication?”
What does nonverbal communication include and what doesn’t it include?
How do you define Nonverbal Communication?
Here is the list of cues and behaviors under each separate category of nonverbal communication.
Kinesics – body movement and placement, including gesture, leaning, facial expressions
Paralanguage - voice quality, rate, pitch, volume, and speaking style
Prosodics - features such as rhythm, intonation and stress
Vocalics - vocalizations other than words, such as sighs and moans
Haptics - touch
Proxemics - spatial distances
Chronemics -time
Olfactics - smell, pheromones
Artifacts - use of objects such as cell phones, purses and cigarettes
Technics - A label I have given to the nonverbal aspects of written texts, and electronic communication font choice, handwriting style, spatial arrangement of words, length of text, physical layout of a page and the timing of messages.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Patti's Body Language Read of Joran Van Der Sloot's Guilty Plea

2012-01-12T10:27:00.006-05:00

Joran van der Sloot has plead guilty in Peru on charges that he killed Stephany Flores in a Lima hotel room in 2010. Watch Patti's interview on HLN Prime News with Vinnie Politan at the link below to get Patti's insights on his body language as he enters the courtroom, pleads guilty and then moments after he has just plead guilty to murder.

http://www.youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert?feature=watch

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Patti Weighs in on Kim Kardashian's Body Language in Dubai

2012-01-10T11:30:00.005-05:00

Is Kim Kardashian staging her feeling about her new husband or is this “Oh my goodness I don’t think I am happy with my new husband” an act.
The pause after she is asked about her husband in the opening of the video, is usually long for her. Her baseline for unplanned honest pauses in normally a second and half shorter. In addition the long look straight down, with the micro facial cue of the eye look up at the camera that indicate, “Do you see me looking sad and conflicted” but not showing sadness in her face or body language. She merely looks irritated at having to go through this part of the interview.
She uses almost the exact same sentence, “ I feel like this huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders” to describe being by herself rather than with her husband in Dubai. If she were conflicted and struggling to deal with her feelings we would be more likely to see her speak about her different feelings, even a rambling list of emotions. Instead she goes to what seems one clear rehearsed.

http://www.hollywoodlife.com/2012/01/09/kris-humphries-kim-kardashian-fake-marriage-body-language-patti-wood/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XN0mGkinFjg

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Body Language Read of Bill O'Brien Introductory Press Conference for New Penn State Head Coach

2012-01-09T18:12:00.005-05:00

Body Language and Media Coach Read of Bill O'Brien at the Introductory Press Conference for the new Penn State head coach. Bill O'Brien replaces the legendary Joe Paterno, who coached the team for the last half-century and resigned in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky's scandal. Watching the introductory press conference, normally warm and relaxed, Bill looks stressed and reads his notes. Here are my rough unedited notes of Bill's body language. This will be up later on Yahoo.com. I did this read for my interview for the article on Yahoo.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcJCmAwlXw4

For comparison, here he is during one of his press conferences with the Patriots:

http://www.patriots.com/media-center/videos/Bill-OBrien-Press-Conference---862011/17a1557f-93fe-4427-b15f-1761617e7ecc

1. What does his body language say to you in the first video? How coached does he appear to be in that video? What are the telltale signs?

I coach people to speak and to be interviewed. He did a good job on bringing his credibility to the men who introduced him by shaking their hands on his way to the podium after he was introduced.
He showed fear and is uncomfortable.
Looked at coaches shook hands but got up to podium and looked down. He grabbed the sides of the podium.
I know that’s a little boring. my wife, my chief of staff had to read her credits how to recruit. Special Michael, Steel that hat. Tom
Parents
“All the people that make this university so special.” Lip press. Negative, feeling.

“Ahh Rod Erickson. That was read, unlike the previous introductions very planned staged he was being very careful and notice how his voice got tense and tight as he struck out then got mangled on the word integrity as he said you are a man of INTEGRITY. He had been told that was an important word to say, but he had a hard time saying it with conviction. Also notice how he doesn’t move toward him or gesture toward him as he did with his wife, brother and son so warmly. Instead he rocks oddly from side to side in a self comfort movement showing his nervousness. He doesn’t STAND firm. As he talks about the committee his says “Their mentorship means very very much to me, then he rocks and sticks out his tongue.

2. What are the fall backs he relies on to handle what is clearly an uncomfortable situation? He does a great job with his humor and warmth as he introduces his family. That made him appear very likable.

3. Doesn’t deliver what I would say is the most important point, “…Football team …highest level of character. Instead he speeds through it like a rabbit reading from his notes and mangles the word integrity again by stuttering out the word and having to re say it. He again doesn’t say weight adjustment.

4. When talking about coach Parterno. “I can’t wait to meet him, as soon, as soon as I can get that done.” His voice goes down and he was looking down. He is nervous rather than looking forward to that meeting. The video actually blurs out Bill's mouth as he first says Paterno's name and blurs out Bill's mouth several times during that piece of tape, the one time it doesn’t blur it out is when he says Paterno’s name and sticks his tongue out. I wonder what the blurred bits showed Bill doing when he talked about Paterno?

5. Really like his personal intro to the letter near the last minute and half that he said he worked on (the content of the speech) I liked really how he looked out and said I can see it, (the controversy.) But his voice was so tense as he red the letter and he didn’t cheer and get happy on the most important last line, “We are Penn State.”

6. What is his body language like in the Patriots video and how is it different? In the old Patriots interview his voice is lower in pitch, volume, slower, relaxed. and speed. What is most striking is his eye contact. I can tell that he does pressed lips and mouth cues as he finishes a long statement here so it is more of his baseline rather than exclusive to the new speech today. He is obviously off script in the Patriots interviews and he is answering questions directly so that increases his interaction. He is his own man here. He hasn’t been told what to say.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Patti on HLN - Nancy Grace Tonight - Body Language Analysis of Casey Anthony's New Videos

2012-01-09T10:36:00.007-05:00

Patti will be on Nancy Grace tonight talking about Casey Anthony. She will be doing a body language analysis of both new videos. Check the link below for the video on her YouTube channel.

http://www.youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert?feature=watch

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Patti Reveals Cues About Casey Anthony's State of Mind on HLN Show Biz Tonight

2012-01-08T11:27:00.010-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tc0ulzbdxJo&feature=email&email=comment_received

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Casey Anthony's Body Language Read by Patti Wood MA, CSP

2012-01-05T12:06:00.008-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert#p/u/3/MsSgE2J9dIc
Casey Anthony's Video Diary entry:
I will be reading her body language and other nonverbal and script analysis cues for HLN's Prime News and for Show Biz Tonight.
See my notes below and click the link above which will take you to my YouTube channel to view the interview.

I am struck by how wistful she wants to appear.
Difference she seems more present.
She likes her seductive “Disguise”
At the end of the video, listen to her voice as she begins with “Things will get better” it is soft and wistful and goes up at the end. She is really not sure if it will. Her fear makes her voice and nonverbal cues go from wistful, to worry and then one of her “covers” sexy seductress. She’s smiling looking more directly in the camera gives combination comfort cue with necklace at chest that brings attention to her sexually and follows that by rubbing her upraised knee seductively.
She says, “I hate being on camera.” Striking the word hate, but the next moment she is smiling looking in the camera and enjoying the moment.
She pushes back her hair combination comfort cue and primping that shows she wants to look good.
Though she has released to print media she wants to be left alone, her in her blonde hair, big glasses and white low cut tank disguise make it clear she likes her undercover. Lefeme Nikita likes her disguise. OH man just sure.
She starts out in the beginning of the video amazingly present. Courtroom her face would flit fractured personality the face would flit from hurt little girl to adult to rebellious teenager. Here we can see the emotion she is feeling and then she speaks. She is truly feeling and staying with an emotion and not pushing it away or becoming detached and regressing to a younger age.
Here I am just figuring out my new computer her voice goes up high and she doesn’t push the emotion in she genuinely feels it.
She moves her hand then she talks making her seem at the beginning to see the real her.
Then we see who she is, “I don’t know it has been a long time since I could call something mine?
(She will go on in the interview to say, I my or mine 46 times and mention her dog three times.” Focus on self.
Sexy hair,
Push back
Pressed lips, I still be hear at least in blessing
Some times I’ve adopted
Extremely excited to keep a video log
Real emotions feel show say.
Things are starting to change things are starting to look up. That they only get better, comfort seductive cue with her hands up around her chest as she plays with her necklace.
Soft wistful voice, she doesn’t have the conviction of her voice here.
She later strokes her knee, her upraised knee
As she says, I am looking forward to it.
The end of the first and just the beginning.

The prefrontal cortex the part of the brain that readies the face to have an expression lights up whether you’re feeling an emotion or watching someone feeling and emotion. So you have understanding.
o What is the Brain part that models emotion of what other people are feeling so we can understand them?

 anterior temporal lobe
If you can’t model you have no activation in the socially relevant areas of the brain. The reason sociopaths aren’t feeling empathy is they can’t model other people’s emotions.
Self-projection. Imagine that the self is at a different location in space this part is called upon in empathy posterior superior temporal focus. Why is this person sitting in front of me in the theater? Somewhat cognitive.
Second law of empathy procedure through the imaginative projection of the mind’s eye through space time and identity. If you have trouble activating the posterior superior temporal focus and identifying the point of view of other people. Social dyslexia that emit many phapas and they fail.
In normal people the PSTF lights up when they see a person’s face because they say oh here is another person. I wonder what the world looks like from their perspective. And when we listen to voices.
You have a black board of everything you know as you try to empathize with someone else if they don’t have all the knowledge you have you have to try to erase your blackboard to feel things from their perspective.
Empathy fine tunes unmitigated empathy swamped emphatics feeling with others. Orthopedic surgeons.
Selfish counts narcissistic counts too much
One way too insufficient inhibition of empathy to much stuff emotions for inhibiting so emotional they can’t rein it in.
Don’t inhibit their own stuff very well. Self-counts too much
Hot Narcissistic artistic so emotional they can’t reign it in not very empathetic
Cold Narcissistic emotions are not that strong inhibitor is insufficient. Money drug power and sex. Children. Everybody
Dark and light narcissism- I am doing it for you. It’s all about you.
When you tap your foot to music you are exhibiting the modeling function of empathy the brain interprets it in terms of the motor action it would take to produce that sound. Ancient modeling mechanism.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.
Analyses

Patti Reads the Body Language of Baby Ayla's Father Justin DiPietro on Prime Time News with Vinnie Politan

2012-01-05T09:58:00.008-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOpe8UyJusc

Patti was interviewed on Prime Time News by Vinnie Politan regarding the body language of Justin Dipietro, the father of missing Ayla Reynolds. Below are Patti's rough notes while watching the video of baby Ayla's father, Justin.

He is exhausted, lowered shoulders lowered brow, low energy volume monotone voice.
Throughout the interview you might think he is bizarrely calm. But I think his exhaustion is obvious and that would also cause those cues.
He does show nervousness throughout the interview slightly more than rapid blinking, his mouth is dry I can hear him try to moisten his tongue.
He says in very planned rehearsed response to why his is one. “A few reasons why initially the first few days… I was emotionally incapable of coming out to do an interview” - That sounds odd to many parents who would walk through fire to find/rescue their children.
“I had been advised by the police that it would hinder the interview.” Doesn’t follow the police proceedings by coming on.”
“Reaching out to the person who DOES have my daughter. “ (His choice and word and vocal emphasize to emphasize he is innocent rather and to voice his anger.) (He doesn’t ask the person to take good care of her or that she is precious and special he doesn’t get upset about her state)
“…to let the person know that what YOUR doing isn’t right for Ayla. She belongs home with her family. Only use of his daughter’s name”
Asked about the change in the status we are at the same place we were at on the day one with this. With her disappearance. Sour Mouth.
Time code 1:46 Night of the disappearance - It was a normal night shaking his head. I put her to bed it was just a normal night. Pulls his lips in I think to keep from crying here. But then look at his tongue cleanse he sticks out his tongue quite broadly. I hate that you are asking about this night.
He does state his relationship to his daughter many times. But in a very possessive way. “She is mine she is my daughter. She means the world to me. “Again he only mentions her name once.
When asked by the interview on the Today Show, “A lot has been said about you.
What can you say about you and your relationship with your daughter? He gives an odd planned response. “I can tell you what I am not. I love my daughter I would never do anything to harm her.”
When asked about the injured arm and his wife’s concerns about his care, he does not flatly deny, but instead says, “As far as I know there is not a problem”
When asked “tell us what makes your daughter so special” there is a marked delay, then he says, “She is my daughter shaking his head no and smiles, “She is my child shaking his head no she’s my child she means the world that’s a she means everything to me.”
When asked for what he wishes, He doesn’t ask for her safety or Ok “I want my daughter home. Feels like a helpless situation (counter 3:44) that is part of the reason I am coming on today to reach out to the person who DOES have her.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Body Language Expert Patti Wood on HLN PrimeTime Today

2012-01-02T12:36:00.004-05:00

Body Language expert Patti Wood will be down at the CNN studios today taping an interivew on HLN's Prime Time. Father of Ayla Reynolds speaks to the TODAY Show Dipietro She will be interivewed on Prime Time about her body language and interiew ananlysis of Ayla's father Justin DiPeitro

The father of missing 20 month old Ayla Reynolds has given his first on camera interview since his daughter went missing more than two weeks ago.

Justin DiPietro said he chose not to speak out shortly after his daughter went missing because he was "emotionally incapable" and that he had been advised by law enforcement that speaking out might "hinder the investigation".

DiPietro says he went on the TODAY Show in hopes of "reaching out to the person that has his daughter".

When asked about the night that Ayla went missing, he responded, "It was just a normal night."

When asked about his relationship with Ayla, DiPietro said that he loves his daughter and said "I would never do anything to harm my daughter."

DiPietro responded to concerns made by Ayla's mother that her daughter wasn't safe in his care. He said, "we had both agreed that me having her at this point in time was the best thing for her."

He went on to say, "I'm doing anything possible to get my daughter home..."

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Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

The Body Language Advantage - Why is body language important to notice at a conscious level? How can you use body language?

2011-12-31T09:43:00.004-05:00

An excerpt from a recent media interview:

Patti Wood, author of Success Signals and consultant in the field, points out that much body language operates from the limbic brain at a subconscious level. “The advantage of recognizing body language at the conscious level is that we become more aware of our own signals and have a deeper understanding of others,” she said.

However you hold your body, you begin to feel that way chemically in less than a 40th of a second, she said. The classic example is a smile. “If you go to a sales meeting and want to show you are truly excited about the product, bring your body language up, bring lift to your posture, chest, gestures, facial muscles up and into a smile. The message of your body language sends signals to your brain so you begin to feel that way.” “We know our body reflects how we feel, but the inverse is also true.” One of her favorite tips: “Do it and you will begin to feel it.”

She explains that the mirror neurons in our brains subconsciously reflect back to us that action we see in someone else. “We mirror what they are doing and this actually creates empathy through ‘emotional contagion’,” she said. “So that we feel, create the same chemical they do and feel what they are feeling”

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

The Handshake Rules and Etiquette in North America and Other Countries and Cultures.

2011-12-29T08:06:00.004-05:00

In North America and Europe, extend a hand upon meeting and parting, and make your handshake firm to show your strength and recognize and respect others.
When doing business in all countries respect the culture and religious difference of the individual when you greet them. For example, American Orthodox Jews are not supposed to shake hands, some men will if they are pressured too, but it is not polite to force them.
In the Middle East and Asia and India, use a gentle grip to show respect a firm handshake implies you don’t trust the other person and need to check for weapons.
While in the North America men can now offer their hand to a women, men in many cultures will wait for a woman to extend her hand first, which is permissible for any man to do.
If you are in an Islamic country, if you are a woman don’t offer your hand to a man and whether you are a male or female don’t offer your hand to a woman.
Some Muslim women doing business in the US will offer their hands for you to shake.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Patti Analyzes Susan Wright's Body Language for InSession - Part 3

2011-12-18T23:24:00.003-05:00

Patti looks beneath the surface of Susan's pauses (12 in just one hour) for InSession and also shares her insights about Susan's testimony about New Year's Eve and the butcher knife in the drawer. Check the link below!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvIzwyftsVY&feature=related

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Patti Analyzing Susan Wright's Body Language on InSession - Part 2

2011-12-18T23:06:00.004-05:00

In another segment on InSession Patti shares her insights on Susan Wright's flirting body language in the courtroom and also when she is retelling the time how Jeff beat her when she told him what her favorite wild flower was. Also see how Susan has changed from "little girl" back in 2004 into a different Susan today....a bolder woman. Check the link below!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWHntyygiac&feature=related

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Patti on InSession Analyzing the Body Language of Susan Wright- Part 1

2011-12-18T22:37:00.007-05:00

Patti analyzes the body language of Susan Wright for In Session when asked, "What would set Jeff off." Also when she was asked to recall one time when Jeff beat her. Patti also shares her insights on Susan's body language when she was talking about Jeff hitting her with a wooden flute until it broke. For Patti's insights, click the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA0BWHsZ04Y&list=UUNDJOcYly1uLU5dxr9JFkpQ&index=3&feature=plcp

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Seems like his first impression should have been a clue...a story of “Danger at First Sight.”

2011-12-18T18:35:00.005-05:00

I imagine many of us have been attracted to someone who was not good for us. A phenomenon I have researched and labeled danger at first sight.
Working on my book on first impressions today I came across the story at the link below.
A guy went out on a date and stole his date's car. Not good. Then I looked at an undated photo of the car thief that came with the story he looked, scary very scary.
A red streak down the middle of his hair, piercings all over, and a sneer on his face that could make a tiger turn around and run.
If this was how he looked on their first date, a date she apparently went to
pick him up for, there is a reason she should buy my book when it comes out.
Look at his photo and tell me his first impression should have been a clue.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45695569/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

So called “Redneck TV,” Is it Shortchanging the South?

2011-12-15T23:40:00.003-05:00

My discussion group sent the link below that we discussed tonight.

What do you all think of these kinds of TV shows?

My mom and sister love to watch American pickers, pawn stars, and several other shows about collecting and selling cool old stuff.

At Thanksgiving my niece and nephew got us excited about a fun but weird show called Punkin’chunkin. It is an annual contest where people compete to chunk pumpkins the farthest via catapult or rocket. I think the programs do show a part of the country that some viewers never see. I hate that viewers are presented with any stereo types that may cause them to judge and condemn an entire region of the country.

I love garage sales and estate sales and have found over hundreds of Saturdays in the last 20 years that the south (where I live) is filled with people that are open friendly and warm.

I think especially with some shows like Hoarders, viewers feel superior, less crazy, smarter, more hip, less prejudice and much better off than the people on TV. Watching Hoarders just makes me want to get up off the couch and organize my closets.I don’t do it, but it makes me WANT to.

I use to watch Andy Griffin as a kid and dream of living in a small town and sitting on a front porch with my family. Perhaps there is a hint of that in some of these shows where families work together in a small business. Dads and sons side by side, nature as something to honor and tame. It’s not all a ya’ll put down.

What do you think?
Here is the link to the article on Stereotypes of Southerners on TV.
Disappointing Redneck TV Shortchanges the American South
http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2011/12/07/142861568/disappointing-redneck-tv-shortchanges-the-american-south?sc=emaf

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Why I do Free Media Interviews

2011-12-15T23:04:00.004-05:00

People, including my friends and family ask me that question all the time.
So let me explain to you and to all of them why it’s worth it.

I got many paid engagements this year from prospects that saw me on TV shows like Nancy Grace. I continue to be very blessed in my career and this year is my best year ever.

I ask all my clients how they found me and what created the decision to book me and many have commented that they found me in a Google search and decided on me when watching my video of my interview on Regis and Kelly. Also ALL my spokesperson jobs came directly from my media exposure as did my book deal.

So that is an enormous amount of work and income earned in the last ten years that is a result of my hundreds of hours of free media interviews. Plus there is this very odd Media effect. My audiences are impressed with me before I speak.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Can Mitt Find the Wit to Boot Newt?

2011-12-09T00:58:00.003-05:00

Body Language in the Republican Debates Presidential candidates Debates Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney. Click the link below for Patti Wood's body language comments for ABC News.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/12/can-mitt-find-the-wit-to-boot-newt/

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Government Promises and the Public's Hope

2011-12-08T21:19:00.002-05:00

Tonight my meeting of the minds group is discussing government promises, the public’s hope, and public protest.
We all got this great quote. Read it and notice the date is was written.

"Government is the great fiction through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else...

Thus, the public has two hopes, and Government makes two promises - many benefits and no taxes. Hopes and promises, which, being contradictory, can never be realized.

Now, is this not the cause of all our revolutions? For, between the Government, which lavishes promises which it is impossible to perform, and the public, which has conceived hopes which can never be realized, two classes of men interpose - the ambitious and the Utopians...

And the people believe, and the people hope, and the people make a revolution!

These two promises are for ever clashing with each other; it cannot be otherwise. To live upon credit, which is the same as exhausting the future, is certainly a present means of reconciling them: an attempt is made to do a little good now, at the expense of a great deal of harm in the future. But such proceedings call forth the spectre of bankruptcy, which puts an end to credit.

What is to be done then?"

-- Frederic Bastiat, "Government", 1848

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Body Language expert Patti Wood's insights of Jerry Sandusky's New York Times videotaped interview.What does Jerry Sandusky's body language indicate?

2011-12-05T22:43:00.007-05:00

Coach Sandusky’s interview with the New York Times Journalist

Check Patti's link below to her YouTube Channel to watch Patti as she reads the body language of Jerry Sandusky on HLN Special Report with Vinnie Politan. Below are Patti's notes on the 9 minute interview by the New York Times Journalist.

How would an innocent person respond if he had been accused of and arrested for sexually abusing young boys? Do you think he would be upset?

Sandusky certainly isn’t. He starts the interview with oddly detached emotions. He doesn’t face the interviewer. He often looks out with a blank expression. He is relaxed sitting back on the couch. He oddly opens with a response to the allegations “I kid you.” Then says in a rather soft neutral voice “These allegations are false” – Then he immediately turns his head away and gazes off in the distance. I believe an innocent person would look at the interviewer and make sure that they heard and understood your statement.

Throughout the interview he says, “I didn’t know or I don’t know” which seems odd as a fully innocent person wouldn’t be confused or feel the need to find the words or hesitate to say, “I didn’t do these terrible things.”

As he denies the allegation He struggles to find the “right” thing to say. There is a long silent pause. His eyes close in a window shade. He is saying “I didn’t” but his hands go up and his palms open, instead of the gesture that would normally go with a denial or no response, downward and or closed.

He struggles for what to say always reframing the question or accusation. “It is my feeling that I didn’t do anything wrong.” It reminds me of Clinton reframing the statement. “I did not have sexual relations with that woman Monica Lewinsky.”

Again Sandusky gestures should sweep down in dismissal rather than up.

He laughs as he answers some of the questions. If you have been in my Deception Detection program you know that anger and laughter are “cover emotions.” In interrogation videos I have analyzed the accused laugh as a cover to make their allegation seem “lighter” not serious not as bad. At one point Sandusky actually has what I call --- soft eyes and a charming smile as he is asked about sexually abusing young boys.

He often gives a partial shrug “I don’t know” like a child helpless. A shrug as if a physical threat is present then he smiles so inappropriately yet again!
He is asked about the feelings. He says there were so many “mutual feelings” extended family. Then he misspeaks calling himself an “extended father.” He subconsciously makes up a name for the typical relationship he had with the boys.

He uses a soft voice, looks for affirmation and approval from the journalist for having these mutual feelings even saying “Yeah” at the end of his response, as if he is saying, hey it was mutual. The boys agreed with me. This is so disturbing.

At time marker 210 concerning the Coach Joe Paterno

He says, “I don’t know that he didn’t know – I know that he didn’t, never said anything to me.” and then at time marker 2:56 he gives a smirk, his face asymmetrical, he seems gleeful that he was able to pull one over on the interviewer and in essence throws the coach under the bus.

When asked about Curley talking to him about “horsing around in the showers” listen to the paralanguage, the vocal stress cues Sandusky says, “Yeah you know, he was concerned ( he has a sound of pain “uggugg“ he was concerned about it yeah.” Sandusky’s voice is soft almost no emotion in an effort I believe to deemphasize the seriousness of the “concern.” Then we hear Sandusky give a deep inhalation and exhalation of breath. He is realizing that conversation where he was confronted.

When asked “How did he couch it when he spoke about it to you?” Sandusky completely turned away frowns. This is the closest that he gets to showing he is angry. At time marker 347-Sandusky gulps down his bad feelings then presses his lips tight down to close off his feeling, see him tear up. Then he gives a tongue thrust as the reporter goes on about the Curley conversation.

At time marker 424-426 we see him freeze (that deer in headlights stress response). He should be remembering an event and be able to face the interview and recall instead he freezes and struggles to think of what to say and shakes his head no.

As Sandusky says, “I told him yeah,” bends down to get out of confrontation, protects the whole front of his body.

Then Sandusky says, “In my mind it was not inappropriate behavior. “ He again doesn’t face the interviewer and say “I didn’t do it.” Glazed view off in the distance.

446 “He could speak with the young person (not child) that was involved” shrugs off his guilt and his eyes get teary.

He told me I couldn’t work with them anymore. He actually shows his disappointment his head going down and a look of disappointment on his face.

As he asked about the kids he suddenly comes alive. His head and body language go up as he says, with passion …”I grew up in a recreation center, there was constant activity. I worked on a playground I LOVVVEEE active kids.

Truth teller takes ownership uses the word I, states relationship and gives names and speaks in specifics. He doesn’t say the “Second chance kids. He calls them “They throughout the interview.” Liars distance themselves from the people and the events.

He says, “In the interactions that you had with them.” Instead of in the interaction I had with them. “Then he says all those times were precious.”

Again he doesn’t say the kids or children he says they he goes back between

He hops from past tense and future tense a sign of someone who is making up a story rather than recalling actual events.

He continues to use generalities. He also doesn’t complete his sentences and often he just plain does not make sense.

For example
“I guess IT just happened that way,” “I don’t know”
“They weren’t going to have you and you weren’t going to have them.”
“So it was significant times it was significant times it was important times.”

In the previous phone interview Bob Costas, asked “Are you
sexually attracted to young boys?” a simple question that would be easy to answer if you’re totally innocent with “No.” We listened for Sandusky to be adamant and certain and deny. Instead, repeats the questions in a softer voice vocally emphasizing the word SEXUALLY attracted. “You know not

“I am attracted to young people, boys, girls” and he gets more excited and smiles and gets visibly and auditorily excited. His lawyer jumps in and Sandusky smiles inappropriately as he says, “yeah that’s what I meant.” As he speaks his gestures are off. He speaks first and then he gestures.

Again look at his visible excitement and joy. “I enjoy the young” then he freezes, pulls his head back withholding his real feeling, “Because they...” (He pauses) “… they don’t worry about what they say.” “Both groups” (He does a seat re-adjustment - what he said didn’t sit right with him. “

“That’s why I love those groups.”

http://www.youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert?feature=mhee

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Patti on HLN Prime News - Gary Giordano's Body Language

2011-12-04T17:56:00.005-05:00

Patti shared her insights on HLN Prime News with Vinnie Politan regarding the body language of Gary Giordano being interviewed on Good Morning America. Check the link below for her insights!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwAARPcJ6ZI

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

How to Mind Your Ps & Qs in Professional Interactions

2011-12-03T23:08:00.004-05:00

Patti weighed in on Minding Your Ps & Qs in Professional Interactions for Investor's Business Daily. Check the link below for her insights!

http://news.investors.com/Article/patti-wood/593524/201112021320/communicate-message-properly-and-master-details.htm

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Hotel staff taught to read guests' body language by Patti Wood MA, CSP – Body Language Expert

2011-11-28T20:53:00.004-05:00

Forget calling the front desk. If you're a guest at an Affinia hotel, the staff will try to figure out what you need just by looking at you.

"You can't always tell from the first sentence whether someone is in a good mood or bad mood," says body language expert Patti Wood.

"Starting this month, the boutique chain is bumping up personal service in its five hotels in New York City and one each in Chicago and Washington, D.C. Everyone from housekeeping to management will be tailoring his interaction with guests based on body language.

A body language expert trained employees over the summer on what cues to look for. A guest who makes eye contact while walking down the hall, for instance, may be open to conversation. A corporate trekker constantly tugging on an ear is probably stressed and may be interested in a yoga kit — or perhaps a therapeutic pillow from the hotel's pillow menu.

"So many companies, when they talk about service, they program it to how many rings till you answer the phone," says John Moser, chief brand and marketing officer for Affinia. "That sounds very scripted. Let's give (staffers) some tools they can use to help identify what's the right way to address somebody at a particular moment."

Employees were taught to mirror a guest's volume and rhythm of speech to put him at ease, Moser says. They learned that if guests are constantly touching their faces, it's a likely sign they're anxious after a long day of meetings or travel. "They'll grab their chin or pull on their ear," Moser says. "Those are cues that maybe I should be doing something to get them to their room quick or make them feel comfortable."

Patti Wood, a body language expert who conducted the Affinia training, says she has never seen such instruction given to all hotel employees. "All of this training is so every single guest is treated as special," she says.

Staff questions about a guest's day won't disappear, Moser says. But, he says, small talk isn't always enough to get a reading of a guest's needs.
"You can't always tell from the first sentence whether someone is in a good mood or bad mood," he says. "Measuring some of the things they're showing, with the way they're talking to you, can help our associates deliver a service that's more customized to them."

Jan Freitag, senior vice president of Smith Travel Research, which tracks hotels, says of the effort, "Anything that ultimately gives better customer service is to be applauded." "The question," Freitag says, "is could this be achieved with a different vehicle? It will be interesting to see if the additional expense for staff training will ultimately result in higher guest-satisfaction scores and revenue."
By Anne Ryan, USA TODAY file

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Patti Reads the Body Language of Missing Baby Lisa's Parents on HLN

2011-11-18T09:14:00.005-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTVLh28THYQ

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Body Language of Mrs. Cain - November 2011

2011-11-17T22:48:00.007-05:00

This is my body language read of Mrs. Cain for US News and World Report.

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2011/11/15/gloria-cains-body-language-revealed

http://video.foxnews.com/v/1275490678001/mrs-cain-on-harassment-allegations-this-isnt-herman

Interviewer, “Let’s start with this.” Mrs. Cain says softly, “Ok!” but is giving a severe lip compression smile. I call this the zipped smile. Women use the zipped smile to cover their emotions, typically to cover anger. Our culture says we as women need to be nice, so we give a zipped smile to cover our anger. She nods her head up and down, but instead of meaning, “I agree” the small quick nods are saying, “Please hurry and get this interview over with.”

When she says, “I don’t know who that person is (eye block) pause misspeak “...and we’ve been married for 42 years.” She shuts her eyes longer than normal blinking in a window shade eye block. That indicates she is uncomfortable with the person (sexual harasser) that the media is projecting.

When she says a moment later “But, they don’t know Herman” her lip pucker quick downward dismissive head shake and stressed voice show her repressed anger at the critical media.

Look how she is sitting at the far end of the couch. The most honest portion of the body is from the waist down. Her lower body and feet are turned away fully from the interviewer. In this moment, though her upper body is angling slightly away from the interviewer in “retreat” and at times even leaning back away. Her arms are out in front and her hands are laying one over the other in her lap (called a blanket hand cross) to protectively cover her pelvis.

As to her husband warning her of the story coming out, she shakes her head. “It is just hearsay” and she gives a tongue drawbridge signifying her desire to get the bad taste of the news out of her mouth and off of her mind.

As Mrs. Cain continues and discusses the warning conversation with her husband and her faint memory (she looks up and struggles to come up with both the true memory of the event and the correct thing to say, true or planned response that may be a lie) of the first woman’s accusations and the Restaurant Association’s charges as being unfounded you see how her body is so turned away from the interviewer she has to twist her neck significantly to answer questions. My read here is she had an agreement in the marriage here that she wouldn’t ask and he wouldn’t tell.
When she responds to the second woman’s allegations, notice how she talks about Herman’s behavior in the PAST TENSE. “That wasn’t a part of Herman’s behavior.

She emphasizes his “Old School Behavior” - her gestures as she talks are in synch. She is telling the truth about his “old school behavior” with her and other women when she is with him.

When she says a moment later, “To hear such graphic allegations….that’s not the person he is.… (as she shakes her head no) he totally respects women.” You can “hear the tears” in her voice. Also look at the change in her hands. She now has a stretched out wrap over her leg protectively. She is feeling under stronger attack here.

Goodness I love the next part of the interview. When she says she was not going to be the wife up on the stage that he knew he would be there by himself. Her voice and nonverbal cues are absolutely in synch. She is being true and honest.

However when she says, “Seriously in my soul, I don’t feel like he’s that type of a person,” I see a pause in her head shaking, I hear awkward pausing and leaving out the IS in a slight grammatical error.This cluster of cues and even the wording she chooses sound less sure of herself. When someone is unsure they may leave out the strong words that make their message more definitive. We want her to say, I know he didn’t do these things but she keeps talking about the man she knew or knows not being that kind of person instead of speaking to his actual behavior.

As she is asked about her family’s reaction, Mrs. Cain kicks out her foot to show their anger, and sure enough says, “My daughter was angry…”

“NO I am not missing anything, I know Herman” she gulps showing she is keeping something in seems like she is gulping down her fear that she doesn’t know everything.

Again at the very end “SOME of the things that you are saying about him, that is not Herman.”

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Your High Blood Pressure Can Reduce Your Ability To Read Body Language

2011-11-15T09:49:00.005-05:00

Ever wonder why the big boss doesn’t get the pain he is causing you? If he lowers his blood pressure, he might be more empathetic.

Recently high blood pressure has been linked to a decreased ability in reading the facial expressions of emotions. It’s tough for the folks with high blood pressure as well. They just don’t seem to enjoy things as much as their stress free counterparts.
To read more about how high blood pressure effects the brain and its ability to read body language link here. You probably already know this information, but if not it could be very interesting to add to your work.

http://bodyodd.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/08/8686801-high-blood-pressure-makes-some-socially-awkward

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Body Language Expert Patti Wood Speaking Last Week on Body Language at the World Compliance Summit in Miami Florida

2011-11-14T22:44:00.004-05:00

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Body Language - 23 Must Know Moves by Patti Wood

2011-11-10T22:29:00.003-05:00

What does a frown signify? That's not so hard to figure out. Ditto for hands on hips or crossed arms. But not every example of body language is so easy to interpret, and that's where Patti Wood comes in. Patti teaches people the subtleties of body language - and was just in the news for teaching employees of a New York City hotel how to figure out guests' needs simply by looking at them. Check the link below to view her recent project with CBS News.

http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-204_162-10010146.html?tag=mGalleryBottom;mGalleryUL

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Patti featured in Cool News of the Day

2011-11-10T22:22:00.002-05:00

Cool News of the Day is a daily e-mail newsletter of marketing insights, ideas and inspiration edited by Tim Manners.

http://www.reveries.com/2011/11/affinia-service/

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Patti on Good Morning America Saturday Nov. 5th Reading Kate Middleton's Body Language to See if She is Pregnant

2011-11-04T19:19:00.005-04:00

Regular Kate Middleton (last july)

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/royal-couple-canada-13996146
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/video/kates-canada-tour-brits-boating-13995192

Possibly pregnant Kate Middleton yesterday:

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/princess-kate-middleton-pregnant-prince-william-royal-baby-14879765

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=14887524

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Patti's Keynote - The Art of Reading and Understanding Nonverbal Communication in Any Setting

2011-11-02T16:36:00.004-04:00

I recently presented a keynote at the Seventh Annual Career Strategies Conference of the Corporate Counsel Women of Color at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, CA. I spoke on The Art of Reading and Understanding Nonverbal Communication in Any Setting. To date, the organization has over 2,600 members who serve as general counsel, assistant general counsel, corporate counsel, in-house legal counsel, and in other capacities for Fortune 1000 companies, Forbes 2000 companies, not-for-profit corporations, and other entities in the United States of America and abroad.
It was such a honor to speak to such a wonderful group of women!

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Dr. Conrad Murray Tearing Up at His Manslaughter Case...The Big Debate at OK Magazine

2011-10-28T19:29:00.008-04:00

This week we're asking experts their thoughts on crying at a trial, based on
Dr. Conrad Murray tearing up at his manslaughter trial in connection with
the death of Michael Jackson. (He cried when witnesses testified that he was
a good doctor who helped the poor.)

http://www.scribd.com/doc/74575580/Dr-Conrad-Murray

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/conrad-murray-cries-during-jackson-trial/2011/10/26/gIQAiuelJM_video.html

As I have watched the video of the trial I find it interesting that many people are calling his overall demeanor through the trial stone faced. I have noticed that he often has the downward pockets of sadness beneath his eyes and cheeks and at times combined with that sadness the raised eyelids and brows of fear with the white showing above his pupils. In this one minute clip he is crying on the tape. It was the most heartfelt, spreading to his whole face, when the witness talked about his father. The timing of that along with his ability to look at the witness, just furtive glances as she talked, shows not only grief about his father and a bit of sadness, but embarrassment that he didn't live up to his father. The Kleenex rubbing on his face - where he is using the Kleenex only on the side of his face towards the witness also indicates an embarrassment with what the witness is saying. Interesting that he is sad when she is saying he was her doctor. Is it because he didn't do his all for her and the other clinic patients or has he fallen so low compared with his dad's legacy?

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Hotel Staff Taught to Read Guests' Body Language by Patti Wood in New York, Chicago and DC

2011-10-25T11:42:00.008-04:00

http://travel.usatoday.com/hotels/story/2011-10-24/Face-off-Hotel-staff-taught-to-read-guests-body-language/50896514/1

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

High Tech to High Touch, Cats, Coffee Houses and Body Language

2011-10-24T14:34:00.006-04:00

Some people enjoy a newspaper with their weekend coffee. At one Ontario cafe, they get a cat.

http://www.canada.com/Ontario+cafe+offers+coffee/5588860/story.html

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Patti Wood on HLN Tonight - Body Language Read of Baby Lisa's Mother and Dad

2011-10-20T18:53:00.006-04:00

Debra Bradley - look how her head and neck pull away from interviewer and off to her left as she responds. Also notice she does not finish all her statements. This is an indication she is not confident in her thoughts and could be deceptive. She also does a window shade eye block.

Watch Patti's body language reads of Baby Lisa's parents, Deborah Bradley and Jeremy Irwin, and see a day-by-day account of the events that took place when Baby Lisa was reported missing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTVLh28THYQ

After 16 frustrating days of searching, Kansas City police and the FBI are still seeking an answer to the question that has generated national headlines — where is Baby Lisa?
Hundreds of officers have spent countless hours running down tips and scouring for evidence since 11-month-old Lisa Irwin was reported missing from her crib Oct. 4.
On Wednesday, police and federal agents returned to the home with a search warrant. Investigators wearing protective suits spent most of the day and night working inside and outside the residence, as well as around a garage behind the home.
Police have publicly revealed little about what they know so far, including any results from Wednesday’s search. Indeed, virtually every substantive bit of information about the case — and who police might suspect in the baby’s disappearance — has come from her parents or people speaking on their behalf.
Allegations that Lisa’s mother, Deborah Bradley, failed a polygraph test, and statements that she was drunk and may have “blacked out” on the night her daughter went missing and that police were accusing her of involvement in the crime have all been revealed by Bradley herself on national television.
And while a lawyer for Lisa’s parents says they are cooperating in the investigation, police have stated publicly that is not the case.
The parents have not sat down and spoken with detectives for more than a week, and efforts to re-interview two older children, who were in the home on the night of the disappearance, have been refused, police said Wednesday.
Here’s how the investigation has unfolded and what police and the family members have said:
Oct. 4: At 4 a.m. Lisa’s father, Jeremy Irwin, returned from his overnight job as an electrician to the family’s home in the 3600 block of North Lister Avenue and reported his daughter missing.
Deborah Bradley told police she had last seen Lisa in her crib about 10:30 the night before.
Kansas City police declared an Amber Alert and launched a massive search. Police looked at the possibility that a kidnapper entered and exited through a small bedroom window. But later that first day they said they couldn’t determine a point of entry.
A neighbor told police of seeing a man with a baby in the area about 2 a.m.
Police Capt. Steve Young, a department spokesman, said that the situation was unusual because child abductions commonly involve a custody dispute, but that in this case both parents reside in the home. The unmarried parents have two other children in the home, boys aged 10 or younger, from previous relationships, Young said.
A child victim specialist interviewed both boys that day while detectives questioned the parents.
Oct. 5: Lisa’s parents spoke publicly for the first time at a news conference.
“We just want our baby back,” Bradley said. “Please … bring her home.”
Young said investigators had conducted numerous consensual searches of residences near the Irwin home.
Oct. 6: The parents appeared on morning national television shows for the first time to plead for Lisa’s safe return. Afterward, in a brief interview with local media, Bradley said nothing looked out of place or disturbed in Lisa’s room.
“It was like they just walked in and just disappeared,” she said.
The couple also revealed that three cellphones were taken from their home the night Lisa vanished.
That night, Young stated publicly that the parents had stopped cooperating with police. A short time later, an aunt of Lisa Irwin read a short statement to the media disputing that.
Oct. 7: On NBC’s “Today” show, Bradley said police had told her she had failed a polygraph test.
” Bradley said. “Because I don’t “I continued to say, ‘That’s not possible,’ know where she’s at. I did not do this.”
On ABC’s “Good Morning America,” Bradley said: “From the start, when they’ve questioned me, once I couldn’t fill in gaps, it turned into ‘You did it, you did it.’
“They took a picture down from the table and said, ‘Look at your baby.’ And ‘Do what’s right for her.’ I kept saying, ‘I don’t know…’ I just sat there. I didn’t even ask to leave. I just let them keep asking questions.”
Oct. 8: Kansas City police said detectives had once again spoken with Bradley and Irwin. The couple also consented to additional searches, police said, and crime scene investigators worked inside and outside their home.
Mike LeRette, a cousin of Bradley, said the family planned to scale back media interviews to focus on generating tips for police.
Oct. 9: Family and friends went to Kansas Speedway on a race day and passed out thousands of fliers with pictures of Lisa, said Jeremy Irwin’s sister, Ashley Irwin.
Detectives spent several more hours at the family home and appeared to be trying to re-create a possible kidnapping by climbing through a window.
Oct. 10: A Clay County grand jury issued subpoenas to all the local network TV affiliates, requesting any raw footage of interviews with Irwin family members, friends or neighbors.
Investigators also returned to the Irwin home and were seen inside and outside a neighbor’s house.
Reports surfaced about a homeless man seen in the neighborhood in the previous weeks. A neighbor said police had showed him a photograph of the homeless man and asked about any possible connection to the missing child.
Oct. 11: Ashley Irwin said on “Good Morning America” that the family thought police intended to arrest Deborah Bradley.
“It is what police do,” she said. “They don’t have any leads, so they have to pin it on somebody.”
Young responded by saying that any assertion that police were trying to pin the disappearance on the child’s mother “was absolutely not true.”
“We don’t feel any pressure to accuse anybody,” Young said. “We are under pressure to do what we can to find a child.”
Later that day, Ashley Irwin told The Star that her nationally televised comments were taken out of context.
“When they (police) don’t have suspects, when they don’t have any leads, then it always circles back around to square one, which is the parents.”
After a tipster’s call, investigators drained and searched a well at a vacant home near the Irwin residence. Police said nothing was found.
Meanwhile, a New York private investigator, Bill Stanton, announced that he had been hired to assist in finding Lisa. He wouldn’t say who was paying him.
Oct. 12-13: Media outlets began airing video of Deborah Bradley recorded at a Northland grocery store earlier on the evening that her daughter was last seen. In the video, Bradley and a man bought baby-related items and a box of wine.
Police did not comment publicly on the video or speculate about the man’s identity. Stanton later said the man was Bradley’s brother.
Police also asked to re-interview the older children, but police said the parents refused the request.
Oct. 14: Stanton announced that the anonymous person who had hired him was putting up a $100,000 reward for Lisa’s safe return or for information leading to the conviction of those who had abducted her.
Oct. 15: Police searched a boarded-up house after receiving a 911 call stating that diapers and a child’s backpack had been found in the basement of the house near Northeast Russell Road and Chouteau Trafficway, less than a mile from the Irwin home.
Young later said it appeared the diapers had been in the house for some time, outside the timeframe of Lisa’s disappearance.
“It just doesn’t fit,” he said.
Police also said a homeless man sought for questioning in the case was in custody on unrelated felony charges. Young said the man was arrested on a parole violation that had nothing to do with the Irwin case and “he is not a suspect.”
Oct. 16: Military police officers from the Missouri National Guard combed areas near the Irwin home.
Oct. 17: Three TV networks aired interviews with Lisa’s parents.
Bradley revealed that she put her daughter to bed around 6:40 p.m. Oct. 3. That was almost four hours prior to the time she initially gave police as the last time she saw her daughter. She said she didn’t remember checking on her daughter at 10:30 p.m., as she initially told police.
Bradley said on “Today” that she was drinking wine that night, “enough to be drunk.”
When asked whether there was any way she could have done something to hurt Lisa, she said: “No. No. No. And if I thought there was a chance, I’d say it. ... I don’t think that alcohol changes a person enough to do something like that.”
On “Good Morning America,” Bradley said police investigators had showed her burned clothes and a “Doppler thing with pings” from her cellphone.
“I hope the burned clothes weren’t real,” she said.
In an interview with Fox News Channel’s Megyn Kelly, Bradley said she might have had five glasses of wine that night and said it was possible she could have “blacked out.”
“I don’t see the problem in me having my grown-up time,” Bradley told Kelly. “I take good care of my kids. I keep my house clean. I do their laundry. I kiss their boo-boos. I fix them food. I’m involved in their school stuff.
“I mean, to me there’s nothing wrong with me doing what I want to do after dark. As soon as I’m done drinking, I go right to bed.”
New York lawyer Joe Tacopina announced he now represented Lisa’s parents. He also declined to say who was paying him. He said they had consented to have their house searched again and would cooperate with investigators.
Tacopina also said he had advised Bradley and Jeremy Irwin to stop talking to the media.
Young said that police had tracked 550 leads to completion and that they had “all led to nothing.”
Oct. 18: Police and FBI search teams focused on a wooded area at 34th Terrace and North Brighton Avenue, but nothing substantial was found.
Young said that night that police had obtained a search warrant for the Irwin home. Previous searches had been with the family’s consent, Young said. He declined to say why police sought the warrant.
Young also reported that the parents had not sat down face to face with investigators since Oct. 8 and had only responded to specific questions concerning tip information.
Fox News aired more of Kelly’s interview with Lisa’s parents. Bradley said police told her a call was made on one of the family’s stolen cellphones at 2:30 a.m. Oct. 4.
She said that she was sleeping at the time and that whoever took Lisa would have used the phone. She said police didn’t tell her where the call had been placed except that it was “close by.”
When asked whether she thought police were lying to her about the call, Bradley said, “Yeah, they’re supposed to” to elicit a confession.
Oct. 19: Armed with a search warrant, officers returned in force to the Irwin family home on Lister. The investigators included bomb and arson squad officers who have special equipment that could be used in the search, Young said.
The search team remained at the house late into the night.
Tacopina told The Associated Press he knew about the warrant only through the media.
“I don’t know why a warrant is needed. They can go in and out any time,” Tacopina said. “They have had unfettered access because we want answers.”

http://www.nbcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_missouri/northland/lisa-irwins-mother-speaks-with-today-about-investigation-into-her-daughters-disappearance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsxraZbZOEo

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Patti Wood on CNN Tonight - Body Language of Republican Presidential Candidate Debate

2011-10-19T16:30:00.012-04:00

Romney tries a tight smile laugh as Perry talks about illegal aliens working for Romney. Romney breaks debate ritual and actually steps away from his podium and faces toward Perry to confront him and strikes out his arm to symbolically whack him aside as Romney stridently repeats,“Will you please just wait." He does a ‘tongue thrust’ briefly sticking out in attack at Perry’s statements. Then he backs away putting his hand in heart guard then he leans on his podium a protective log cabin clasp and smiles when he sees Perry getting more riled and seeming to lose control.
We see Perry stay protected he only has his head faces turned and jut out towards Romney.
Even as Perry says, “…and you hired illegals in your home he protects his side near Romney and does a strike down gesture with his left hand. It’s clear Perry's statements are planned, so the gestures don’t strike on the beat. He didn’t think he would be interrupted or have to repeat. He thought it would be a zinger.
As Romney counter attacks, Perry does a window shade squinting eye close surprised by Romney’s move toward him.
When Romney can no longer use humor he gets riled up himself. Again he faces toward Perry in a one on one argument. “If you become President you have to let other people speak.”
Later we see Perry with a tight mouthed growl face.

Rick Santam does head jabs toward Romney as he talks about Romney’s contributions to Obama care, put is paralanguage is halting, “You are, (pause stress stare) You are, pause, Your plan..” having trouble getting his words out he does not sound confident.

Overall Perry seemed stiff and over rehearsed in his nonverbal cues and Romney seemed emotional but the smile helped him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-4_LemTVSU

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Body Language Expert's Read of the Controversial Martin Luther King Monument and Statue in DC the Nation's Capital

2011-10-13T22:41:00.011-04:00

http://cityarts.info/2011/10/25/stone-cold/

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Body Language Expert Read of the Joe Louis Fist Statue

2011-10-13T22:34:00.011-04:00

http://cityarts.info/2011/10/25/stone-cold/

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Body Language Mistakes That Can Cost You Your Job

2011-09-02T21:39:00.005-04:00

A candidate can give out thousands of cues within the first minute of meeting a hiring manager, and those messages make more of an impact than what you say during the interview. Our body language says a lot about who we are and our emotional state, and poor body language often sends a message that we are stressed or fearful.

Check the link for Patti's full interview with Forbes Magazine.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2011/08/31/interview-body-language-mistakes-that-can-cost-you-the-job/

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Decode His Strut

2011-08-27T16:24:00.002-04:00

I was asked by Cosmopolitan to reveal what a guy's stride can tell you about his personality...and his relationship style. Is your guy a Power Walker, a Thruster, a Huncher or a Drifter? Check the link below to discover what his strut style is and as a bonus find out what it says about him.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/63366426/Decode-His-Strut

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Body Language of Jen and Her Men: Marc vs. Ben

2011-08-15T09:48:00.010-04:00

I was asked by OK Magazine to analyze the body language of Jen and her men, Marc and Ben. You can read the full article in the August issue of OK!

"The way their hands are intertwined show equality in the relationship"

"The tender kiss he gives is very intimate, very sweet"

"Her upraised chin and intense gaze - all good"

"His posture is like a little old man; she is pulling away"

"She is using her purse as a barrier, her arm as a block"

"It is fake. Her stance is "posey," his smile tense and strained"

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Less Power Point Can Mean More Pizzazz

2011-08-04T20:24:00.003-04:00

Presentation Pitfall
Less PowerPoint can mean more pizzazz
Premium content from Atlanta Business Chronicle - by Tonya Layman, Contributing Writer
Date: Friday, June 3, 2011, 6:00am EDT

There probably isn’t an executive alive who can’t recall a painful experience sitting through a presentation where the presenter drones on and on about a subject they should care about, but simply can’t make themselves pay attention. The delivery is dry and the information is fact regurgitation. Presentations like that are not uncommon and most will agree they are a waste of time.
Communications experts agree presentations usually need to be slimmed down time-wise and boosted up energy-wise. Otherwise, the audience will spend their time catching up on e-mails on their iPhone and knocking each other over to get to the door at the conclusion.
Joey Asher, president of Atlanta-based communications skills coaching company Speechworks and author of the book “15 Minutes Including Q&A: A Plan to Save the World From Lousy Presentations,” said there are many things people can do to jazz up their presentations.
“People don’t like to listen for long,” Asher said. “Presentations don’t usually include much audience interaction. If they leave time for questions, they leave them until the very end. They also try to say too many things. They don’t include enough stories which people really like. Then to top it off, they are usually delivered with all the energy of a house plant. The overwhelming majority of business presentations stink. The presenter doesn’t consider the audience and consider what the audience really wants.”
Patti Wood, an international speaker, author and trainer based in Atlanta, agrees. Known for her expertise in body language, she is also an expert on presentation skills and sales presentations, making more than 100 per year.
“You have to have a clear purpose that outlines what the audience is going to take away from your presentation,” Wood said. “When you start you want to say, ‘Today I am going to talk about’ and then explain what the subject matter will be so the audience can expect to learn something. Then they will say to themselves ‘I am going to have to be active to receive this information’. Use the word ‘you’ often. Get rid of ‘I’ and ‘me’. Use phrases like ‘Here is something else for you.’ ”
Wood said the top tip for good presenting is connecting with the audience.
“That is what distinguishes an OK presentation with a phenomenal one. Afterward people will talk about it as an experience rather than a speech,” she said.
Experts agree slide-creating software like Microsoft Corp. ’s PowerPoint can be good tools to aid presentations but speakers shouldn’t treat slides as their focal point. Nobody wants “death by PowerPoint.” For an hourlong presentation, Asher suggests 10 to 20 slides maximum.
“The slides should complement the message that you’re delivering orally, but they should not contain the entire message,” said Cory Anderson, an associate with medical device venture capital firm Accuitive Medical Ventures , which has an office in Duluth.
Anderson hears, on average, 50 presentations a year from entrepreneurs seeking venture capital and often gives presentations to boards of directors and management. “Reading slides implies that the presenter is not familiar with the content of their presentation. It is a waste of time for the audience,” he said.
“Presenters have a natural tendency to use too many words on their slides, which distracts the audience as they try to read and listen at the same time. Pick the words on the slides carefully to help tie your message together,” Anderson said, adding the PowerPoint slides need to be visually interesting. “Bullets and the default PowerPoint templates may be the easiest way to build a presentation, but it is probably not the most effective way to communicate your message and keep your audience engaged.”
A presenter should never start or end with a slide and shouldn’t have the slide up as the audience enters the room, Wood said. Asher said in order to keep that connection alive, take questions throughout the presentation. Don’t save them until the end.
“The best thing to do to engage the audience is leave time for Q&A,” Asher said. “One reason people don’t build in much time for questions is they really don’t want the questions. They are afraid they will be asked something uncomfortable or that they won’t know the answer. You have to be prepared for the questions.”
There are a lot of things a presenter can do to make sure people ask questions.
“Tell them early on you want them to ask questions,” Asher said. “Stop periodically throughout to take questions. When someone does ask a question, don’t put them off. Take the question and answer it and show that you love the question. Don’t send out the signals you don’t want questions.”
Keeping the questions to the end of the session is a quick-fire way to ensure no one will ask a question because the audience won’t want to prolong the agony, he said.
“I also recommend show-and-tell,” Anderson said. “If you’re pitching a product, there is nothing more compelling than a hands-on presentation of the product —- when it works as expected. Coordinate the show-and-tell so that it does not distract the audience’s attention from the rest of your presentation.”
Delivery is also a key component to getting the audience’s attention.
“If you want me to buy into your ideas, you need to sound like you are passionate about those ideas,” Asher said. “You need to have high energy, make contact and look for that sense of connection. Use the same intensity as you would when talking with a good friend.”
Wood recalls helping a finance professional from Disney with his dry, unvaried delivery.
“I challenged him to think about the company and what it offers, to think about the information he wanted his audience to take away and to think of something that would get their attention.”
The next day when presentation time came, here came this guy wearing Mickey Mouse ears. The audience loved it.
“It was a small thing but it was a big thing. He smiled, began talking and next thing we knew he was running around the room and gesturing,” Wood said. “The magic in connecting with the audience makes you feel safer.”
Similarly, life stories can engage an audience.
Asher said one of the best presentations he has ever heard was given by Colin Powell.
“He told story after story after story about dealing with the Soviets and various world powers. The audience wanted insights on what it was like to live and work at the level he lived and worked at,” Asher said. “People don’t use analogies or life experiences enough and those really do engage an audience.”
Tips for engaging presentations
• Do your homework before presenting. One size does not fit all when it comes to presentations. Understand the audience’s perspective and tailor the presentation to their needs.
• Think about the culture and dress/present appropriately.
• Make sure the objectives of the presentation are clear. Align everyone from the first slide and stay on message through the presentation.
• Structure the presentation in a way that the message is delivered thoroughly and crisply. Think outside the box. Don’t feel constrained by bullets and templates. Be creative. Use stories to engage the audience.
• Sell it with high energy and make good eye contact and speak with passion.
• Support presentation with impactful visual aids that are simple and crisp. The message should be obvious without requiring a long oral description.
• Wrap up the presentation with something that the audience can remember you by.
• Plan for someone other than the presenter to take detailed notes and follow up on outstanding items quickly and completely.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Casey Anthony's Body Language during the Closing Arguments

2011-07-08T12:22:00.008-04:00

For most of the prosecutor's closing arguments you would swear the film that shows Casey is on Freeze frame. Her head is held in vice grip add mixture of glaring eyes and petulant pouting lip and downward turned sad brows.
As the prosecutor says, “When you have a child that child becomes your life Casey could have shaken her head yes, as most parents who have lost a child would. As it has been in the rest of the trial, Casey’s body language does not match the baseline of what we consider a normal parents, a normal mothers body language the norm of a grieving mother.
703: The class between the expectation and the life that Casey wanted to have. Four seconds later Casey shake her head not small slow shake delayed, so it appears she had to think in her neocortex about what the instinctual limbic brain would feel and show in response to his statement.
When Caylee was born Casey was saddened with Expectorations not only from her parents but from society, Casey is shaking her head no quick shallow shakes with a furrowed angry brow and petulant mouth.
When Casey is faced with a problem her solution is to change the lie. She shakes her head twice, not fully committed to following through with her disagreement, and scowling in anger.
When Casey wants to do what Casey wants to do she lies. Again to delayed glare
No movement at all when he talks about the imaginary Nanny “Zanney” so still like a squirrel caught in headlights in the freeze response to stress.
You see the Guard move to protect his belly a comfort he gives as the prosecutor discusses her fathers suicide note, but she seated in the front of the guard is ice frozen in fizzy cocktail .
The absence of affect (facial expressions of emotions) No shake of the head no, no emotion at all. When the prosecutor discusses how Casey was at her boyfriends while Caylee is in all likelihood in the trunk of her car dead and decomposing.
Small shift, to her right side a look down to her right her thinking rational side to contain herself. And adjustment, apparently she thought it was too much work for her (to bury her) so she decided to throw her in the swamp. She rocks herself back and to the side a few more times. At this. I think she is actually upset here, feeling caught.
Prosecutors paralanguage the nonverbal nuances of the voices are emotional, Caylee was in the trunk off suburban drive decomposing. Voice gets caught, at times so low on the gruesome details as to be almost inaudible.
Imaginary Zannies Imaginary Accident, Casey starts to look away and look down, as her lies are retold by the prosecutor like a grandfather telling a bedtime fairy tale. She has trouble staying still she turns pages and then her head held with the chin up and lips petulant finally comes down. Most interesting her head twists down and sideways showing it is painful for her to hear her lies here, she fains reading something but her discomfort with everyone hearing these lies is evident.
33.33When the prosecutor talks about timer 55 her face book stalls till Caylee’s birthday. Head goes down not with true shame but with a mixture of feigned disinterest and denial. But then in one minute and 3 seconds later her head is up and frozen again.
Barely moves “When he discusses car being found and mother catching her and her lie “She is at Zannies” She barely moves just minute shifts from left to the right.
Until 42:56 Problem comes up Dec 11 2008 could I have the state present 2008 please Casey bends over and cough/sneeze her head going down and staying out of site instead of bouncing up naturally as it would in a real cough sneeze. This lets her head go out of the frame of the camera and when we see her again she is bent over, while holding her lowered four head in stiff upraised fingers. Suppressing tears as the prosecutor says, “Calies remains are found.” Casey is recalling with grief not the day her daughter lost, not the day she died and the grief she felt as a mother, but the day her daughter’s body was found and she was caught in her lies. Casey put her fist up to her face to suppress her tears; the fist gesture reads that she is mad that her daughter’s body was found. This fist to face to suppress tears is a movement I see when a parent hears what someone else did to their child when someone not when a child is found. There is typical kenning and outpouring of emotion when the news a child body being found is discussed. She stays with that fist. A number or items are found the damming evidence she ….then she rubs her nose and grasps her head again hiding her eyes from view, guilt? Trying to push in her thoughts or maintain focus she rocks herself side to side in the chair more obviously now.
Casey Anthony: Closing Arguments - Part 3 - 7/3/11 State
Very eerie body language.
8: As he is calling into the evidence of 224, as he says, “This is the bag that Caylee was found in,” Casey grabs her head symbolically pulling the bad thoughts out of her head fall through her fingers like dust and then she grasp her fingers together as if she is trying to decide to strike out her hand in anger and instead holds her downward held head in her soft fist. Significant she keeps frozen in that position through the most gruesome evidence, over 6 and half minutes.
Then as he recounts what her story about her father waking her yelling where is Caylee and laying Calyee's body in front of her yelling this is your fault. She's wiping a tear with her pinky finger only once after and when the prosecutor changes repeat her fathers yelling, Where is Caylee? Where is Caylee? She presses her tears in. Open unrestrained sobbing would I think make us feel that her story was true the little pinky tear stop feels fake and forced.
At 8:29, In fact moments later as the prosecutor begins discussing reasonable doubt Casey's chest begins to heave up and down and she begins to really cry needing a handkerchief and holding her nose with the bad smell of the words, “An abiding conviction of guilt.” She then begins wiping away real tears. At first she does this tentatively, and then big long wipes down over her face. Her chest heaving up and down more.
20:18? As he talks about the order of decomposition Casey covers her nose with the Kleenex using both hands and then does that odd dramatic wiping of one eye at a time as if wiping away the evidence from her view. He ( the scientist ) examined the evidence she takes her hands covers her nose and mouth and her lower lids with both hands and wipes as if she is covered with the sickening sight and the smell and wants to wipe it off.
At 20:21 her body comes up again into a more erect posture and she goes into that petulant face again. Slightly angry eyes as he discusses the evidence of the odor.

Look at 28:40 to 28:51 notices her stillness then look at her head swivel to him and the glare on her face as he finished repeating the evidence the most damming evidences of the hair with the bands of decomposition. She does this eerily after he pauses and there are two beats of pause then she turns and glares.

She gets up does a comfort adjustment pulling her shirt down.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Men's Facial Hair ...... What's Behind It?

2011-06-30T11:32:00.004-04:00

I recently did an article for the August issue of Cosmo on Men's Facial Hair. Below are some of my insights:

Mustache
Since a mustache can obscure a guy’s smile, frown, smirk, etc., it’s a perfect way for him to appear more mysterious. A mustache also makes them feel they have more character manliness and power.

Chin Strap
Guys who shave their facial hair into a “chin strap” think it’s a manly look because it imitates tough, real-life things like the chin strap of a soldier’s helmet.

A big, bushy beard
Says that a guy wants to feel rebellious and doesn’t care what other people think (think Zach Galifiniakis).

The full beard
I don’t shave, can be rebellious but if it is unkempt and trimmed it may signal a desire to break all the rules or hide from himself.

Soul Patch
A guy who sports this patch of hair under his mouth wants to show that he is unique and creative (started with the beatniks of the 1950s).

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

More than Cozy....What does Their Body Language Reveal?

2011-06-16T21:02:00.006-04:00

Paula and Simon appear more than cozy in these pics. He looks like he’s dying to start a relationship with her.

My read of these photos will be in next weeks National Enquirer.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/.

Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Patti Reads the Body Language of Casey Anthony on the Dr. Drew Show

2011-06-15T19:19:00.006-04:00

Find out my latest body language reads that I shared with Dr. Drew yesterday after viewing tapes of Casey Anthony in the courtroom during the murder trial of her 2 year old daughter, Caylee. I also revealed some insights on Casey's mother, Robin, as she took the stand to testify. Check the link below to view my YouTube channel.
http://www.youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert#p/u/0/FlPEka0XOds

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

The Smiles and Body Language of Congressmen Wiener and Spritzer as They Confess and Apologize

2011-06-07T10:58:00.017-04:00

This is an expression I call the cry cover smile. Yes, most people who give this expression believe they are covering their true emotions with a smile. This expression is typically found in men and I think comes from the need to keep a “stiff upper lip.” Many times this expression is an attempt to hide many intense emotions sadness, fear and anger. I see it in men, who typically have very strong egos and power that are caught and brought down. There are several photos of this expression in former Governor Blancovich.

http://www.timesunion.com/living/article/Pursed-lips-tell-the-story-1414370.php#ixzz1Og7WRMJW

Congressman Wiener’s expression is a suppressed fear, disgust and anger (If you cover up his mouth and look at just his eyes you will see the whites around his eyes and his sideways glance, and disgust. Notice the wrinkled nose that is a unique movement of the face given in disgust.)
If I knew exactly when he gave that expression I could tell you whether he was disgusted with himself for what he did or disgusted with the media at a particular question or bringing his behavior to light. The wrinkled upraised chin and tight lips show a suppression of fear and also of anger.

Spritzer also has a cry cover smile. His chin is more raised and more defiant and proud and more of the bottom lip is raised and held inside the mouth. The corners of the mouth come down significantly in a way that is more common to this expression showing his need to smile through the pain. Cover his mouth and you see his eyes are more hooded downwards at the corners and sad. This combination reminds me of the classic sad clown painted face.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

How "Image Problems" were Handled from a PR Perspective

2011-06-04T14:03:00.004-04:00

I did an interview for ABC News on body language and verbal communication. Check the link below!
http://abcn.ws/iLmKMw
Below are two examples of body language and verbal communication.
The consensus is that Weiner bungled this big time and fanned the flames. Then, again, now it seems to be fizzling out… For comparison, NJ Gov. Chris Christie handled the controversy over using a state helicopter to fly to his son’s baseball game in a firm and swift way, decisively putting the debate to rest.
Video on that below.
Weiner---
TUESDAY (press conference with reporters): http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/rep-anthony-weiner-spars-reporters-13728683
WEDNESDAY (sit-down interview with ABC): http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/anthony-weiner-interview-twitter-photo-13741495?page=1&playlist=2808979§ion=2808950&tab=9482931---
Christie ---
THURSDAY (video in blog) http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/06/gov-chris-christie-will-reimburse-nj-for-use-of-state-helicopter.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Tot Mom's Facial Expressions.....What Do They Mean?

2011-06-04T13:24:00.005-04:00

I recently read the body language of Tot Mom, Casey Anthony, on the Nancy Grace Show. Check the link below to find out what Casey's facial expressions revealed as she listened to her mother on the witness stand.

http://www.youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Update on Tot Mom's Body Language

2011-05-27T19:48:00.005-04:00

Check the link below to find out what I revealed on the Nancy Grace Show about Tot Mom's "hot under the collar motions" that she made while in court as her friends tesified about her partying behavior.
http://www.youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert#p/u/1/fqYh5bGYbmY

When Verbally Attacked what does Tot Mom's Body Language Reveal?

2011-05-27T19:47:00.007-04:00

Nancy Grace asked me to weigh in on Tot Mom, Casey Anthony's behavior when she was verbally attacked by a spectator in the courtroom. Check the link below to find out what her body language revealed.

http://www.youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert

Casey Anthony's Body Language, Nancy Grace

2011-05-25T15:00:00.001-04:00

"Wait Until Tomorrow" by Pat MacEnulty ... A Must Read for Every Woman!

2011-05-19T20:05:00.002-04:00

When I was on my last trip my wonderful assistant Dorothy took a book that came in the mail and placed it on the stack of books on my desk in the right hand corner. It is my “to read or still processing my learning pile of books.”
Today, back in my office after three intense weeks on the road I glanced to see at what new treat awaited me. On top of “Enchantment,” “A Sense of Urgency,” “Happiness” and “Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” was a new book titled “Wait Until Tomorrow.” “Wait Until Tomorrow” is a memoir written by my friend of over twenty-five years, Pat MacEnulty. I looked again at the titles of the books that Pat’s book sat on top of. The other titles seemed to echo the journey of Pat’s life. The journey that made it important for her to think when things get hard, terrifying or seemingly unbearable, wait until tomorrow because something wonderful can happen. The book is Pat’s journey as a daughter and a mother. A daughter taken care of by her mother, a mother taking care of her daughter and the recent years, very difficult ones for her as a daughter taking care of her elderly mother.
I opened Pat’s book and started reading. I had read the book a year ago in draft form, but I knew Pat had made many changes. After reading just the introduction and the first two chapters I knew it was an extraordinary book. In fact, I want every woman I know to read it. I want to shout from the rooftops and sing it from the mountains like the Julie Andrews spinning arms out stretched singing, “The Sound of Music.” The pages of this book are alive with the sound of Pat’s love of her mother and her daughter. They are alive with her talent. Pat is the ultimate cool person. So to use her vernacular “Man” she can write. I am so blessed to know Pat.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Albert Pujols' Hug with Jim Hendry: What Does It Mean?

2011-05-15T10:29:00.004-04:00

I recently was interview by the Chicago Tribune on what was behind the hug that took place near home plate between Albert Pujols, baseball superstar, and Jim Hendry. general manager for the Cubs at the Cubs-Cardinals game at Wrigley Field. Check the link below to find out what the hug meant!

http://bit.ly/l7BdUp

Tot Mom, Casey Anthony's Body Language During Recent Court Appearance for Jury Selection

2011-05-13T17:37:00.004-04:00

I studied Tot Mom, Casey Anthony's body language during her recent court appearance for the Nancy Grace show. She demonstrated several comfort cues such as holding her own hand and bringing her hand up to her mouth which showed her high level of anxiety. She is also seen obsessively adjusting her drink on a napkin, adjusting the band on her ponytail and other behavior that reveals her desire to control what she can control.

Check the link below to my YouTube channel to see the interview and observe Casey's comforting and controlling behaviors.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXiRb9__6Q8

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Guy Kawasaki’s latest book, “Enchantment” and Why You Should Shake Hands

2011-05-11T10:54:00.005-04:00

I was reading Guy’s Kawasaki’s latest book, “Enchantment” on the plane back from a speech to Judges in Texas the other day. The book was filled with wonderful little tidbits. He says early in the book, in fact on page nine that “you need four things for a great first impression: your smile, your dress, your handshake and your vocabulary.” Yippee! for recognizing that handshakes are still important. You know how I feel about them. I just did a speech last week for a Financial Association. We discussed how important it was for them to shake hands to create rapport. They have to have the rapport or people are not going to share their financial information.

Here is a quote from my new book on first impressions

“The choices of where, when and with whom to give a handshake have changed over the last few years due to differences in culture and religious background, a more casual business culture and the maturing of the Purell germaphobic generation. Yet, handshaking remains an important ritual for you to understand, use with ease and use as a source of information as you work on your first impression and reading others. Recent studies in North America indicate that a firm handshake that shows strength and vigor with appropriate eye contact length and completeness of grip creates a favorable first impression. In fact, the handshake is the quickest, most effective way to establish rapport with another person.”

In the book “Enchantment” like many recent business books he mentions Paul Eckman’s facial expression research and on page 10 of the “Enchantment” is research that I quoted many years ago in my “Success Signals” book on smiling that I also mention under likability in my new book. It is nice to know that great minds think alike.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

May 4th - Make A Promise Day

2011-05-04T00:06:00.003-04:00

May 4^th is Make A Promise Day. Recently I did an interview about my friend Roy and promises we made to each other many years ago. Today, on Make a Promise Day, think about the times in your life when you made a promise and what it meant. When you use the two Magic Words (I Promise) they invoke a powerful force to make things happen. When you make a promise and can Keep Your Word you can Change Your Life.

Link to this site for more information.

http://www.zazzle.com/thecoz/gifts?cg=196091574175916652

Royal Couple.... "Picture Perfect Romance"

2011-04-29T19:32:00.005-04:00

I was quoted in the Brantford Expositor and the Belleville Intelligencer on the body language of the Royal Couple, William and Kate.

BAD ROMANCE? No way! Pictures speak louder than words, and when it comes to the royal couple, it's a picture-perfect romance with relationship success signals loud and clear. Prince William and his bride-to-be Kate Middleton are a tight twosome who'll be living happily ever after -well, at least they're off to a great start, according to body language expert Patti Wood. Visual hints show their love is deep -William and Kate share a deep respect and admiration for one another, says Wood. "They look at each other often -and not for approval as Diana often did when she first was engaged to Charles, but with respect and affection," says Wood. There's also the look of confidence, says Wood, of http://www.pattiwood.net/."Kate watches him closely when he is talking; she does stand back slightly to show her place but she doesn't bow down her head in submission or lack of confidence as you used to see Diana do in Charles' presence." It's a relationship of equals. According to Wood, Kate keeps her head and chin on "the midline for the throat window, which shows once again her confidence and ease in the high stress media moments." Wood often analyzes celebrity body language and provides fun feedback, including the lies and telltale truths, for major celebrity and women's publications. "One single moment can be very revealing and can predict so many things going on in the relationship at that time," says Wood. "It's the little things couples do that reveal how they really feel because we can't consciously control those actions." Optics don't lie! William and Kate are in sync and the connection is mutual, says Wood. "In photos you often see them taking on mirrored body language poses of each other. That frequent matching and mirroring shows they are in sync."

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Protective Mother Bear Mode

2011-04-27T18:44:00.005-04:00

Patti weighed in on the body language of Kourtney for InTouch Weekly. She says that Kourtney looks very tense and is going into protective mother bear mode. Perhaps some of Scott's actions have given Kourtney cause for concern. Her main focus is the welfare of their young son, Mason.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Royal Wedding - Body Language of the Royal Couple, Past and Present

2011-04-26T15:21:00.018-04:00

I was interview by Gulf News recently on the body language of the Royal Couple, William and Kate as the date for the Royal Wedding approaches. Below are some of my insights on the Royal Couple's relationship and a look back at Charles and Diana's nonverbal cues.

Blue Dress
Look how casually she links her arm through his. Her body and bearing is upright. This shows her desire to be prim and proper. His hands are folded over his pelvis in what is called the “fig leaf” position and she is standing with her feet pressed together these are the male and female signals of sexual protection. I read this as an indication that they want to keep that part of their relationship private and protected from public scrutiny.

Diana has her arms folded over her heart and her mouth is tense and flattened showing her unhappiness and need to cover her heart and protect it from Charles. His hand is pushing her down symbolically putting her in her place.

I love the photo where William is cradling Kate to him with the front of her body moving into him. I like that his arms bring her close but do so gently. I love how relaxed and rounded their bodies are. Their smiles are very tender. Notice the pouching under their eyes. There is even a very healthy glow on their skin that shows their attraction to each other. Wonderful warm and real connection and affection in this mutual hold.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Effective Media Interviews, Tips and Tools

2011-04-26T11:57:00.003-04:00

Media Coaching for All: Become a Media Magnet

Evening at Emory - Personal Enrichment and Lifestyle

Explore highly effective methods for successfully getting on TV, radio as well as the secrets of being quoted in printed media and online publications. Learn proven techniques for giving a great interview. Media coaching for everyone, including CEO’s, CFOs, COOS, spokespeople and/or experts who expect to face the challenges of the media. Called “the gold standard of body language experts” by the Washington Post, Patti Wood has completed thousands of media interviews -- from CNN and FOX News to Regis and Kelly and Inside Edition. She has also served as the spokesperson during national media tours for Wrigley’s Spearmint gum®, Benadryl®, and Vaseline Intensive Care Lotion®, among other products. No discounts.

Instructor: Patti Wood, MA, CSP and Body Language Expert
1 session(s): Wed: Aug 10 / 6:30-9:30 pm

After this class, you will be able to

· How to become a recognized expert.

· How to create or enhance your brand to build and internet presence

· What media sources want from you

· What the media in looking for in your videos

· What needs to be on your website to attract media sources and get on TV.

· How to create or enhance your expertise so that media sources will seek you out and use you.

· The right and the wrong way to contact media sources.

· The best way to communicate with media sources to tell their story - Forming your main messages

· Creating your three most important “talking points”

· Handling the tough questions

· Smoothly switching the subject

· Creating engaging content for a presentation

· Engaging and interacting with your host and or audience

· Secrets to powerful PowerPoint presentations

· Handling questions with poise and confidence

8 Benefits of Walking

2011-04-26T11:20:00.005-04:00

8 benefits of Walking

If you read my blog regularly you know I am enthusiastic proponent of walking. Walking has benefited my life in so many ways. I feel better, I think clearly, I bond with my puppy dog and I make friends in the airport. If you don’t walk every day, start walking today for just a few minutes. I walk now but before I started walking every day I said, “I can’t walk because: I am tired. I don’t have time, my back hurts, my feet hurt, I don’t have the energy, the weather is bad, I don’t have the right shoes, my face gets sunburned easily, It gets dark to early, It gets hot to early, I have too much to do, I don’t want to. I still have my, “I don’t want to.” days, but I put back on my tennis shoes and get out there the next one.

I read this online today

It deflects diabetes

New research links brisk walking to a significant risk reduction for developing type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance is a predictor of this disease, even in people with normal glucose levels. But a recent British study found that people with a family history of the disease that walked briskly, or performed some other type of moderate to vigorous activity on a routine basis, improved insulin sensitivity.

It soups up your sex life

Sex and exercise go hand-in-hand. In a study of women between 45 and 55 years old, those who exercised, including brisk walking, reported not only greater sexual desire, but better sexual satisfaction, too.

It saves on gym costs

In this icky economy, people are cutting excesses, and that includes trips to the health club. In an American Heart Association survey, a quarter of the 1,000 people questioned had axed their gym memberships sometime in the previous six months. But no matter where you live, there’s a place you can pound the pavement or trek a trail, and 150 minutes of moderate-intensity walking a week can help manage stress and prevent heart disease. Moderate walking equals an average of about 100 steps per minute. San Diego State University researchers suggest using a pedometer and aiming for 1,000 steps in 10 minutes, and working up to 3,000 steps in 30 minutes.

It can get you off meds

Using data from the National Walkers’ Health Study, including more than 32,000 women and 8,000 men, researchers found that those who took the longest weekly walks, not necessarily accumulated the most mileage per week, were more likely to use less medication. This shouldn’t deter you from taking shorter walks more frequently throughout the week, but you should consider squeezing in a longer walk once a week, perhaps on the weekend when you have more spare time.

It can help relieve fibromyalgia pain

This chronic condition affects more than 4 percent of the population, and often involves pain, fatigue, and brain fog. A small study found that in women 32 to 70 years old, those who walked 60 minutes, performed light exercises, and stretched three times a week for 18 weeks reported significant improvements in walking and mental capacity, and were less tired and depressed.

It helps you beat breast cancer

It helps you beat breast cancer. Women who walk regularly after being diagnosed with breast cancer have a 45 percent greater chance of survival than those who are inactive, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Yale researchers heading up the study also found that those who exercised in the year before being diagnosed were 30 percent more likely to survive, compared to women who didn’t exercise leading up to their diagnosis.

Strolling reduces stroke risk

Walking briskly for just 30 minutes, five days a week can significantly lower your risk of suffering a stroke, according to University of South Carolina researchers. After studying 46,000 men and 15,000 women over the course of 18 years, those with increased fitness levels associated with regular brisk walking had a 40 percent lower risk of suffering a stoke than those with the lowest fitness level.

It can save your mind

It can save your mind. Italian researchers enlisted 749 people suffering from memory problems in a study and measured their walking and other moderate activities, such as yard work. At the four-year follow-up, they found that those who expended the most energy walking had a 27 percent lower risk of developing dementia than the people who expended the least. This could be the result of physical activity’s role in increasing blood flow to the brain.

Patient Relations Relating Patiently - Showing Caring Concern

2011-04-19T14:29:00.004-04:00

Patient Relations Relating Patiently
Showing Caring Concern
Through Nonverbal Communication and Body Language
By Patti A. Wood MA, CSP

• Do you want to use the power of the first impressions to pick up information about your patient’s personality as quickly as possible?

• Would you like to know three nonverbal ways to hear a patient’s true needs?

Would you like two simple ways to show caring concern to every patient?

• Have you ever wondered what a patient was thinking but not saying?

• Do you know the secret differences between the way males and female patients share their concerns and symptoms?

• Do you want to easily gain the eyes and attention of your patients?

• Have you wanted to establish rapport quickly and easily to make your patient immediately at ease?

• Do you want to know two things to do when someone isn't listening to you?

Would you like three simple ways to show caring concern to every patient?

If you answered YES to any of these questions, this program will fulfill your needs through practice, discussion, and one-on-one coaching. You'll develop awareness to give you the competitive edge!

The best way to hold your hands to show you are being honest with a patient
How tongue lip and mouth movements reveal deceit
The difference between a real smile and a masking smile
What part of the body is the most "honest?"
How to read pauses in a patient’s responses
How space and territory changes affect a patient’s comfort level
How the heart and other body windows hide of reveal emotions
How to question a patient to get the most honest and revealing answers
Knee-crossing and brain function
Gesturing for increased verbal ability
Noticing the palms as a lie detector
Forming a clear message with your body language
Reading the full nonverbal sentence
Communicating clearly and effectively nonverbally with other medical professionals

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Boehner, Reid and Pelosi, What Their Body Language Says About Government Shutdowns

2011-04-08T11:05:00.021-04:00

Glasses and purple blue tie -
Look at his hand, he is covering his Ventral Front, that is his vulnerable belly and look how he is symbolically reaching in to rip his heart out showing how he feels he is being dealt with. Also watch how he says, “we are not there yet” and does a tongue thrust showing his dislike of the deal and the deal makers. Reid ends the evening interview with a telling “MISSpeak” His body language and voice go down and flat and he says of the outlook for resolution, ”Hope lies Eternal” indicating the outlook is lifeless and not moving rather than his head body and gestures coming up and his voice filled up with energy with the accurate quote, “ hope springs eternal.”

The segment with Reid and Boehner that night with Boehner in lime green tie -
First thing Boehner says, “We did have a productive conversation this evening,” But just as he finished the sentence he sucks in his lips - the translation, the vocal emphasis on the word did, indicated he felt that they started to be productive and then it wasn’t productive. The sucking in of the lips say he felt badly enough about the rest of the meeting to want to hold his negativity in. Later Boehner says, “We do have some honest differences” then he immediately presses his lips tightly together then flicks out his tongue showing he is really angry – Not a good sign for resolution.

Also listen to his voice paralanguage, “we are going to continue to work tonight and tomorrow” his voice fades out and he turns away on tomorrow, not an indication of him feeling confident that things will go well. Boehner also does a tongue flick after the word resolve, “work together to resolve this“shows more anger.

Pelosi, Former Speaker of the House footage – No sound….. I would love to know what she was asked or what she said before each of those comfort cues to her face. I can give names to each of the cues and say how they show she is highly stressed and the one where she touches her tongue picking something off the tip of it and flicking it is really interesting it shows she wants to get the taste of what she said out of her mouth, could be she is lying, or that she does not like the person she is talking about or the words she is saying.

New Research Shows That Hugs Reduce Stress

2011-04-07T00:00:00.003-04:00

Stress Study: Hugs warm the heart, and may protect it

By Marilyn Elias, USA TODAY

PHOENIX — Cuddling may be good medicine for the heart. Loving contact before a tough day at work "could carry over and protect you throughout the day." By Rick Rycroft, AP

A brief hug and 10 minutes of handholding with a romantic partner greatly reduce the harmful physical effects of stress, according to a study reported over the weekend at the American Psychosomatic Society meeting here. (Related item: Worry, inactivity impede sleep's health benefits)

While I was teaching body language and nonverbal communication at Florida State University, students coming up to me before and after class or running into me on campus would inevitably open their arms to receive a big hug. In fact, though I didn’t have my PHD my students called me Dr. Hugs. Year after year, the student’s favorite lectures were the two touch lectures where I shared the research on the benefits of touch. But now that I think of it, professional people who attended my speeches and training would recognize me in a restaurant or the grocery store checkout line and also typically meet me with a warm and friendly hug.

A hug fully breaks the intimate zone boundaries of the body while other greetings, from the handshake to the bow to the upheld palms high-five are designed to keep people apart outside the intimate zero to fourteen-inch zone. A hug is a greeting of friend-to-friend.

The Origin of the Hug You may think of the hug as only a touchy-feely greeting. It may surprise you to learn that the hug actually originated in Egypt as a way for men meeting strangers to check for swords hidden under their long robes. It continues in modern day as a “Let me pat you down” weapons check in many Arab greetings.

It is only in the last century that the full frontal hug has morphed into the embrace showing warmth and affection. This full face-to-face hug shows others that we trust them and are willing to give them ready and full access to our vulnerable heart.

While people are avoiding handshakes, hugging seems to be increasing in popularity. Some researchers say the increase came after the tragedy of 9/11 as the need for comfort and bonding increased. Others say the change to casual dress in corporate America has brought a desire for a more casual greeting ritual. My high school and college audiences shared with me that hugging makes them feel accepted and loved by their friends in a way they don’t feel with their parents. My principal and schoolteacher audiences shared they believe the increase is due to the two-parent working families. Kids hug each other so they can get the healthy touch they are missing out on at home. Perhaps it is that there is not a real increase in hugs, but a decrease in hugs in the general population that make us NOTICE hugs more.

I remember fondly the warm, full heart-to-heart hugs shared with my fellow church group members when I was in high school. Even then, we wanted and were open to more love.

As the handshake seems to be lessening as the greeting ritual in corporate offices in the US, hugging seems to be increasing in use in social situations. At the end of 2009, Michelle Obama gave Queen Elizabeth a hug at Buckingham Palace. This lack of formality broke royal protocol. The Guardian (UK) newspaper, reporting on the incident, noted that “…. (There have been) only four other people who haven’t gone to the tower for ... (this breach) of protocol.” Queen Elizabeth was a bit surprised and it was a bit awkward. At first, she showed delayed acceptance of this change by also breaking protocol and reaching her arm around Mrs. Obama’s back to return the favor.

Curb Appeal “Mail Box Magic” Contest

2011-04-03T11:27:00.005-04:00

Curb Appeal “Mail Box Magic” Contest My contact - Patti@PattiWood.net Cell phone 678-358-6160
I love my neighborhood. I am proposing a Curb Appeal Magic Mailbox Contest in my neighborhood that you may want to try in yours. The contest will inspire your neighborhood.

The Curb Appeal Mail Box Magic Contest
You ask your local hardware store to help you and or get a paid summer intern to organize the project. The intern could be majoring in Marketing/PR Agriculture/Architecture/Botany. As part of the project you could have a website/blog or Face book component. Here are the tasks. • Get Names, emails and addresses of home owners within a five mile radius of the store. • Create an email and or flyer advertising the contest email and or put on all the mailboxes. • Get the hardware store to give out a coupon, say, $20 dollars off a purchase of $100.00 dollars or more in the nursery of your store and or on items needed to upgrade a mailbox such as mailbox, mailbox stand, shovel, post hole digger, border stones or bricks, and mailbox numbers. You could have a sale for two weekends. Price could also be a gift certificate. You could go bigger and get a sponsor that is a contractor or builder and offer a new driveway, new stone siding, new roof or new windows or some other curb appeal home improvement. The store may want to qualify the use of the coupon by saying you need to bring in a “before” photo or drawing of your mailbox. You could also offer a workshop of sprucing up your mail box and have after photos in the store or online to inspire us. • Contest prizes $1,500 dollars for best all around curb appeal mailbox, $1,000 second prize 1,000 for most change (before and after) with photos to show the change. • Contact the media and or DeKalb County and see if they would help sponsor and promote the event. • Judges and or sponsors- Manager of the store, head of the nursery, Media personality, City or County official, professors from local colleges in Marketing/PR Agriculture/Architecture/Botany. If there are real estate agencies that work in the neighborhood perhaps they could be co-sponsors or the judges could find sponsor The Garden Club or Neighborhood Association. You could also create a garden tour of homes, but make the “tour” the neighborhood, the mailboxes. An alternative contest could be a make over of front doors.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

What His Walk Says About Him, First Impresssions

2011-04-01T14:03:00.003-04:00

What his walk says about him will appear in the May Cosmo on the newsstands in April.

1. The Power Walker talks long, confident strides and leans his body forward to move more quickly. He is ambitious and motivated, making him the kind of boyfriend who would pull his weight in a relationship. However, he can be so focused on his goal that he might tune everything else out including his mate.

2. The Thruster has a wide stance. His walk leads with his pelvis and juts out his elbows to make his body appear bigger. This is a person who is secure, but a bit vain. However, the way he holds his arms out shows he’s the protector in a relationship.

3. The Huncher slumps his shoulders, looks down, and takes shorter steps. He’s subconsciously protecting his heart, is guarded, and needs reassurance to feel at ease in new situations.

4. The Drifter doesn’t stay in his “walking lane” and his quick, on-the-go conversations are usually accompanied by wild hand gestures. He’s outgoing and passionate. He opens up easily, but he doesn’t offer up too much information.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Testimonials from Audience Members

2011-03-28T13:31:00.006-04:00

I would also like to share some of the comments I have received from those who have attended my programs. What a pleasure to hear how they have been inspired and have gained new knowledge that they can use in their work and also in their personal lives.

Good morning Patti! THANK YOU! Everyone was majorly impressed. Thank you again for your generosity of information and stories, we have all been so excited about the new knowledge we gained.
Best,
Lauren Jarvis
********************

Dear Patti, I am Gina (the woman you met before the program in the car)...listed as Giovanna on the class roster. I would like to thank you and let you know that yours was the best program I have ever taken! on any subject! You inspired me in many areas and I especially appreciated your consciousness, and a "no blame" position of observation. As a professional and spiritual coach, I plan to use much of your teaching.
Warm Regards,
Gina DeKorff Ullmann Renavatio
********************

Dear Ms. Wood, I thoroughly enjoyed Deception Detection at the Jeff Justice seminar this past Saturday. I will never sit with my feet under a chair again.
Thanks.
Eric Schwab
********************

Patti, Thanks so much for your session yesterday at the Cape Coral Association of REALTORS. I really enjoyed it and learned a lot. Superb!
Mel King President,
The King Group
********************

Hi Patti, I have noticed a lot - particularly the way men always try to shake my hand! Your technique of slanting the hand works miracles!
Regards,
Cindy Williams
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Hi Patti, I wanted to write to tell you how much I enjoyed your program yesterday. The topic is always interesting, and you brought out some points that I never realized previously. Wow was I lucky to hear you! Thank you for your tip of placing, "tongue-to-roof-of-mouth," for the occasions where I wish to utter, right ... right ... right... ;-) This tip could be a job saver...! I hope to hear you speak again in the future. You were informative in a most delightful way.
Kind regards,
Denise
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Hello Patti, It was great to hear your keynote at the Cablevision event this morning. I found your insights into human body language very interesting. You are an excellent speaker who easily holds the audience attention. We were spellbound at 7am in the morning! I loved what you had to say and look forward to your new book. Be Well.
Regards,
Howard Fullenbaum,
CFP® Vice President
SYNERGY WEALTH STRATEGIES
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Hi Patti, It was great to hear you speak today, and you made a FANTASTIC first impression on all of us! I also enjoyed talking to you afterwards and am really looking forward to reading your book.
Cheers,
Brent
Account Director AlterSeekers
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Patti, It was a real pleasure to meet you and have the opportunity to enjoy your presentation to our Vistage group over the weekend.
Best,
Eric Seidel
Eric M. Seidel,
CEO The Media Trainers, LLC
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Patti, Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge with our team last week! Everyone really enjoyed your program and they took away clear tools to use with their business leaders & teams.
Kind Regards,
Rich
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Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Client Testimonials

2011-03-28T12:47:00.004-04:00

I would like to share some of my client testimonial letters that I have received during 2010 and thus far this year. It is such a joy to see the impact that my programs are having in the lives of my clients. It is also exciting to hear back from them as they begin to use their new found knowledge of body language.

Dearest Ms. Patti:
On behalf of the New Mexico Court Reporters Association, I would like to sincerely thank you for a wonderfully entertaining and engaging show! Everyone truly enjoyed your spirited presentation on body language. As a matter of fact, I don't think I've ever seen our group laugh so much! Thank you so much for sharing your expertise with us! I hope you enjoyed yourself half as much as we enjoyed you.
Sincerely,
Vanessa Arrieta,
NM CCR, RPR Past President NMCRA

Hi Patti,
Thank you so much for bringing your incredible energy and wonderful knowledge to us. I’ve been sharing some of your stories all week with co-workers! I will definitely be interested in getting more insights from your book.
Thanks again!
Susan
Susan Y. Shen Deloitte Consulting LLP P

"I have hired Patti Wood over forty times to kick-off my seminars around the country and plan to use her six more times this year. She gets my audiences energized, focused and she teaches them skills that they can incorporate in their work life immediately. The first thing my audience members ask me when they're deciding on whether to register is, 'Is Patti going to be there?'" Yes she is!
Jeff Justice Seminars

Hi Patti!
You did an awesome job! An entire day of you giving keynotes in a studio for us. I think we have enough information captured to truly give us what we need for your videos. Now begins the edit process. We have so much great information from you that it will be difficult to decide what stays and what goes. We reported out to Richard and Ashley yesterday, and everyone felt that you showed up great on camera and delivered (as usual). I’m looking forward to April as well (When you are live with us again).
Take care Patti, and rest easy knowing you did a great job for us!
Kenny Simon
Emersonhc.com

Good Afternoon Patti,
Great to listen to you and soak up so many great and valuable pointers on people and interactions. It was incredibly interesting. I thank you for presenting so masterfully and sincerely. I trust you had a safe journey back to Atlanta.
Best
Kate Carpenter
Stowe Kitchen Bath and Linens

Hi Patti,
I wanted to take a minute to tell you how much I enjoyed your presentation to our TEC group today. I look forward to receiving you book and communicating with you as I experiment with what you shared with us today. It was such a refreshing augmentation to the work I did with Bandler & Grinder so many years ago that worked so well for me back then.
Best regards,
Michael Novick
CMI Enterprises.com

Hi Patti,
On behalf of my entire Builder 20 group I would like to thank you for a wonderful presentation Friday morning. It was very informative and we could have easily listened to you for several more hours. Thanks for the book you gave me and I have already started reading it.
Take care,
Brian

Hi Patti,
Didn't want this day to end without telling you how much I enjoyed listening to you, learning from you and watching that body language! You have a wonderful way about you --- a special addition to my trip to IHG. Look forward to seeing you again ---- perhaps at NSA. Until then, continue to bring out the best in people. You do it well!
My best to you always,
Mary Jo

Patti,
I just wanted to say thank you for an excellent presentation at last week's entrepreneur expo. I almost didn't go to the event, but I am so glad that I did. It was easily one of the best presentations and information sessions I have ever attended. I learned a lot about body language and the funny thing was that you start to see examples of it everywhere. From being at a bar talking with some friends to working with potential clients, it was just eye-opening to see how accurate your information was.
Thanks so much,
Billy Gallagher
Florida Web Presence, LLC

Patti,
Thank you so much for such an engaging program last night. I had expected something so different and instead was treated to an intimate, captivating gathering. I wish I'd taken your program years ago and over and above anything else paid attention to my own 'gut'. Thank you for your enthusiasm and insights about so much. I would love to take another program to hear what you have to say on dating or first impressions. Lynn Cromer
Executive Assistant

Thank you Patti!
I thought your training was awesome! I will pass your information on to our Top Directors and Nationals at our next meeting and suggest they schedule an event for you to come in and talk to our girls. Thanks again and I'll look forward to seeing you again.
Linda
Linda Morris Beauty Consultant and
Future Director Mary Kay Cosmetics

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Britney Spears. Lack of Confidence Effects Your Impression During a Media Interview

2011-03-27T16:12:00.003-04:00

Britney Spears Interview. My rough notes Britney ran the emotional gamut during the interview, which makes sense as I am sure her hormones are creating a wild ride. Overall her body language showed her to be emotional, all over the place with her answers and sad and uncertain about most of the specific things she was questioned about except for her love for her child and her husband.

However in responding to six questions she responded with an extreme pulling down of the corners of the mouth that you would think meant pure sadness but the movement is too strong to be a sign of mealy sadness , in some case for her it was actually showing uncertainty like a shrug. And when she pressed her lips it became a sign of determination to grin and bear it. She used it so often that Matt even commented on it called it a face like a little puppy. Again she was trying to put on a happy face. When asked about people calling her a name her upper face showed true sadness that combined with this inverted smile showed she was trying to mask her true sadness.

There were times when her body language showed she did not believe what she was saying for example when she said she had “no regret with anything that I have ever done. Then a quick sharp downward smile that actually showed uncertainty. When asked about the timing of the beginning of her relationship with her husband she scratched her leg showing that the question irritated her and she was irritated with herself. As he went further with that line of questioning emphasizing that her now husband had left a pregnant girlfriend and another child to be with her. As the question was being asked Britney responded by making a soar expression to show how distasteful the question was.

When Matt asked her about the rumors of divorce she replied, " That’s silly” while scratching her head, while scratching the head can mean your head itches nonverbally it indicates that the thought in your head is very irritating. This leg itch became a self comforting leg rub to make her self feel more at ease the way you would rub a teddy bear for confort. As the discussion went onto her belief in Karma and whether or not she believed her husband would leave her. In direct response to the question she replied immediately with rapid blinking to cut herself off from the thought of the relationship ending and showing her anxiety at the thought. Then she replied “ no we are very happy together’’ and eyes scanned straight over to the left ( this showed she was remembering the sounds of happy relationship and as she finished the sentence her voice faded out indicating a lack of confidence and she added ‘right now” These signs showed her doubts.

When asked about the tabloid press statements that the marriage would end she did her smile through the tears grimace again said no and followed that statement by twisting her mouth which means she had to really twist her thoughts to say that No and was not confident about it at all. The first big smile and true happy demeanor we saw Britney give was when she was asked about her love for her husband it was also the first time she really made significant lingering eye contact with Matt. Her facial expressions and lifted up posture and high energy all showed she truly loves her husband. When asked about why she loved him she repeated words like simple, boy and good big hearted and looked down and to the left. When asked again about the certainly of the marriage with the question something to the effect “…would you say there is not an end in sight for this marriage" she again showed the downward grimace with a very sad face and voice trying to hold in her sadness.

She said that as a mother she has to speak out yet she chose a very low cut blouse and short skirt to appear sexual and to chew gum.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Patti's TV Interviews

2011-03-24T19:44:00.007-04:00

Patti is interviewed an average of twice a week by media around the world including CNN, PBS, National FOX News Network, BBC, History Channel, Discovery Channel, CBS, TruTV, MSMBC, Regis and Kelly, The Soup, E! Entertainment, In Session, Nancy Grace, Inside Edition, Good Morning America and many, many more. Above are just a few worth checking out! Patti shares her insights on anything from the body language of Obama to what your sleep position says about your relationship. Check the link below!

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Top Ten Musicals. Patti's Top Ten Favorite Musicals.

2011-03-24T11:21:00.007-04:00

Patti’s Top 10 Favorite Musicals.
I am a classic movie buff. I love old musicals. I have been singing and dancing to musicals since I was a kid. In fact my mother said I came out of the womb smiling, singing and dancing. My parents went to New York every year and brought back the music. Our house was filled with wonderful songs. I know that singing and dancing was a way that I expressed so much of my joy and sadness growing up. I realize that the synchronous body language, and vocal messages informed my body language ability. To this day studying the matching and mirroring in musicals and in my work fascinate me. Many people don’t know that my original dream was to be a Broadway musical lyricist. I started writing songs and poetry in the fourth grade. To that end, I originally majored in Poetry writing in college, I was president of the music dorm and little sister to the music fraternity and my first college boyfriend was a guitar major. (Too see how that path led me to degrees in nonverbal communication go to link (how I became a body language expert.) For this list I only include musicals from the 1950’s forward. I love Lerner and Lowe and many other musicals but I wanted a list of musicals more familiar to everyone. If you are a TCM fan like me we can talk musicals from way back. I would pick every Fred Astaire Ginger Rodgers Musical, along with Easter Parade, Showboat, South Pacific and Judy Garlands Meet Me in St Louis would be on the list.

1. West Side Story The movie is good but the live theater production is tremendous. It is a true American Masterpiece. I remember my high school drama teacher telling us that it was one of the first musicals (Oklahoma deemed the first) to have songs that a and dance numbers further the plot and established characters. My high school Drama teacher was in the Original Broadway show South Pacific and worked back stage on other great Musicals like Gypsy. The script is by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and choreography by Jerome Robbins. The musical's plot and story are based on William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Set in New York City in the mid-1950s, the musical explores the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds. The dark theme, sophisticated music, extended dance scenes, and focus on social problems marked a turning point in American musical theatre. Bernstein's score for the musical has become extremely popular; it includes "Something's Coming", "Maria", "America", "Somewhere", "Tonight", "Jet Song", "I Feel Pretty", "Gee, Officer Krupke" and "Cool". The original 1957 Broadway production, directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins and produced by Robert E. Griffith and Harold Prince, marked Stephen Sondheim's Broadway debut. The production received a Tony Award nomination for Best Musical in 1957, but the award went to Meredith Willson's The Music Man. It won a Tony Award in 1957 for Robbins' choreography. The award-winning 1961 musical film of the same name, directed by Robert Wise and Robbins, starring Natalie Wood,. It won ten Academy Awards. My favorite song is, “Somewhere.” I sang it just about every day in high school.

2. Singing in the Rain (1952) I have seen this movie over a dozen times. Gene Kelly starred and helped Direct this 1952 classic that has made many lists of the top 100 films of all time. One of the greatest moments in film where Kelly having just realized he is in love, dances down the street, happily singing and dancing in the in the pouring rain. Taking place in 1927, the story is about a silent movie being made into a musical. Kelly plays one of the leads, and the other lead is an actress who cannot seem to sing very well. So of course, someone who can is brought in to do those lines and have them dubbed over top. The 19 year old Debbie Reynolds plays Kelly's love interest. It ended up being nominated for a couple of Oscar. I think everyone has at some time their life sung, “Singing in the Rain” as they walked in the rain. My favorite scene is the scene where are three dancers dance over the sofa. My favorite song is “Good Morning.”

3. Chicago (2002) Chicago was a Broadway play long before it became a motion picture musical. The choreography was amazing. I saw it on Broadway about 8 years ago with Sandy Duncan in the lead. It was incredible. When it hit the theaters it brought the magic to a larger audience. Rob Marshall directed the story wonderfully weaving reality scenes and dreamy dance sequences together beautifully. When you leave the play or movie signing the songs it surprising to remember that the story is about jailbirds! Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart aspire to be famous, and will stop at nothing to accomplish their wish. Aided by a lawyer played by Richard Gere, they may get to do just that. Starring in the film are Rene Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones as the two main characters. In other roles are Gere, Queen Latifah, Taye Diggs, and John C. Rielly. Using the press, and grand stand lawyer theatrics the two women to get what they want. It ended up winning 6 academy awards including best picture, and well deserves its spot on my list. My favorite song is, “He had it coming.”

4. Oliver! (1968) Everyone knows the story of Oliver Twist. The book written by Charles Dickens is the story of an Orphan. If you have every heard someone take on a funny voice and say, “Please sir could I have some more?” this is the musical where the line originated. This is a musical adaptation of the famous Charles Dickens story about an orphan unhappy with his surroundings. This causes him to run away, and join up with a gang of street kids who make a living by pick-pocketing people of the city. Jack Wild who later stared in the Saturday Morning kids show, “HR Puffing Stuff” was one of the gang members. I saw the stage musical as a little girl. I was on the third balcony and unaware that I needed glasses so I couldn’t actually see the actors but I remember that I loved the music and had the album on my turntable for years. It certainly has many songs that you will find yourself singing long after the movie has ended. Oliver! it ended up winning 5 Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Score. The story has been redone a thousand times, but the 1968 version stands out as the best to date. I love every single song. If I had to pick it would be two songs, “Who will buy this wonderful morning?” and “Where is Love?”

5. Godspell is a 1970 musical by Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak. It opened off Broadway on May 17, 1971, and has played in various touring companies and revivals many times since. Several cast albums have been released over the years and one of its songs, "Day by Day" from the original cast album, reached #13 on the Billboard pop singles chart in the summer of 1972. I saw the play at Ford’s Theater in DC when I was sixteen and said, “Someday I will be in that musical? I finally was in a community theater production when I was 29!!! I was the oldest female in the cast and in my doctoral program. Most of the cast was in High School or college! The structure of the musical is that of a series of parables, based on the Gospel of Matthew (though three of the parables featured are only recorded in the Gospel of Luke). These are then interspersed with a variety of modern music set primarily to lyrics from traditional hymns, with the passion of Christ treated briefly near the end of the performance. It started as a college project performed by students at Carnegie Mellon University and moved to La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club in Greenwich Village. It was then re-scored for an off-Broadway production which became a long-running success. • Opening • Prologue: Towers of Babble • Prepare ye The Way of the Lord • Save the People • Day By Day • Learn Your Lessons Well (my solo) • O Bless the Lord • All for the Best • All Good Gifts • Light of the World Act II • Learn Your Lessons Well (Reprise) • Turn Back, O Man • Alas for You • By My Side • Beautiful City † • We Beseech Thee • On The Willows • Finale • Day By Day (Reprise) My favorite song is a tough choice. The song “On the Willows” Is so beautiful but I think I would choose By My Side as my favorite. That was not my solo when I was in the play, and I remember every night I wanted to sing it!!!

6. Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. First staged on Broadway in 1971, it highlights political and interpersonal struggles between Judas Iscariot and Jesus. The opera is based very loosely on the Gospels' account of the last week of Jesus' life, beginning with the preparation for the arrival of Jesus and his disciples in Jerusalem, and ending with the Crucifixion. The three album set was on my turn table for three years. Long before the movie came out. We studied every song in a 12 week Sunday school class at my church. I still think that the lyric song by King Herod, “Jesus prove to me that your so cool, walk across my swimming pool.” is one of the most clever lines in musical history. The work's depiction offers a free interpretation of the psychology of Jesus and the other characters. A large part of the plot focuses on the character of Judas, who is depicted as a tragic figure who is dissatisfied with the direction Jesus steers his disciples. Twentieth-century attitudes and sensibilities as well as contemporary slang pervade the lyrics, and ironic allusions to modern life are scattered throughout the depiction of political events. My favorite song is “Everything is Alright.”

7. The Producers I was going to see this musical on Broadway on the famous September 11th. I made a trip back to New York City a month later and got a third row center seat. It is my favorite live musical memory. Nathan Lanes sweat showered on me I was so close to the stage. I loved it. We gave a three minute standing ovation at the end of the show. The musical was adapted by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan from Brooks' 1968 film of the same name, with lyrics by Brooks and music by Brooks and Glen Kelly. As in the film, the story concerns two theatrical producers who scheme to get rich by overselling interests in a Broadway flop. Complications arise when the show unexpectedly turns out to be successful. The humor of the show is accessible to a wide range of audiences and draws on ridiculous accents, caricatures of homosexuals and Nazis, and many show business in-jokes. The original production opened on Broadway on April 19, 2001, starring Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, and ran for 2,502 performances, winning a record-breaking 12 Tony Awards. It spawned a successful London production running for three years, national tours, and many productions internationally and a 2005 film version. My favorite song is “Spring Time for Hitler. “ The song is odd, disturbing and very hummable.

8. The Wizard of Oz (1939) Everyone in the neighborhood came to our house to see this movie in color the night it first came on Television. Color film was created after the filming for the movie started. They had already shot the Kansas scenes in black and white. So they created one of the most magical moment in film history.The movie starts out in black and white in Kansas where Dorothy, played by Judy Garland lives. After a tornado strikes her farm, Dorothy wakes up to the full technocolor land of Oz. A true film magic moment. Dorothy, with the help of a tin-man, a scare-crow and a lion must find the only man who can get her home to Kansas, The Wizard of Oz.. The movie gave us "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" and "We're Off to See the Wizard", which have become great classic children's songs over the years. My favorite song is the famous, “Over the Rainbow.”

9. The Sound of Music (1959) The musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers. Many songs from the musical have become standards, including the title song "The Sound of Music", "Edelweiss", "My Favorite Things", "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" and "Do-Re-Mi". The original Broadway production,[1] starring Mary Martin and Theodore Bikel, opened on November 16, 1959; the show has enjoyed numerous productions and revivals since then. It was adapted as a 1965 film musical starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, which won Academy Awards. The Sound of Music was the final musical written by Rodgers and Hammerstein; Hammerstein died of cancer nine months after the Broadway premiere.

10. Grease (1978) This musical has strong childhood memories for me. It is full of hit songs. I saw the movie multiple times the summer it came out. The song Summer Nights actually hit it big in the 90's as well, long after the movie was out of theaters. It starred John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John as Danny and Sandy, a very unlikely couple. Sandy was your typical good-girl, while Danny belonged to a gang of leather jacketed bad boy and bad girls. They hit it off in the summer, and the movie takes place as both have gone their own ways, and are back in high school that following semester. The movie shows the progression through the year as they each deal with teen issues, and their hidden love for each other. I Love the gym dancing scene. I still do the little dance when I hear the song on the radio. I don’t really have a favorite song from this. I think it is the memory of the summer I first saw that puts it on the musical on my top ten list.

Honorable mention Fame. The Michael Jackson music video Thriller and The King and I (1956) Rodgers and Hammerstein brought this musical in 1956, about a British governess and her son that travel to Siam, and meets up with the ruler of the land. Her old ways clash with the King and it seems like nothing is going to work out between them. The reason for this, is that women are seen as second class in this far land, and she is not going to sit by while this happens. She puts herself into dramatic situations by not being silent, and it actually gains her the admiration of the King. Starring in the two main roles as Anna Leonowens and King Mongkut of Siam, are Deborah Kerr and Yul Brynner. Both are very good in the film, and sing quite well. So, as you are watching the movie, you aren't distracted by the singing, but rather taken along for the in-depth story. The two have a great chemistry on screen and it turns the movie into a very watchable one. Nominated for 9 academy awards in 1957, it ended up winning 5 of them, including best actor. There is no other choice, my favorite song is “Can We Dance.”

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Are You Two Compatible When You Sleep?

2011-03-22T23:53:00.004-04:00

In an article for the "Sun Journal," Patti reveals some interesting insights about a couple's sleep position and what can be learned about their relationship. Check the link below to discover your sleep position and what it says about your relationship. Are you compatible?

http://www.sunjournal.com/node/79699

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

What Your Street Style Pose Says About You

2011-03-22T23:47:00.004-04:00

I was featured in "Refinery 29" today, which is a global fashion news magazine. I gave body language reads and descriptions of several different poses of people attending Fashion Week in New York. What's your street pose? What does it say about you?

To Cool to Stand, or Lean on Me
This stance shows a desire to look “Cool, relaxed and chill.”
The crossed feet are a unique cue, typically crossing means shyness or closure, but crossing the feet in a relaxed stance says “I am so comfortable that I don’t have to have my feet in position to flee or fight.” “I am not scared or threatened” The lean to the side also shows an ease and comfort. Only the subtle cues, sunglasses, one hand in the pocket and the other hand slightly covering the belly show her need to keep her privacy.

The walk away or Run Away, or “caught on tape” pose
“I don’t look good enough for a photo”
The feet move first under pressure and this stance, with the toes pointing away from the camera, the bowed head, and the slouched shoulders protecting the heart. The purse covering her stomach show I don’t think I look good enough, I am embarrassed.

The sassy model or look at me, or happy hoofer, Cheerleader leap
This pose shows you are super confident, joyful and love to be in the limelight.
I call this “up” body language. Upward body cues, up in the air foot, raised arms, upward facing palms, chest up and out, chin and head up are cues or happiness, joy and excitement. She loves herself from her head to her shoes!!! She knows she looks hot.

Red carpet, or the slimmer, or spanx my body, Am I ready for the red carpet?
The hand on the hip is a model technique. It lifts the chest up and up and elongates the upper torso making you look slimmer but because of the elbow out also making the viewer excited. (The elbow out creates a danger silhouette alerting the primitive brain sending it the message I am dangerous. The foot cross in this pose one foot protecting the other in a foot hug, show she knows how to pose the upper half of her body but behind the pose she is really not as confident.
She is not quite ready for the red carpet.

The prim and proper, “I know I am good, but you can’t have me.”
She knows how to take care of herself. She is confident but she doesn’t give it away for free.
The head tilted to the side shows her coyness, It says, “Aren’t I cute.” This is a woman who on one hand says, “come and get me and on the other says, but it won’t be easy.”
Notice how this poser is facing straight on to the photographer, the only poser to do so. She is protecting herself by crossing her feet and using her bag to shield her stomach or say shield herself, but the overall pose says I like myself. She is confident in every clothing and accessory choice. See how the belt is given attention and the bag is held at just the right placement to show it off, not to high and not sagging to low or too far in front to protect her pelvis.

http://www.refinery29.com/what-your-street-style-pose-says-about-you/slideshow?page=2#slide-1

Nurses Are Aware of Body Language, Yet They are so Open to Training.

2011-03-20T15:33:00.004-04:00

Nurses spend so much time with patients. In my master's program my boyfriend was shot in a hunting accident and lost 47 pints of blood in less than 24 hours. He was not supposed to live. He lost his kidney and his spleen and when they found the bullet in his heart his valve was replaced. All those months in the hospital the nurses cared for him. Years ago, When my best friend Roy was dying of AIDS nurses helped him. In fact, on the very last day of his life, the nurse helping him had a small accident and the needle with his blood nicked her finger, the staff was very concerned about her exposure. This was back when getting AIDS mint you had a year or two to live. She asked to speak to me and as I held Roy's had she asked me to tell her all about him. Her heart was so open she wanted to know all the good about the Man who may have inadvertently effected her health. When my friend Dominic had a stroke, the nurses in the brain trauma ICU when out their way not only to help him, put to talk to me and make sure I was OK. Yes I have a great respect for caring nurses. They are so open to learning more about body language so they can read the pain of their patients, and understand their needs.

My friend Michael's mother was a Nurse. Upon her death he formed a foundation to insure that nurses at her hospital would have excellent training and be recognized for their great work. Here is a link to the nurse caring website.

http://nursescaring.com/your-stories/

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Emily and the Bachelor Fight? The Body Language of the Bachelor and Emily

2011-03-16T12:11:00.005-04:00

I was on Good Morning America today! Good Morning America was interested in a body language experts reads of the Bachelor. I had the crew in my house shooting the segment till late last night. The crew from ABC were real troopers.
To prepare for the interview. I watched the tape of the bachelor responding to Emily's questions concerning his ability and readiness to be a good father for her child and Monday night's show of them interacting.

Check the link to the segment on my YouTube station below. Today it is also on the GMA website if you go to the show you can just watch the bachelor segment. Here is my body language expert appearance on Good Morning America
.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjqwVKGfsEg
Episode of the bachelor and comment on the chosen girl - Emily's body language

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

The Bachelor and Emily Fight, What was their body language on the last few episodes.

2011-03-16T11:51:00.004-04:00

Emily & the bachelor fight? The body language of the bachelor and Emily. I was on Good Morning America Today as a body language expert. I had the crew in my house shooting the segment till late last night. The crew where real troopers. last Emily & the bachelor fight. On episode of the bachelor. episode of the bachelor and comment on the chosen girl’s body language. Link to the interview to follow
One of the most telling cues occurs at the end of the interview with the shows host. They hug, but in that last little frame you can see Emily's elbow go up and almost wack him in the head. She elbows him out of her life!!
Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

What Does Your Body Shape Say About You?

2011-03-13T13:45:00.004-04:00

When I was teaching body language at Florida State
I talked about Sheldon's Body Shapes and Personality.
In one of the first attempts to do psychological profiling of criminals Sheldon
discovered that muscular men committed more crimes. It seems logical, but we can't assume all muscular men will commit crimes. Though it was content from the Kaplin Textbook for the actual research on the correlation between body shape and personality as stated by Sheldon is not seen as credible.
The idea that body shape means something about you,is interesting.

Personality based on Sheldon's Body Shapes

Sheldon Says there are three main body shapes,

"Endomorph | Ectomorph | Mesomorph | So what?

Sheldon noted three personalities based on their physical make-up.

Endomorph
The Endomorph is physically quite 'round', and is typified as the 'barrel of fun' person. They tend to have:

Wide hips and narrow shoulders, which makes them rather pear-shaped.
Quite a lot of fat spread across the body, including upper arms and thighs.
They have quite slim ankles and wrists, which only serves to accentuate the fatter other parts.
Psychologically, the endomorph is:

Sociable
Fun-loving
Love of food
Tolerant
Even-tempered
Good humored
Relaxed
With a love of comfort
And has a need for affection
Ectomorph
The Ectomorph is a form of opposite of the Endomorph. Physically, they tend to have:

Narrow shoulders and hips
A thin and narrow face, with a high forehead
A thin and narrow chest and abdomen
Thin legs and arms
Very little body fat
Even though they may eat as much as the endomorph, they never seem to put on weight (much to the endomorph's chagrin). Psychologically they are:

Self-conscious
Private
Introverted
Inhibited
Socially anxious
Artistic
Intense
Emotionally restrained
Thoughtful
Mesomorph
The mesomorph is somewhere between the round endomorph and the thin ectomorph. Physically, they have the more 'desirable' body, and have:

Large head, broad shoulders and narrow waist (wedge-shaped).
Muscular body, with strong forearms and and thighs
Very little body fat
They are generally considered as 'well-proportioned'. Psychologically, they are:

Adventurous
Courageous
Indifferent to what others think or want
Assertive/bold
Zest for physical activity
Competitive
With a desire for power/dominance
And a love of risk/chance
So what?
Psychological profiling based on anatomical features is generally not considered to be reliable these days. Nevertheless, such patterns do have some level of interest, and old theories are often ingrained in society, as well as being based on some form of observation.

The best approach is to use this as a test. When you meet a person who seems to fit in with the physical characteristics above, be curious to see if they also fit into the psychological profile. If it all works as predicted, then well and good (it may be that they are actually in a self-fulfilling prophesy, where they fit themselves to the appropriate model). Otherwise, look elsewhere for ways to understand the person.

Sheldon's original work included attempts to characterize criminals (in the style of Lombroso's original work in this area). Unsurprisingly, he found that a number were muscular mesomorphs, as violent crimes are likely to be carried out by strong men. The trap beyond this is to assume that all mesomorphs are criminal in nature. This is not unlike the work that 'proved' women to be less intelligent than men because they have smaller brains! "

See also

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

How The Monopoly Game Helped British POWs Escape.

2011-03-06T10:47:00.003-05:00

The game Monopoly was used to free British POWS during World War II.
Many of you know that I have a great interest, a real passion for people stories as they struggled on all home fronts during World War II.I have read well over 100 books about what was going on in the US, the UK, France, Italy, Greece, Australia, Hungary, Budapest, Germany, Japan, and more. I have read about Internment camps for the Japanese in the US, Jewish Internment camps all over Europe, Internment camps in Japan for mostly British POWs, the work camps in Hungary for the worker soldier (Jews) the holding camps in Israel for the Jews during and after the war. The list of camps goes on and on. The story of how the Monopoly game is new to me. I think you will be surprised. You'll never look at the game the same way again!

Starting in 1941, an increasing number of British Airmen found themselves as the involuntary guests of the Third Reich, and the Crown was casting about for ways and means to facilitate their escape...

Now obviously, one of the most helpful aids to that end is a useful and accurate map, one showing not only where stuff was, but also showing the locations of 'safe houses' where a POW on-the-lam could go for food and shelter.

Paper maps had some real drawbacks -- they make a lot of noise when you open and fold them, they wear out rapidly, and if they get wet, they turn into mush.

Someone in MI-5 (similar to America 's OSS ) got the idea of printing escape maps on silk. It's durable, can be scrunched-up into tiny wads, and unfolded as many times as needed, and makes no noise whatsoever.

At that time, there was only one manufacturer in Great Britain that had perfected the technology of printing on silk, and that was John Waddington, Ltd. When approached by the government, the firm was only too happy to do its bit for the war effort.

By pure coincidence, Waddington was also the U. K. Licensee for the popular American board game, Monopoly. As it happened, 'games and pastimes' was a category an item qualified for insertion into 'CARE packages', dispatched by the International Red Cross to prisoners of war.

Under the strictest of secrecy, in a securely guarded and inaccessible old workshop on the grounds of Waddington's, a group of "sworn-to-secrecy"employees began mass-producing escape maps, keyed to each region of Germany or Italy where Allied POW camps were. When processed, these maps could be folded into such tiny dots that they would actually fit inside a Monopoly playing piece.

As long as they were at it, the clever workmen at Waddington's also managed to add:
1. A playing token, containing a small magnetic compass
2. A two-part metal file that could easily be screwed together
3. Useful amounts of genuine high-denomination German, Italian, and French currency, hidden within the piles of Monopoly money!

British and American air crews were advised, before taking off on their first mission, how to identify a 'rigged' Monopoly set -- by means of a tiny red dot, one cleverly rigged to look like an ordinary printing glitch, located in the corner of the Free Parking square.

Of the estimated 35,000 Allied POWS who successfully escaped, an estimated one-third were aided in their flight by the rigged Monopoly sets.. Everyone who did so was sworn to secrecy indefinitely, since the British Government might want to use this highly successful ruse in still another, future war.

The story wasn't declassified until 2007, when the surviving craftsmen from Waddington's , as well as the firm itself, were finally honored in a public ceremony.

It's always nice when you can play that 'Get Out of Jail' Free' card!
I realize most of you are (probably) too young to have any personal connection to WWII
(Dec. '41 to Aug. '45), but this is still interesting.

Story verification: http://www.snopes.com/military/monopoly.asp http://blogs.wsj.com/informedreader/2007/11/19/wwii-pows-perk-monopoly-with-real-money/

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Most Important Skill for Getting a Job, Skills Listed as Number One

2011-03-05T10:23:00.005-05:00

Patti was quoted in Fox Business News on the "Importance of Strong Verbal Skills in Relation to Getting a Job." Verbal skills is listed as number one on a survey by the National Association of College and Employment.

Check the link below for Patti's insights!

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2011/03/03/um-like-college-grads-lack-verbal-skills/

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Charlie Sheen's Body Language, Melt Down or is He Winning, Kids

2011-03-03T09:25:00.009-05:00

Here are my rough, unedited notes on Charlie Sheen's body language and paralanguage in various recent interviews. I used these notes as a guide for my interview this morning with AOL online. Please go to the link below for the full interview. Charlie Sheen, body language of latest interviews. One clip shows him before the interview officially begins. He thinks he is off camera. In ths "off stage" clip Charlie Sheen is rubbing the back of his neck. In fact rubbing it quite dramatically. This is a comfort cue typically done by men, the touch is to create comfort. Tactile stimulation effects the nerve endings in the skin and does comfort us. Rubbing the back of the neck is is actaully a cluster of cues. The rubbing is self touch a comfort cue. Rubbing the back of the neck, where the hair stands on end when we are frightened also shows clear fear, but the hard rubbing and or grasping at the back of the neck rather than a touch shows that the person wants to action and defend themselves, perhaps wishing the strike out at what or whoever is upsetting them. In another clip with his goodesses, notice how he is standing bent over the kitchen counter hiding his Pelvis (the sexual portion of the body) and leaning over awkwardly so his elbows rest on the counter, protecting his ventral front (the belly) from whatever media scrutiny he could get from living with two “goddesses” in his house to take care of his children. Also note that his hands are out in front placed in prayer position (prayer that this will go well) Then when the goddesses don't listen to Sheen's request to "Not go there" he uses a displacement behavior for his stress by odly getting up and going to eat an OREO cookie, taking it apart and licking it. Eating is also a displacement behavior used to deal with the stress of the day. Then same tape different interview Nothing “Broken” here “but the paralanguage delivery he actually broke the words. He shakes hands but then crosses his arms placing his hands in a fig leaf. This again protects him from sexual attack. You don’t see this fig leaf in celeb interviews (occasionally when speaking about sex scenes.) As Charlie Sheen says, "My assistant Regan (he does a tongue thrust) was putting the children to bed." The tongue thrust defies your judgment that the assistant is a former model and or porn star . When Charlie says, "I do not know where my children are." He looks suddenly frightened and lost, notice his unfocused eyes. He continues talking giving tongue erasing cues then rubbing his lips bouncing in his chair. The chair moves are odd as there are nice arms on the chairs. In the interviews where Charlie is wearing a brown shirt his face is white and drawn and he looks deschelved, his body language and voice are manic and to top it off he uses extreemly bizarre referances such War lock,tigers blood In the interivews with the blue shirt notice the manic moves and odd gesturing. Blue shirt sitting on the sidewalk drinking water As he says, "Drug tests don’t lie." " I don’t know don’t care." Charlie is choosing not to answer the question he was asked. His hand over his mouth as he talks about his dads concern for him show Charlie is blocking what he really wants to say. More rough notes. Holding a piece of paper.III and and and I I will not let you down. Agressively taking the paper with the negative comments from viewers who had seen his brown shirt interview. Charlie Sheen looks how he is sitting at the beginning.... feet out in a big..... feet pointing out. Brown shirt interview When was the last time you did drugs. “Look at me DUHHHH” pointing at himself, “ More about his goddesses, more on children. http://www.aolnews.com/2011/03/03/experts-evaluate-charlie-sheens-body-language-is-he-lying/ Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Recent Trip to Austin, Texas

2011-03-01T23:59:00.004-05:00

Recently I had the pleasure of speaking to a group of Judges in the Austin, TX area on "Establishing the Credibility of a Witness." Their interest and enthusiasm for the topic of body language and deception detection was such a tremendous joy for me. One of the participants shared with my assistant today his appreciation for the program and told her that he had put photos from our meeting on his blog. He was also kind enough to put a link to my website on it too. On his blog, he covers all the political news in the San Antonio area. Below is a link to his blog which is called the "WalkerReport" covering the pulse of San Antonio.......check it out!

http://www.walkerreport.net/

Body Language of the Young Royal Couple, William and Kate

2011-03-01T14:14:00.004-05:00

I was asked to read the Young Royal Couple, William and Kate, for several Canadian Publications. As the wedding approaches, you see the "look of love." They look at each other often and there is lots of mutual gazing but not for approval as Diane often did when she was first engaged to Charles but with respect and affection.

The "look of confidence" as Kate watches him closely when he is talking, she stands back slightly to show her place, but she doesn’t bow down her head in submission or lack of confidence as Diana would do in Charles' presence. Kate keeps her head and chin on what I call the mid-line for the throat window, showing her confidence and ease in the high stress media moments.

They are "in sync." You often see William and Kate in photos taking on mirrored body language poses of each other. That frequent matching and mirroring shows they are in sync. In a recent interview they did "tit for tat" matching. This is another kind of isopraixism in synchronous relationships. It's a dance of tit for tat movement. For example, one would move their upper body forward while the other would move an arm forward, one would move their head up and down, the other would move an arm up and down. Their body language shows synchronicity.

A "love story" - If you watch and listen as William tells the story of their proposal, you will notice that he is truly happy. His smile is large and his voice is animated and playful. He enjoys telling the story of the proposal. The words flow out smoothly and enthusiastically. When I am with couples, I often ask about their first date, when they fell in love and or their proposal. You can tell so much about a couple by how they tell and or listen and chime in as they tell their “love stories.” Kate didn’t chime in, which is appropriate to her role, but she certainly beamed and he wasn’t tired of the tale! When Kate speaks, her voice is happy and she too has a nice smooth flow in her speaking which shows ease and a true positive feeling.

Royal couple to wed April 29 at Westminster Abbey
Patrick Jephson, longtime private secretary to the late Princess Diana, say the austerity argument "doesn't cut it." "This is a future king and a future queen, this is the most famous young royal couple in the world, and it will indubitably be compared to his mother's wedding, so for all these reasons, the palace won't want to be seen as downgrading it," Jephson said.
William and Kate are making moves to put their own stamp on their big day. The couple, who Lowther-Pinkerton described as being "over the moon," are taking an active role in planning all the details — including the guest list. "I've never seen two happier people," he said.

Contest for "Best First Impression Story"

2011-03-01T11:23:00.003-05:00

I am currently running a contest for the Best First Impression Story. Just email me a one or two paragraph story about a first impression you had about someone that illustrates credibility or the lack of credibility. Your story can be from your work experiences or your personal life. It doesn't need to be in fancy language, just a story from your great wealth of experience.

The prize for the best story is $100 dollars and a 30 minute phone coaching session with me.

The stories will be judged by three writers. Email your story to: Patti@pattiwood.net by Friday March 15, 2011. Or if it is easier, just give me a call and tell me the brief story over the phone. My cell number is 678-358-6160.

Story Example

As a circuit judge, I read first impressions in traffic court. One day in my traffic court I had some one ticketed for running a stop sign. I tend to asses someone immediately if the person appears 1. -Guilty, 2. - Guilty, but he or she won't tell a bold lie, they feel bad or 3. - Innocent. My gut tells me this guy is a 2 - Guilty but willing to learn a lesson. Sure enough, during testimony he said, "I don't FEEL I ran the stop sign." I interpreted the use of the word FEEL and his body language to mean he knew he might have run the stop sign. So I had him take a video camera and tape 10 to 15 cars going through that intersection with the stop sign then come back to court. He came back in after viewing the video and with his face and voice expressed a mixture of wonder at the facts and embarrassment at his mistake and said, " I watched those other cars run that stop sign, and I realized I had run it too." I feel it is my job not to merely punish people but ultimately to make them better citizens in the future. In his case, I was glad he learned something and admitted his guilt and I let him off with a warning.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Techniques to Meet People, Conversation Starters

2011-02-26T12:41:00.006-05:00

I love to talk to strangers. Typically, I initiate conversations. But, not everyone feels comfortable doing that. In fact, my clients often ask me, "When I go out, be it on business, or just out by myself, how do I get people to initiate a conversation with me? On a business trip to California I ate at the wonderful Pied Piper Restaurant. Because it had been a long day of speaking I wasn't in an initiating mood. That evening at the restaurant, without even realizing it, I used three of the methods I teach to nonverbally invite strangers to initiate conversation and as a result met two interesting people.
In my advice to people who want to meet new people, network, form business alliances, or find someone to date I suggest to invite conversation by engaging in an interesting and or unusual positive activity that can illicit a positive comment or question.

The First Technique I used was to sit at the bar not at a table. Sitting at the bar you get side by side conversation, it is less threatening than face to face initial interactions so the seating makes it easier for men to initiate conversation with each other and with women. (See my blogs on side by side vs face to face)

The Second Technique I used was to carry an interesting book or other interesting reading material such as an electronic book. That night I was reading a hardback by humorous British author David Nicholls “A Question of Attraction.” The young man siting next to me asked me what I thought of the book and we were off on a fun conversation immediately. A funny coincidence is that it was easy for me to converse right away with him because he had a book on the bar in front of him on Franklin Roosevelt.

During our conversation I learned he does training internationally and owns a coffee house in San Francisco. He was leaving for China that week and I had just read a very insightful article on China in “The Week” so we were able to discuss some of the points discussed in the article: the coming storm as China continues to pollute its water and runs out of drinking water, It's problems, similar to ours as more elderly people are in need of support than people working and finally because of its large population, China's increased need to purchase goods from other countries, thus increasing trade throughout the world.

The Third Technique I used was to order interesting food. For the main course, I ordered something I saw someone eating as I came in that looked marvelously unique. A big bowl with spiral pasta pasta, mushrooms, parsley and a dollop of sour cream on top. It also had truffel oil and was wonderful.

As I ate I noticed a gentlemen sitting next to me eyeing the big bowl of pasta.

Then I had dessert, chocolate peppermint cake. It was served on a beautiful long clear glass rectangle plate with pink ice-cream and raspberry sauce. It was so lovely, I even took a picture of the plating. That did it. The combination of the unusual maincourse, dessert and my IPhone photo session motivated the gentleman to initiate a conversation by saying, "I noticed that the dessert looked beautiful, obviously you did too!" He then asked, "What was it?" and the conversation was started. I discovered that the gentleman was from Malaysia. He shared with me that he is part Indian part Chinese and was raised in a big house with floor to ceiling books in the library that sounded like the library at the Biltmore. At 14 he left Malaysia for London and was accepted immediately into college. He went on from there to law school at Cambridge and then worked in international banking. He rides his bike or the bus everyday to his current job as a house council for a Bank. That fact alone impressed me! He talked about the chain of restaurants in China he just opened with his partners. The Chinese love cheese and California wine. Who knew! We also all shared favorite books. I told them about the novel I was reading. The same novel by humorous British author David Nicholls “A Question of Attraction.” (He reminds me of the author of “About a Boy” Nick Hornsby.)

The Law of Association (with good experiences)–By pairing yourself with pleasurable stimuli another person will begin to associate you with pleasurable things.

The next day I had breakfast in the hotel court. Check out the link for Photos. It is an extremely impressive hotel. Make sure you click to the court photos. It has an enormous glass ceiling like a garden conservatory in a Victorian home. In fact, the restaurants and lobby were gorgeous!

Http://www.sfpalacerestaurants.com/pied-piper

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Southern Voices- Authors Body Language

2011-02-26T10:54:00.003-05:00

Image and Attractiveness, A Make Over Story

2011-02-25T19:37:00.004-05:00

A 56 year old CEO had taken her company from 2 million dollars to a 200 million dollar business in 15 years. She was very successful, but as her clients got younger she didn’t feel successful. Her clothes were dowdy, blacks and browns, her hair hung lank over her face. Parker Geiger, an image consultant colleague of mine. (Check out his website) worked with her to see what fit. We are typically drawn to certain first impression factors. Power had been her motivator, esthetics attractiveness, how she looked to others, had meant nothing to her. But now she wanted to look like her new client base.

Parker says, wearing the right colors, saying the right thing, eating with the right utensil is not going to make you successful. It’s knowing you are doing all the right things that builds confidence and it’s that confidence that translates into success. For Sandra, we did just that. Her clothing style is Dramatic/Natural; dramatic in terms of wearing larger scale accessories but natural in the sense of dressing in comfort. We built a wardrobe of natural fibered clothing and unusual jewelry. Things she felt confident in. Although Sandra has been speaking to large groups around the world, after her coaching she told me that she walked out to a crowd of 1000 people and felt more confident than she ever had before. And it felt good. Now Sandra can focus back on what she does best and that is selling!

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

How seating effects the audience and the speaker

2011-02-25T16:59:00.004-05:00

Have you ever noticed an audience “check out” on a speaker?
There are times when seating profoundly effects and audiences response.
Recently I was the last speaker of a four day event. All day, for four days the attendees sat at tables set for 12 people in the same large banquet room at the Hotel.
By the time I was introduced in the afternoon of the last day they had set up their seats to create an easy way to “check out” of any presentation.
Out of 150 people the majority of the people were sitting in the back of the room. In fact, there were five tables in the front that were absolutely empty and the others up front have two or three people at a table meant for 12. This seating creates what I call the castle wall effect. The participants can tune out and talk to each other because they feel they are protected and hidden behind the castle wall.
It also makes it much more difficult to connect with the group and to get them to laugh. It is hard to move and audience to laugh over empty seats. You may have heard comics like Jay Leno talk about the advantage of having the front seats filled and a packed house for the comedy to work. The same principal applies to any speaking, training or meeting situation. Laughter and energy move easily in a crowd. With all those issues in mind, you can see were this could have made for a “tough audience.” I had to move out into the audience throughout the speech to bridge the empty gab. Now in the ideal circumstances you as the speaker can get the room arranged more effectively. Here is what you might ask.

Could you ask the banquet manager to change the room slightly before the last day’s presentation? Could the hotel staff please move out at least the back three tables and all those chairs at the back? And get rid of any extra chairs in the room that people may have pulled away from the tables and brought to sit in against the back wall. Those are what I call the, “too good for the room seats.” and are typically filled with participants who may have high assigned status, or those who most want to check out. Please get rid of those chairs.

If you can get the change the groups they will fill up the room at not have empty tables or three at the tables in front. You will have a packed house and a much happier audience!!

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Body Language Clues From Zahra Baker's Father

2011-02-24T13:45:00.005-05:00

Greensboro, NC -- In a case that seems to get more bizarre by the day, we're finding out what Zahra Baker's father is and isn't telling us about his daughter's death.

Patti was asked by WBTV News this week to view the interview of Adam Baker just after he received the news that his wife, Elisa Baker, had been charged with second degree murder of their daughter. Patti revealed some interesting facts regarding his body language during the interview. Check the link below to hear her comments as she watched his interview.
http://www.digtriad.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=162510&catid=57

http://www.wbtv.com/Global/category.asp?C=197806

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Body Language, Lying to the Federal Reserve

2011-02-18T23:57:00.004-05:00

Look at the body language and paralanguage in this Video

It's a testimony of the Inspector General of the Federal Reserve before a congressional panel, trying to pin down the woman who SHOULD know what happened to TRILLIONS of $ that was provided as bailout money, and she evades, dodges and prevaricates. What do you see.

http://dailybail.com/home/there-are-no-words-to-describe-the-following-part-ii.html

Wondering How Your Honey Really Feels About You? Check the Links Below

2011-02-14T11:05:00.002-05:00

http://www.torontosun.com/life/2011/02/10/17227806.html

http://lifewise.canoe.ca/SexRomance/2011/02/10/17242121.html

http://www.edmontonsun.com/life

http://www.ottawasun.com/life

http://www.calgarysun.com/life

http://www.winnipegsun.com/life

http://www.lfpress.com/life/2011/02/10/17227981.html

2. Say no more Wondering how your honey really feels about you? Here's a hint: Stop paying attention to the words
The Ottawa Sun, Saturday, February 12, 2011 , Edition: Final , Section: Lifestyle , Page: 26 , Matches: , Word Count: 000746 Byline: JOANNE RICHARD

3. Say no more Wondering how your honey really feels about you? Here's a hint: Stop paying attention to the words
The Calgary Sun, Saturday, February 12, 2011 , Edition: Final , Section: Lifestyle , Page: 39 , Matches: , Word Count: 000746 Byline: JOANNE RICHARD

4. Say no more LIFE: Wondering how your honey really feels about you? Here's a hint: Stop paying attention to the words
The Brantford Expositor, Saturday, February 12, 2011 , Edition: Final , Section: Lifestyle , Page: C6 , Matches: , Word Count: 000827 Byline: JOANNE RICHARD

5. Say no more
The Kingston Whig-Standard, Saturday, February 12, 2011 , Edition: Final , Section: Lifestyle , Page: 32 , Matches: , Word Count: 000974 Byline: JOANNE RICHARD

6. Flower power for your Valentine VALENTINE'S DAY
The Sarnia Observer, Saturday, February 12, 2011 , Edition: Final , Section: Lifestyle , Page: D10 , Matches: , Word Count: 001053 Byline: JOANNE RICHARD, SPECIAL TO QMI AGENCY

7. Stop paying attention to the words LIFE: Wondering how your honey really feels about you? Here's a hint: Stop paying attention to the words
The Sarnia Observer, Saturday, February 12, 2011 , Edition: Final , Section: Lifestyle , Page: C6 , Matches: , Word Count: 000827 Byline: JOANNE RICHARD

8. Say no more Wondering how your honey really feels about you? Here's a hint: Stop paying attention to the words
The Edmonton Sun, Saturday, February 12, 2011 , Edition: Final , Section: Lifestyle , Page: 68 , Matches: , Word Count: 000746 Byline: JOANNE RICHARD

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Memory Sung With New Different Funny Lyrics.....Some Call Them Senior Moments

2011-02-14T10:55:00.005-05:00

Some call the times you forget why you came down the stairs senior moments.
My gang at Meeting of the Minds have a different name for forgetting things. Because we are all still young, still sharp, we feel like there is just too much out there now to have to remember. We are so busy taking in information, we own businesses and work so hard, read so much, and love to know everything so if we are in the middle of a discussion and we can’t remember a movie star’s name, all ten of the Ten Commandments or the name of the former King of Egypt we say we are having a “Google it” moment.

http://www.youtube.com:80/watch?v=HzSaoN2LdfU&feature=youtube_gdata_player

or alternate URL> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzSaoN2LdfU&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Games to Solve Problems

2011-02-14T10:42:00.005-05:00

Last night at Meeting of the Minds we talked about games to solve problems. I shared an article I had read about gaming. People logged into War of Warcraft (World of Warcraft, often referred to as WoW, is a massively multi player online role-playing game) spend over 30 million hours a year solving problems as part of the game. A gamer created a game called, "World without Oil." to challenge gamers to solve real world problems. I asked our group what game they would create to solve what they feel is a big problem in the world. What would your game be?

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

List of Top 50 Women to Admire

2011-02-14T09:37:00.005-05:00

When I was a little girl, I loved to read. I still do. In fifth grade I discovered a children’s book series of biographies. I think it was called the “Famous American’s Biography series. I read every one in the library. Even at that young age I was disappointed there were not more women heroes to emulate. When I was 29, I spent a year reading biographies of famous women. Sadly, many of the women I read about had horrible childhoods and or disastrous romantic relationships and marriages. When I got cable, I watched the biography of every single woman they featured. I was looking at their body language and listening to their voices searching for clues to being a powerful woman. I still look for feisty brave women to look up to and admire. While working on my first impressions book today. I wanted to give examples in the book of powerful feisty women. That task inspired me to create a list of the top 50 women who I admire. I would love your suggestions. What women do you think show any or all of the four first impression factors of credibility, likeability, attractiveness and power?

List of top 50 Women to Admire

This list includes some of my personal heroes since I was a little girl. My list has lots of feisty women. I especially love women who have overcome adversity, physical pain and who have been the first woman to do something in their field.
1. Helen Keller - “Life is a daring adventure or nothing.’” That quote was on the wall of my teenage bedroom and later my college dorm room. She also said, “The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.” The story of Helen Keller has inspired millions: though she was deaf and blind after a childhood illness, with the support of her teacher, Anne Sullivan, she learned signing and Braille, graduated from Radcliffe, and helped change the world's perception of the disabled. I played Helen Keller in a play in Junior High. I studied all of the amazing work she did and watched tapes of her speeches. She had this amazing smile and energy and was so enthusiastic about life.
2. Laura Hillenbrand - she is the author of two non-fiction books, "Seabiscuit"and "Unbroken". If you haven’t read Seabiscut, go get it right now and when you're finished reading the book read about her life. For over twenty years, she has suffered from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome which at times interrupts her writing. She wrote much of Seabiscut lying flat on her back, as her illness often meant she couldn’t sit up at a desk.
3. Marie Curie - scientist
4. Jane Austen - extremely talented, Victorian author of "Pride and Prejudice" and other marvoulous books. She was also brave enough not to marry in a time when women had extreme pressure to do so.
5. Dr. Ruth Westheimer “Our way is not soft grass; it’s a mountain path with lots of rocks. but it goes upwards, forward, toward the sun.” I saw Dr. Ruth speak when I was in college. She sat on a small chair and hundreds of college kids sat on the floor at her feet. The audience was transfixed. She is wise, funny, warm and very very smart. I want to be like her when I grow up.
6. Annie Oakley - sharp shooter, feisty lady, part of Wild Bill Hickok's Wild West show.
7. Elizabeth Kulber-Ross - gave us great insights into Death, Dying, Grief and Care Giving. “People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in; their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.”
8. Charlotte Brontë - was one of three brilliant sisters, writers of the 19th century, each of whom died early. Charlotte's best known work is the novel, "Jane Eyre", which drew from her own experience as a student in an inhumane school and as a governess
9. Temple Grandin - Animal Behaviorist. She was described as "An Anthropologist on Mars" by Oliver Sacks in the title of his book (1995). The title is derived from Grandin’s description of how she feels around neurotypical people. She first spoke in public about autism in the mid-1980s at the request of Ruth C. Sullivan, one of the founders of the Autism Society of America. Grandin is considered a philosophical leader of both the animal welfare and autism advocacy movements. Both movements commonly cite her work regarding animal welfare, neurology, and philosophy. In 2004 she won a “Proggy” award, in the “visionary” category, from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. One of her most important essays about animal welfare is “Animals are not Things”, in which she posits that animals are technically property in our society, but the law ultimately gives them ethical protections or rights.
10. Florence Nightingale - practically invented the profession of nursing, and also brought sanitary conditions to soldiers in wars -- at a time when more soldiers typically died of disease than of injuries in battle.
11. Erma Bombeck - columnist and humorist of wit and warmth “If you can’t make it better, you can laugh at it.” I use to read her column every day in the newspaper. My mom even sent her columns to me when I went off to college. If you are aware of the physical pain and suffering she lived and worked through in her last years, all the while still writing and being a wonderful wife and mom you would admire her even more. Erma Bombeck's humor helped document the life of women in the 20th century as wives and mothers in suburban homes.
12. Clara Barton - nurse and founder of the Red Cross. I read her biography in fifth grade and I have admired her ever since.
13. Eleanor Roosevelt- not just the wife of the former president. Wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, was his "eyes and ears" when he could not travel freely due to his disability. Her positions on issues like civil rights were often ahead of her husband and the rest of the country. She helped establish the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights. If you have not read it look it up and read it right now. Powerful feisty woman. You must look on Net flicks for her autobiographical movie starring “Edith” from the Archie Bunker series. “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
14. Julia Childs - she is known as the author of Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Her popular books, television cooking shows and videos kept her in the public eye. Less well known: her brief spy career. If you have read her cook book, or any of her biographies and can remember her TV series you know this woman has spunk. I love her as a model for lust for life. She was an excellent chef, and a pioneer of the TV cooking show. She shows us that you don’t have to have your life all figured out the second you leave high school. Julia didn’t meet her husband until she was 35. She was always a hard worker and did some amazing work during World War II. She kept working on her book, believing in its importance for so many years and yet she was not recognized for her accomplishment until she was in her 50’s. She succeeded in a male dominated industry, and is definitely one of my heroes.
15. Pearl S. Buck - “To find joy in work is to discover the fountain of youth.” Read all her books.
16. Rachel Carson - Pioneer environmentalist wrote the book, “Silent Spring” that helped create the environmentalist movement in the late 20th century.
17. Margaret Sanger - After seeing the suffering caused by unwanted and unplanned pregnancies among the poor women she served as a nurse, Margaret Sanger took up a lifetime cause: the availability of birth control information and devices.
18. Jane Addams - a pioneer in social work founded Hull-House in the 19th century and led it well into the 20th. She was also active in peace and feminist work.
19. Elizabeth Blackwell - was the first woman in the world to graduate from medical school. Blackwell was also a pioneer in the education of women in medicine.
20. Maria Montessori - was the first woman to earn a medical degree from the University of Rome; she applied learning methods she developed for mentally retarded children to children with intelligence in the normal range. The Montessori method, still popular today, is child-centered and experience-centered
21. Ida Tarbell - muckraking journalist Ida Tarbell was one of the few women to succeed in that circle. She exposed the predatory pricing practices of John D. Rockefeller and her articles about his company helped bring the downfall of Standard Oil of New Jersey.
22. Barbara Walters - first female evening news caster
23. Ellen DeGeneres - comedian, actress, talk show host. “You have to have funny faces and words, you can’t just have words. It is a powerful thing, and I think that’s why it’s hard for people to imagine that women can do that, be that powerful.”
24. Betty Friedan - “When she stopped conforming to the conventional picture of femininity she finally began to enjoy being a woman”
25. Martha Graham - “There is vitality, a life-force, energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and be lost.”
26. Gertrude Stein - was a writer and associate of many of the 20th century's writers and artists. Her salon in Paris was a center of modern culture. She's known for her stream-of-consciousness style.
27. Audrey Hepburn - “For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.”
28. Nina Simone -an extraordinary singer with a unique vocal quality. Buy her music and be blown away. “I had spent many years pursuing excellence, because that is what classical music is all about… Now it was dedicated to freedom, and that was far more important.”
29. Katharine Hepburn - “As for me, prizes are nothing. My prize is my work.” a twentieth century film actress, often played strong women at a time when conventional wisdom said that traditional roles were all that would sell movie tickets.
30. Margaret Thatcher - “I’ve got a woman’s ability to stick to a job and get on with it when everyone else walks off and leaves it.”
31. Annie Leibowitz - “I didn’t want to let women down. One of the stereotypes I see breaking is the idea of aging and older women not being beautiful.”
32. Ayn Rand - “The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.”
33. Alice Waters - “Every change ultimately is one for the better. You don’t know how it is going to be. It is just shuffling the cards, and people who haven’t revealed themselves might reveal themselves.”
34. Emily Dickinson - “Find ecstasy in life; the mere sense of living is joy enough.”
35. Anne Sexton - “Put your ear down close to your soul and listen hard.”
36. Gilda Radner - “I wanted a perfect ending. Now I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next.”
37. Tina Fey - “I like to crack the jokes now and again, but it’s only because I struggle with math.”
38. Elizabeth Cady Stanton – American abolitionist and women’s rights pioneer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Cady_Stanton
39. Mary Shelley - author of "Frankenstein" - feminist.
40. Emelia Earhardt - pioneering aviator.
41. Jane Goodall - she observed and documented the life of chimps in the wild from 1970 into the 1990s, and has tirelessly worked for the better treatment of chimpanzees.
42. Maya Angelou - autobiographical author and poet
43. Simone de Beauvoir - Philosopher and feminist. “I tore myself away from the safe comfort of certainties through my love for truth – and truth rewarded me.”
44. Anne Frank - autobiographer a young Jewish girl in the Netherlands, kept a diary during the time she and her family were hiding from the Nazis. She did not survive her time in a concentration camp, but her diary still speaks of hope in the midst of war and persecution.
45. Ursula K. LeGuin - science fiction author.
46. Susan B. Anthony - women’s rights pioneer.
47. J.K. Rowling - author.
48. Candice Bergen - Years ago I spent a year reading biographies of famous women. Candice Bergen was the only woman who was very aware in her life. She dated Doris Day’s son and stayed with him through some hellish times in his life. She has had healthy relationships with friends. And she has married kind and in many other ways remarkable men. If you look at Bergen's early life, she was an unlikely candidate for this list. Homecoming Queen, Beauty Queen, Model. She also chose groundbreaking roles when she was younger. I personally love that she is an accomplished dramatic actress who also has brilliant comedic timing. I also love women who were “firsts” Bergan was the first woman to host Saturday Night Live, and also the first host to be invited back again.
49. Dr. Frances Oldham Kelsey - a pharmacologist who had just been hired by the FDA as a drug reviewer. (1960), The drug Thalidomide was marketed to pregnant women in several countries. It was never approved in the United States thanks to her efforts. This was her very first file. The drug company put enormous pressure on her, but she was extremely concerned about side effects on the unborn babies. Many babies were later born severely deformed because of Thalidomide, though none in the US, thanks to the work of Dr. Kelsey. The full story can be found here: http://www.chemistryexplained.com/Hy-Kr/Kelsey-Frances-Kathleen-Oldham.htmll article:http://www.nlm.nih.gov/changingthefaceofmedicine/physicians/biography_182.html
50. Arundhati Roy - (born November 24, 1961) is an Indian novelist, activist and a world citizen. She won the Booker Prize in 1997 for her first novel, "The God of Small Things" and has since devoted her life to helping the people of India. Really an amazing woman. Roy was born in Shillong, Meghalaya to a Keralite Syrian Christian mother and a Bengali Hindu father, a tea planter by profession. She spent her childhood in Aymanam, in Kerala, schooling in Corpus Christi. She left Kerala for Delhi at age 16, and embarked on a homeless lifestyle, staying in a small hut with a tin roof within the walls of Delhi’s Feroz Shah Kotla and making a living selling empty bottles. She then proceeded to study architecture at the Delhi School of Architecture, where she met her first husband, the architect Gerard Da Cunha. "The God of Small Things" is the only novel written by Roy. Since winning the Booker Prize, she has concentrated her writing on political issues. These include the Narmada Dam project, India’s Nuclear Weapons, corrupt power company Enron’s activities in India. She is a figure-head of the anti-globalization/alter-globalization movement and a vehement critic of neo-imperialism. In response to India’s testing of nuclear weapons in Pokhran, Rajasthan, Roy wrote,"The End of Imagination" a critique of the Indian government’s nuclear policies. It was published in her collection, "The Cost of Living" in which she also crusaded against India’s massive hydroelectric dam projects in the central and western states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. She has since devoted herself solely to nonfiction and politics, publishing two more collections of essays as well as working for social causes. Roy was awarded the Sydney Peace Prize in May 2004 for her work in social campaigns and advocacy of non-violence. In June 2005 she took part in the World Tribunal on Iraq. In January 2006 she was awarded the Sahitya Akademi award for her collection of essays, ‘The Algebra of Infinite Justice’, but declined to accept it. To love. To be loved. To never forget your own insignificance. To never get use to the unspeakable violence and the vulgar disparity of life around you. To seek joy in the saddest places. To pursue beauty to its lair. To never simplify what is complicated or complicate what is simple. To respect strength, never power. Above all, to watch. To try and understand. To never look away. And never, never, to forget. (Arundhati Roy)

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Detroit, City in Ruins, Territorial Markers and Nonverbal Communication of a City

2011-02-01T09:52:00.003-05:00

Detroit in Ruins, Territorial Markers and Nonverbal Communication of a City
incredible photography of the ruins of Detroit. We communicate what we think of ourselves, and our culture by what we leave behind and in what condition we leave our cities buildings. Last year I spoke several times in Detroit. In many locations it seemed like a ghost town, the lost ruins of an ancient civilization.

http://www.spreadartculture.com/2011/01/15/marchand-and-meffre/

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Trip to San Francisco and Snow and First Impression Story

2011-01-22T14:37:00.005-05:00

Love to hear your snow adventure.
Two weeks ago Atlanta had 30 year record snow and ice.
For me, what could have been a stressful trip to speak in California turned into a wonderful adventure. I live on a hill in Decatur Georgia. When it is icy you can't get out of my house and back down the driveway to the street. In fact, because of the hill you can't easily walk down. So I had paid three cute little boys to clean my big icy hill of a driveway. The boys rang my doorbell and I opened the door to see two ten year olds and a six year old holding a shovel, a rake and brown respecitively. What a first impression! Who could resist their request to clean my driveway.
My city Decatur had no snow plows or snow emergency procedures, so they had police barricades on the worst main roads in the city. Unfortunately two of the roads are the only way in and out of my neighborhood!
My friend Charlie got in his Four by Four, snuck through police barricades, yes copys with multiple cars blocking the roads in and out of my nieghborhool.(Reminding me of the old Goldie Hawn Movie Sugurland Express or any of the Smokey and the Bandid Movies.) Charlie drove up and down icey hills and through blocked roads to pick me up early Thursday morning for my trip.
Once I was in the car, Charlie, who owns two car insurance businesses, said, "I thought you were crazy not to be able to drive yourself, but Decatur hasn't done any clearing its a iced over mess." Charlie managed to get through two more police barricades on iced over North Druid Hills ignoring the fact that other cars were stopping and turning back from the barricades so we could get on to our highway I285The highway had two lanes out of six open and guess what? There wasn’t any traffic!!! We should have taken pictures.

I got a flight out and stayed at a fantastic hotel called The Palace in San Francisco.

I had a wonderful meal at the Pied Piper restaurant at the Palace hotel last Thursday evening and met an interesting guy who does training internationally and owns a coffee house in San Francisco. He was leaving for China this week. (I just read a very insightful article on China in “The Week” It discussed the coming storm as the country pollutes its water, has more elderly people in need of support than people working, and because of its large popluation, an increased need to purchase goods for all it people.for goods throughout the world. )

Later I spoke to a gentleman from Malaysia. He shared with me that he is part Indian part Chinese and was raised in a big house with floor to ceiling books in the library that sounded like the library at the Biltmore. At 14 he left Malaysia for London and was accepted immediately into college. He went on from there to law school at Cambridge and then worked in international banking. He rides his bike or the bus everyday to his current job as a house council for a Bank. That fact alone impressed me! He talked about the chain of restaurants in China he just opened with his partners. The Chinese love cheese and California wine. Who knew! We also all shared favorite books. I told them about the novel I was reading by humorous British author David Nicholls “A Question of Attraction.” (He reminds me of the author of “About a Boy” Nick Hornsby.)

For the main course I had the vegetarian pasta with spiral macaroni pasta, mushrooms, parsley with truffle oil and a dollop of sour cream on top. It was wonderful. I have tasted a lot of pasta. This was a truly unique dish!

Then I had the dessert of chocolate peppermint cake. It was served on a beautiful long clear glass rectangle plate with pink ice-cream and raspberry sauce. It was so lovely, I even took a picture of the plating that I will send.

The next day I had breakfast in the hotel court. Check out the link for Photos it is a extremely impressive hotel. Make sure you click to the court photos. It has this enormous glass ceiling like a garden conservatory in a Victorian home. In fact, the restaurants and lobby were gorgeous!

Http://www.sfpalacerestaurants.com/pied-piper

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Pack Up Your Troubles

2011-01-16T21:04:00.002-05:00

Video of Eliza Dolittle singing my new favorite song, "Pack Up Your Troubles"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzY0-I4Gq5w

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.