Do you think a candidate's "Body Language" is important?

[NurseJackie]

Voters (like myself) form an initial impression about a candidate based on their "body language"... and over time, those initial impressions are reinforced.

--- Does the candidate stand upright and enter a room with confidence? Or does the candidate slouch and shuffle?

--- Does a candidate do things that indicate friendliness and openness? Or, are the arms folded (closed-off, insecure)?

--- Does the candidate do things that make them appear "approachable"? Or do they literally keep others at "arm's-length"?

--- Does the candidate look down and away (timid, mousy, possibly deceptive)?

--- Does the candidate appear unnecessarily, and inappropriately aggressive (over compensation)?

--- Do they make eye contact with ease (attentive and engaged)? Or do they appear to be "bored" and distracted?

--- Does the body language indicate kindness and respect? Or is the candidate invasive, rude and angry (as a shield)?

--- Does the candidate exude vigor and excitement? Or does the candidate appear tired and sleepy?

--- Does the candidate smile with ease? Does the smile seem sincere or is it forced (stiff, plastic, rehearsed)?

Fair or not, I think it's safe to say that people DO notice things about a candidate's grooming, clothes, style and overall appearance and demeanor. It's very likely that those things probably play a big part in someone's decision-making process.

It's only natural for human beings to look for clues and insights about what to expect from someone. Whether it's the sales-clerk at the perfume counter, a new neighbor, a new boss, or your son's new boyfriend... first impressions count. People just naturally look for clues. Personally, it's impossible for me to not consider these visible personality traits.

Obviously, it's impossible to determine with 100% confidence if a candidate's traits and behaviors are subconscious, or learned or forced/faked... HOWEVER their body language and other behaviors certainly give me (and the REST OF THE WORLD) an indication what the person would be like if elected to higher office.

I wonder if this is something that the candidate's "handlers" are aware of? When it comes to running for national office, is there someone in the campaign that's in charge of coaching and improving the candidate with these types of "finishing school" classes?

[luvs2sing]

1. I learn as much about candidates by watching them with the sound off...

as I do listening to them speak. Body language, even coached well, can always tell the truth.

[NurseJackie]

2. Yes... SOUND OFF!! That sounds like a great technique. I'm going to try that!

[SWBTATTReg]

9. Good suggestion. People do reveal a heck of a lot about themselves and what they ...

are saying via their body language.

Being profoundly hard of hearing, I read these cues constantly in order to interpret what people are saying to me (besides just the lip reading). There are literally thousands of body language indicators and you get better as time goes on in reading people. Most of us have this ability already but don't develop this ability since it's overwhelmed by the actual act of talking/listening back and forth (a normal conversation).

I mainly keep the sound off on the TV for several reasons (1) my other half really appreciates it (my TV volume if I used would be at 100) (2) I burned out the speakers on 3 TVs already (3) don't want to bother the neighbors.

Ha!

[nycbos]

3. Wanda Sykes talked about this.

[NurseJackie]

4. LOL! She's funny! I like her!

[mopinko]

8. omg. that is just perfect.

i love wanda. always gets to the nub of an issue.

[Farmer-Rick]

5. Didn't the war monger and union member murderer Margaret Thatcher

remake herself to appear more appealing to the masses? I know she changed her voice and some mannerisms. There is a documentary on it.

[MineralMan]

6. Everything about a candidate is important to voters.

That's as it should be, I think. If a candidate exhibits flaws in body language, spoken language, facial expressions, or anything else, it will detract from that candidate's ability to attract votes.

Remember Nixon at the TV debate with JFK? The contrast between their appearance and on-screen behavior could have been the single thing that gave JFK the win in 1960. I remember it. It was at the top of people's minds for days afterward.

Appearances matter. They matter a lot.

[no_hypocrisy]

7. Depends upon the audience/demographic

[subterranean]

10. It matters to me because it matters to other people.

That's why it's frustrating to me when I notice a candidate I like exhibiting weak body language, because I know it will hinder their success. And it seems like it should be an easy thing to fix, especially for a politician, but it really isn't.

[question everything]

11. This is true about everyone

[c-rational]

12. Most definitely. I have read that non verbal cues have more to do with communication than our

words. Also, from Dale Carnegie, It is not what you say, but how you say it. I also like just listening to a candidate without the visual. Al Sharpton always came across great that way, for me at least.