Page 47 - How To Sell Yourself

46 How to Sell Yourself
Most men and many women consider this the hand position of choice. It’s almost guaranteed that as soon as the photogra- pher bellows, “Hold it,” that’s where we go. Most still photos we see of people standing at official gatherings feature the fig leaf. Ironically, because we’re all natural gesturers, we wind up flicking fingers to make a point. More overt gesturers open and close their palms in quick succession and look like they’re “flashing.”
2. Hands thrust deep into pockets. Unfortunately this gesturer is flicking hid- den fingers. We’ve all heard the keys and the change being flung around and it becomes a joke.
3. Hands behind the back. It’s the hallmark of royalty and military leaders, people never accused of having hugging personali- ties.
4. The female fig leaf. Arms folded defiantly in front of the chest. Most women and many men favor this position.
Fig leaf: This position is named “the fig leaf” by photographers.
Pockets: You’ve heard the keys and change as the fingers gesture in the pockets.
All four happen to be extremely
comfortable positions for us. Unfortunately, what’s comfortable to us can look terribly uncomfortable and uptight to an audience.