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2. What body language do you employ when being persuasive?

Sample answer:
To signify confidence, I make sure I have an upright but relaxed posture. I try to main-
tain eye contact but I make certain that I avoid staring. I use open-hand gestures to
reinforce and emphasize what I’m saying.

3. Have you ever come across someone whose body language contradicted
what he/she was saying?

Sample answer:
Yes. I came across a salesman who was endorsing his product. He was saying so many
great things about the product but I found it hard to believe him because he was act-
ing shiftily and he didn’t sound confident.

1. You are having meetings with various potential suppliers. Your boss asks
your opinion on the last one you’ve interviewed who presented a good deal.
However, you thought his body language was somewhat off.

Sample answer:
Ma’am, I think the package he presented was good; however, I do have some reserva-
tions because he didn’t sound credible. He kept on looking in other directions and
his posture showed lack of confidence. His hand gestures seemed erratic rather than
emphatic. If he showed more trust in his product, he would have persuaded me more.
I found it hard to trust him.

2. Your subordinate Lin will be handling a major sales pitch next week. You are
evaluating her body languages so that she will be better prepared on the
actual day.

Sample answer:
Lin, you have good posture and it’s effective in conveying confidence. Your leaning
slightly forward shows interest and openness. I think you can improve your eye con-
tact more. You may have overdone the hand gestures a little. Hand gestures should
simply support your words; too much can be distracting. Lastly, be more conscious of
your mannerisms because these can also be distracting. Other than these, you did a
very good job!

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