Chapter 8
Arming Yourself
In This Chapter
Shutting people out
Letting someone in
Disguising anxiety
Sending signals through bodily contact
Whether youâre crossing your arms as a protective shield or opening them as a sign of welcome, the way you position your arms tells an astute observer how youâre feeling.
Certain postures elicit certain moods. Crossed arms hold your feelings in and keep other peopleâs out. They show that youâve set up roadblocks beyond which no person dares travel. Stay with this position for too long and you find yourself feeling shut off and negative. Unless, of course, youâre cold, in which case holding your arms across your chest keeping the warmth in and the cold out makes perfect sense.
As for contact, touching can be a great tonic as long as you know who, when, where, and how. Get touching right and the person you touch feels engaged and connected; get it wrong and prepare yourself for a sharp smack.
This chapter shows you how you can read arms signals, appear self-controlled, and increase your influence through physical contact.
Building Defensive ...
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