Body Language
Body Disposition versus Body Language
By Jerry Beck
Jun 20, 2007

What's the difference between body disposition and body language? "Body Language" is what we observe in someone else. For instance, I might "assume" that you're angry or defensive when you sit across from me with your arms crossed. Or, I might "assume" that you're arrogant if you speak with me with your hands on your hips. There are numerous "body language" assessments that have us "guessing" at another persons mood or emotion. When, in fact, they're nothing more than a guess. A suggestion is, to look at your "own" body disposition - in other words - how are you "holding" your own body. How do you feel when you're in that stance/posture? What is evoked in you from there? Are you comfortable, are you angry, holding back, defensive - what? Knowing your own body disposition and practicing different ways in which to stand, sit, breath, etc. allows for the possibility to "shift" our mood or emotion at any given time. We don't "show up" without an emotion. We're always in one. Recent studies suggest that our emotions generate our thoughts. In working with executives in organizations, having them breath (take a deep, deliberate breath) allows for individuals to shift their current posture - which, in turn, shifts their mood or emotion. In meetings (or anywhere else, for that matter) where there is tension or emotions are running high, it is valuable to be able to shift a mood or emotion that will allow for a more reasonable conversation. If we look to ourselves to determine our posture when we're making a point - can we listen from there? Conversely, if we're laid-back and relaxed, how easy is it to be adamant about our point of view? Practicing how we stand, sit, relaxed or stressed, can open new doors to ways in which we're able to communicate with one another.