Which actor from “King of New York” and “Pulp Fiction” once worked as a lion tamer in a traveling circus?
[ Answer at the bottom ]
In today’s Career Ladder:
Today’s Ladder: Your body is the message.
Framework: Master these silent signals.
Takeaway: People feel you before they hear you.
Resources: I filtered out the fluff. Here’s the gold.
ICYMI: The most-loved issues worth a second look.
Career Ladder Intel: Must-know news and trends in today’s job market.
"Nonverbal cues are the subtitles of your leadership."
Today’s Ladder:
Your Body Is the Message
A nod. A pause.
A shift in your tone.
Your hands tell a story. Your eyes close the sale.
The tilt of your head, the pace of your breath… they all speak on your behalf.
Before you even open your mouth, you’ve already made your case.
So make sure your body’s in alignment with your brilliance.
Framework:
Master These Silent Signals.
Here’s how to “Stand Out and Step Up” when communicating your ideas:
Open Palm Gestures
Raising your hands with palms facing upward signals honesty, openness, and vulnerability, making you appear more trustworthy and approachable.
This gesture is especially effective when emphasizing a key point, inviting questions, or responding to your audience, because it demonstrates a willingness to engage transparently.
Precision Grip
Holding your thumb and index finger together as if displaying something small and important visually communicates attention to detail and care for your message.
This gesture is effective when highlighting specific statistics or facts and enhances the perception of credibility.
Mirroring and Purposeful Gestures
Subtly mirroring your audience’s positive body language, such as slight head nods or similar lean-ins, fosters an unconscious bond and trust.
Additionally, slow and deliberate gestures, such as holding your hands in front of you with relaxed elbows, signal confidence and prevent nervous or defensive signals that could undermine trust.
Gif by paramountplus on Giphy
Takeaway
People Feel You Before They Hear You
My flight had already been pushed back twice.
The crowd around me was tense… people pacing, checking their watches, mumbling under their breath.
You could feel the irritation building like static in the air.
Then the gate agent stepped forward.
She wasn’t rushed. She wasn’t rattled.
She stood tall, hands relaxed, and waited a full second before speaking.
That single pause changed the entire room.
She smiled gently and said…
“I know this isn’t ideal. Here’s what we’re doing to get you home as fast and as safely as possible.”
Her tone was steady.
Her posture was grounded.
Her presence did the persuading before her words even landed.
In that moment, I realized something important about influence:
People respond to how you make them feel… long before they process what you say.
If you want to be instantly more persuasive at work, start with the nonverbal cues you carry into every room… communicate your calm, your confidence, your control.
Your body speaks first. Then people listen.
Resources:
The Definitive Book of Body Language - this bestselling book offers accessible explanations and real-world examples for reading and mastering body language in both professional and personal context
Reading Body Language Like An Expert - this video features forensic psychologists and communication experts demonstrating practical applications of body language analysis in real-world scenarios
Speak Your Value - in this mini-course you’ll discover the career skill that the top 1% professionals use to get promoted and paid more
ICYMI: Links to popular issues
📣 How to Get Your Boss to Actually Listen to Your Ideas
❌ The Most Dangerous Workplace Politics Mistakes You’re Probably Making
🙋🏻♀️ Commandment #10: Legacy over labor
Career Ladder Intel:
Layoffs surged, with October seeing 153,000 job cuts, the highest for that month since 2003, driven mainly by technology and warehousing sectors - Read more
Large companies like Verizon, Target, Amazon, and UPS announced significant layoffs recently - Read more
Generation Z faces a volatile job market globally; youth unemployment in the U.S. was 10.8% in July, higher than the national rate of 4.3% - Read more
How did you like this issue?
To your success,
Dr. Lex ✍️
Founder, Career Ladder | The 6PM Method
DID YOU KNOW?
Christopher Walken once spent a short stretch as a trainee lion tamer before his acting career took off.
HEADS UP:
In next Sunday’s issue of Career Ladder you will discover… How to Find Purpose in Your Work Even If It’s Not Your Passion
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