Unlearn the first lesson learnt in school!!

I can still recall my first day in my school.  The first lesson taught to every student in our class was to fold our hands and to put finger on our lips.  I am sure this would be the lesson learnt by most students even to this day.  No wonder for many of us it becomes the most natural gesture to rely upon.

The natural question every one asks on this gesture is – What’s wrong with it?  In fact many people get agitated when they are told that it is a defensive gesture. It indeed is one of the many defensive gestures we come across and it should be avoided in most circumstances.

  Folded hands clearly do two things which should be mostly avoided according to the experts of body language. 

·        It hides the palm

·        It acts as a hindrance between the communicator and the person receiving the communication

Hiding of palm is mostly considered as hiding of thoughts.  Practically speaking one cannot show his/her palm all the time while communicating. However, intentionally taking off the palm out of the communication picture either by hiding it while folding of hands or by putting it inside the pocket can be regarded as hiding of thoughts.

Any physical obstacle between the communicators in terms of natural or unnatural could act as a hinderer of communication.  Brining in natural obstacle like hand could be read as an indirect way of the listener saying, he is not too interested in what the speaker is speaking or he doesn’t have an open mind to listen.

Next time when you see a group of people standing, just join the group and fold your hands.  You’ll see that most people or at least few people would follow you and when they do that the thoughts stop flowing!!