Dear all, this post was inspired by a discussion over phone I had during the long weekend with a friend of mine. The topic and related issues were 100% aligned to issues of how men and women leaders are being perceived and how frequently women do not help this situation. During this discussion I found myself going back to an article that I read in the Financial Post article “10 body language mistakes women leaders make” written by Carol Kinsey Goman, Ph.D.

All leaders are judged by their body language. If a female wants to be perceived as powerful, credible, and confident, she has to be aware of the nonverbal signals she’s sending. There are a number of behaviors I’ve seen women unknowingly employ that reduce their authority by denoting vulnerability or submission. Here are 10 body language mistakes that women leaders commonly make.

1. They use too many head tilts. Head tilting is a signal that someone is listening, but they are also subconsciously processed as submission signals.
2. They physically condense. One way that status is nonverbally demonstrated in a business meeting is by physically taking up room.
3. They act girlish, women are viewed as much less powerful when they pacify with girlish behaviors (twirling hair, playing with jewelry, or biting a finger.
4. They smile excessively. While smiling can be a powerful and positive nonverbal cue, when excessive or inappropriate, smiling can also be confusing and a credibility robber.
5. They nod too much. When a man nods, it means he agrees. Excessive head nodding can make females look like a bobble-head doll.
6. They speak “up.” Women’s voices often rise at the ends of sentences as if they’re asking a question or asking for approval.
7. They wait their turn. In negotiations, men talk more than women and interrupt more frequently.
8. They are overly expressive. Women who express the entire spectrum of emotions often overwhelm their audience.
9. They have a delicate handshake. Women with a weak handshake are judged to be passive and less confident.
10. They flirt. Women gain likeability, but lose the competitive advantage in a negotiation when they flirt.

For any woman leader this article is a must read. It also would help if you try consciously to notice if you display any of the behaviors listed below. If you do, rather than being disappointed (and I know you will be) think about ways of addressing them. It certainly will make you feel a bit better. It will give you a positive focus on the situation. Also, if there is someone who you trust and can rely on for their advice ask them to be your “buddy” and observe you for a week and then let you know what they think? Perhaps you can help each other and improve your leadership skills?