By Dr. Ken Broda-Bahm:
At last week’s Presidential debate, incumbent Joe Biden performed about as poorly as the worst predictions. In the panicked aftermath, calls have mounted for the 81-year-old President to gracefully exit his party’s nomination stage in order to allow fresher leaders to take his place. Part of the reaction was certainly based on Joe Biden’s verbal disfluency – he struggled to find his words, often correcting himself or simply trailing off. But a big part was simply his nonverbals: The side-by-side on-screen contrast was not kind to Biden, with a confident and smooth Donald Trump being continuously compared to a blank, tired, or worried-looking Biden. To be fair, it is arguably easier for his opponent to be confident and smooth when he is less concerned about accuracy. Still the overall effect on the national view of Biden and on his perceived energy and electability has been undeniable.
There is a lesson in this for all communicators, including those who sit at counsel table and others who wait patiently while the other side is speaking or putting on its case. The lesson is this: you’re still on stage, you’re still being viewed and evaluated, so mind your nonverbals. Of course, it is perhaps too easy to find examples of poor communication from both sides during the debate match-up. However, given the national attention, shock even, over how Joe Biden looked, I wanted to use this example to highlight five of the more important nonverbal “don’ts” that communicators should aim to follow at all times, whether you’re talking or not.
1. Don’t Keep Your Eyes Down
The most frequent contrast while Trump was speaking was the view of Biden highlighting the top of his head as he simply gazed down at his blank lectern surface. In contrast, while Biden spoke, the audience saw Trump looking up at the camera, wearing a smile (or more accurately, a smirk) and sharing near-constant facial reactions. Granted, it is better to keep it toned down. But whether on camera or not, advocates who are not speaking need to remain visually engaged, and that means keeping your eyes up and oriented toward your audience or your adversary.
2. Don’t Offer a Blank Expression
When Biden did look up, he often wore a blank expression, striking many as unfocused, passive, and tuned out. While close attention to what he was saying most often showed that he did have a relevant point to make as well as facts to back it up, visually he struck many as being disengaged, or even not all there. It is a matter of balance: advocates can be too dynamic while listening, and you don’t want to nonverbally react to every point the other side is bringing up. But you do want to nonverbally convey, “I’m here, I’m getting it, and I will have something to say about that when I get a chance.”
3. Don’t Look Worried or Wounded
It is easier for older faces to appear sad or concerned, and perhaps that is part of the filter or the stereotype that we as viewers bring to the issue of age. But even considering that, Biden’s reactions were nowhere near strong. When there was a reaction (and not a blank face) there was little of the “fighter” image that Biden cultivated in his earlier years, or even as recently as the last campaign. In court, the other side is going to take swipes at you, as Trump certainly took swipes at Biden. The nonverbal response to that should convey engagement and quiet confidence, not defeat.
4. Don’t Communicate Effort
One reason that Trump was far more smooth and confident is likely based on his habit of sticking with generalities and superlatives. If he was talking about himself, then it is “the best anyone had ever seen,” and if he was talking about Biden, it was “terrible, disastrous, a nation in decline.” He rarely if ever moved into specifics of any kind. Biden, in contrast, frequently furrowed his brows as he painstakingly searched for right term, fact, or figure, often correcting himself along the way. Granted, in court it is fittingly more important to be correct than to be smooth. Still, advocates need to get to the point of being able to convey those specifics in ways that are natural and not pained.
5. Don’t Be Stiff
From the moment he walked onto the stage during the introduction, Biden appeared shaky and stiff to many observers. Again, this may be an unfair projection based on age, but when it comes to communication, there is a reciprocity: audiences are most comfortable when the advocate also appears comfortable. Confidence is conveyed when an advocate can show a relaxed posture, some natural dynamism, and gestures. Instead, there were moments when the President’s face or body appeared to be frozen. Next to Trump’s bold swagger, it was a bad look for Biden, especially when accompanied by an open-mouthed gaping expression.
One might argue that court cases – and Presidential contests too, for that matter – should be decided by substance and merit, and not be ruled by the subjective impressions that stem from nonverbal communications. That’s an ideal, but it doesn’t track well with the realities of how humans take in and use communication. We tend to conflate the message and the messenger, and delivery has a major influence on how any message is attended to, understood, remembered, and used. Definitely have the facts and evidence on your side, but make sure that’s also conveyed in a way that is comfortable, dynamic, and confident.
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Other Posts on Nonverbal Communication:
- Look Like You’re Winning: 2012 Presidential Debate Series, Part One
- Beware of Nonverbal Pseudoscience
- Nod Your Head
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