Language has a huge influence in determining how we interact with the world, but what about nonverbal behavior? When we speak and conceptualize the world in certain ways, we also structure our experience in order to make sense of and interact with it. In a novel 2017 study, Dr. Elizabeth Kirk and Dr. Carine Lewis…
Read MoreSearching for Universal Gestures
If there are universal emotions and expressions, does that mean there are universal gestures? This is exactly what Humintell’s Dr. David Matsumoto and Dr. Hyisung C. Hwang sought to answer in a 2012 study which sought to conduct a groundbreaking and comprehensive analysis on international differences in gestures. In order to answer this, they compiled…
Read MoreUsing Gestures to Add Power to Public Speaking
Written by Anett Grant for Fast Company Grant is the president and founder of Executive Speaking, Inc. She has coached top executives for over 36 years, with clients including PepsiCo, Toyota, 3M, Hewlett-Packard, Medtronic, Novartis, Wal-Mart, Bank of America, and General Electric. For many people, public speaking is so fraught with anxiety that they give little…
Read MoreGestures from Around the World
In general, we tend to think it’s best not to insult your host country when traveling abroad. So before you may unintentionally offend someone in another culture, take a look at this guide to hand gestures around the world. For more information on gestures, take a look at our World of Gestures webinar recording