People Skills Can Affect Your Brand

Whether you’re promoting your company or product brand or your personal brand, your people skills can directly affect your communications.  I came across a people skills quiz at ManageSmarter.com that is directed toward sales professionals but is applicable to anyone trying to present a brand image. 

The quiz was written by John Boe, a sales trainer and motivational speaker.  Mr. Boe notes that salespeople must constantly monitor their own body language as well as the body language of their customers and adjust their communications as necessary, which will lead to more closed sales.  Again, I think this message applies to anyone who is “living” a brand. 

Some of the body language interpretations included in the quiz teach us the following:

• The “palm to chest” gesture translates to sincerity.
• The “thumb under the chin” gesture translates to critical judgment.
• The “chin rub” gesture translates to decision.
• The “glasses-to-mouth” gesture translates to stalling.

The one element missing from the quiz is the global translation of these gestures.  For example, it’s quite possible that some gestures which are considered positive or benign in the American culture could be offensive in other countries.  That is something important to consider if you’re presenting your brand in international markets, but all-in-all, I think Mr. Boe’s quiz is enlightening and certainly makes one stop and think about the messages he or she might be sending through what may have previously been considered habitual or unimportant body language.

You can take the full quiz here.  What do you think?  Are your people skills and body language up to snuff in terms of communicating your brand?