Body Language of Seated Readiness or The Ejector Seat Position
Cue: Seated Readiness or The Ejector Seat Position.
Synonym(s): Ejector Seat Position (the), Hands Clasping Knees, Clasping Knees, Knee Clasp, Starters Position, Sprinter Position.
Description: While seated, a person will place the hands on the thighs in the sprinters position and lean forward onto the balls of the feet as if ready to spring up. One foot might also be extended forward in the direction one wishes to leave. While standing, it happens by placing the hands on the hips (See Arms Akimbo or Hands On Hips).
In One Sentence: Seated readiness is a nonverbal demonstration that a person is ready for action.
How To Use it: Use seated readiness to show people that you are action oriented and ready to start a project.
Being at the edge of your seat makes sense in business to show eagerness. However, it does detract for appearing dominant. Therefore, caution should be used to not appear over-eager. That being said, as a new associate, sitting forward shows a natural response to being part of a new team. A new person should be eager, while a boss should be leaning back (showing his dominance) and more casual.
One can also use seated readiness to show that you are ready to leave to a new location or are finished with the conversation.
Context: a) General b) Business.
Verbal Translation: “I’m like a sprinter ready for a race. I’m leaning forward, head forward, arms ready to prop up and push forward. In other words, my posture indicates my readiness to take action!”
Variant: While standing, one foot might move forward with the weight on the ball of the foot indicating the same thing. See Arms Akimbo (a standing ready posture).
Cue In Action: a) The girls were full of booze, some were slouched over, obviously not bar-ready, while the leader was in a ready position, arms on her thighs, leaning forward, trying to get the others motivated for a night on the town. b) He was a real go-getter, always full of energy and enthusiasm. When the boss spoke, he was always at the edge of his chair and ready to go on the next errand. b) The waitress was pressed by her boss to empty a few tables of their patrons to user in new customers. Rather than force groups out, she simply watched for those at the edge of their seat, approached them, and handed them their bill. They happily paid and left.
Meaning and/or Motivation: A readiness gesture and an intension movement indicating a desire to end a conversation and leave, or take some other form action. In a business context, it usually shows the desire to do productive action.
This cue is especially useful in sales and negotiation because it tells us that a person is either ready to commit to the sale or else leave and end the pitch. Watching for the cue can also turn us into good leaders because it tells us that others are receptive to a change of scenery or a change in activity. For example, it would be inappropriate to suggest leaving to a group of people that are lounging around talking and socializing. However, suggesting a change of venue to those on the edge of their seats, turns you into a mind-reader. When you suggest the action, you get credit for effective leadership. Often, leadership is acquired by suggesting people do things just before they would have otherwise done it on their own accord!
Cue Cluster: This cue is stand alone and has meaning onto itself, but watch for head bobbing in agreement or excessive agreement indicators to try to speed the speaker up and finish his thoughts, alert facial expressions, eye contact, head tilted to the side in interest, bags backed up ready to go, foot extended forward toward the exit and so forth.
Body Language Category: Intention movements.
Resources:
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