The Body Language of The Buttress Stance or Foot Forward Leg Stance
Cue: Buttress Stance
Synonym(s): Pointing Feet, Foot Forward Leg Stance.
Description: A buttress is an architectural feature of buildings designed to support or reinforce a wall. The buttress stance is a standing posture where the leg bearing the body’s weight is straight, while the other leg is extended forward and outward away from the body. The extended leg can either be bent at the knee or straight.
In One Sentence: The buttress stance is a ready stance that indicates one is emotionally sturdy and also prepared for action.
How To Use it: Use the buttress stance to show others that you are in control of your body, but also that you are prepared to leave at any time. The cue find use in any context, but is valued with extroverted friends and when facing a high energy boss. The posture will work to show that you should be taken seriously and also that communication should be expedient because you have things to do and places to be.
Context: General.
Verbal Translation: “I’m getting ready to go in the direction my feet are pointed.”
Variant: Ventral orientation can also depict the desire to leave, as does leaning away, and body rocking (shifting the weight from one foot to the other). See Rocking The Body, Blading Body Language, Body Angling or Ventral Displays.
Cue In Action: When the topic got headed, James aimed his extended foot to the door and readied himself to vacate.
Meaning and/or Motivation: It indicates a readiness to depart as the legs orient toward an exit and the legs take on a preliminary walking stance. People seen in the buttress stance are sending a clear message that they wish to leave.
Cue Cluster: Used in accompaniment with eye aversion, head lowered, reduced gestures, and body angled away.
Body Language Category: Body pointing, Distancing or moving away, Escape movements, Indicators of disinterest (IOD), Orienting reflex or orienting response, Ready language.
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