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Help! I'm Short!
Non-verbal Communication - Part 1
By Dr. Carol Fleming

If you are a tall person, you may be wondering what this topic is doing in a communication article. If you are short, you know darn well why it’s here. You’ve noticed that...

you seem to be frequently overlooked and under-heard
promotions appear to go to men who wear 44 long

The person of short stature must deal with it realistically, in full awareness of our cultural bias for the taller person. Nobody means to be discriminatory, but the old associations have a way of influencing our perceptions. Short = child, weak; tall = adult, strong, etc. If you don’t deal with this successfully you are possibly facing frustration, lowered self esteem, a lack of career progression and sometimes depression.

We have become increasingly aware of the importance of non-verbal cues in creating personal impact. You need to communicate health, self-confidence, maturity and vitality. We know a lot about how to do this.

Carriage: Posture must be upright, quasi-military. Don’t have an inch that you relinquish to gravity. Get feedback about your carriage from friends or a video of you walking normally. Imagine a crown on your head that you hold up proudly. A person who holds him/herself up will appear to be confident and adult. Step back a pace from face-to-face interactions with tall persons so you aren’t craning your neck uncomfortably.

Clothing, another non-verbal cue, can make a huge difference in your physical impact. You could consult a wardrobe and image expert to help you select colors that compliment your personal coloring and styles that flatter your physique and set you off as “very well dressed”. Fit is crucial here. Do NOT appear in any clothes that are too big for you; it would really send the message of “child-wearing-adult-clothes”.

Both men and women should avoid cuffed trousers (or any strong horizontal lines). The pants should break over the instep and hang in the back.

Ladies, matched suits with matching shoes lengthen you. Wear elegant dresses, but absolutely no girly selections with frills or a teenage look
Men, for heavens’ sake, make sure your tie doesn’t hang down below your belt. Faint pin-stripes will give you a strong presence and added height.

In most human interactions, the dimensions of your character and self-respect will matter more than physical stature; let your carriage and your wardrobe reveal this personal pride.

Contact us today to discuss how our workshops, coaching and training products can improve your Personal Professionalism and Communication Impact.

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