Reflections on Micro Expressions

Body Language ReflectionsYears ago, a friend tried to convince me to join the "Amateur Radio Association". It took him quiet a long time to do so, and in the end I relented. To my surprise he was astounded.
-"You are such a busy person, why did you consent?", he asked.
-"Because I want to know things a moment before they happen", I answered.
This short memory is the essence of the" why" to many things I do, including "Micro Expressions". I believe most humans want to have that special edge when interacting and communicating. Micro Expressions identification, is one of those tools that can help us know things in advance. Yet with all this said, the important question would be, how to use the knowledge? If we look at a picture, we can sometimes see a Micro Expression, yet what does it tell us? Only the possible mood of the person at that moment.

Is that enough? Certainly not. What can we do then to enhance the results of using this tool? We can begin by realizing how we humans behave. Most important is the fact that we cannot stop thinking. Thinking makes us react, always physiologically and some times also verbally. Knowing that simple fact, we can start using Cybernetics, test and operate. Which means, we have to become dynamic…send messages and check the results. Messages can vary, it can be questions, assumptions, gestures. Each would give us a reaction. The reactions form a picture of what is going on in the persons mind. When we look at the content we receive in a certain context, we are truly practicing Cybernetics. We are sending a signal and we are checking to see the result. If the result is what we expected, we know we are in the right direction. If it is not, change the signal. In this way we can navigate our communication wisely. This can be useful in many kinds of communications if not in all. From a friendly chat, through business negotiating, sales, persuasion etc.

Think for example what a reporter is doing. It is in fact an interrogation, he wants to get the answers to what he presumes is an interesting story. The interviewee, may want to tell the story or he may not. Would you like to know if he is truthful or leading you astray? By learning to navigate wisely you will always know where you stand.A person comes in to be interviewed for a job. It would be in his best interest to make a good impression. Since he wants the job, he may use some stories that are not the exact truth. Would you like to know the truth?
You are in a negotiation, you are trying to convince the other party that your proposal is in his best interest. He makes a certain expression. If you know what it means you can feel assured you are in the right direction, or realize you have said something inappropriate and immediately correct your line of persuasion. This would make the difference between agreement or none agreement. To conclude, Micro expressions identification and knowing how to use this tool can in large save you a lot of time and disappointments.

-By Emil Capone, Certified Trainer at the Center for Body Language (View profile)