Since I often unintentionally come across as standoffish, I decided to do the Body Language for Women lesson by Dorie Clark who is a professor at Duke. I also figured there might be some good tips for interviews in the lesson. While it may not be fair, women’s self-presentation is often more scrutinized than males’, so it is important to understand the message you’re sending. Dorie offers three strategies to figuring out what might be specifically wrong with your body language. She says to either get feedback from people you trust, video yourself in a mock professional session, or self-monitor. She mentions that in an ideal world body language tips for women and men would be the same, but this world isn’t ideal. Women could be as verbally aggressive and dominant as men often are, but women are likely not seen as assertive in this light but just as bossy and mean. In the Heidi v Howard case study, the exact same profile of a successful businessperson was given to groups of people. Although everything was the same but gender, people described Howard as smart and lively and said Heidi was too aggressive and harsh. A small way to combat this is to assert your dominance with body language instead of your words. Dorie says your clothes should match your situation and personal brand; jewelry is also a good way to add a unique or creative touch. You should keep your feet still with your stance hip-width apart to help keep you steady. Your feet should also be pointed towards whatever you’re supposed to be paying attention to. You should avoid crossed arms and try to keep from fiddling with your hands by clasping them. You also need to strike a balance with your gesture amounts and try to keep your gestures within a box around your torso. Another tip is that pointing can be seen as hostile and that signals with your palms up can display you as honest and open. You should also try to maintain steady eye contact. If you have a stern face, it can help to remember to relax your face and take even, controlled breathes. Also, for women, it is important to be strategic with your smile. Smiles can give away your power. It is good to smile if you are in a situation where you are trying to build rapport. However, if you are in a more serious situation or are trying to make a point, it can give some of your power away. As for your voice, women tend to talk like they are asking a question by raising their voice at the end of sentences. This should be avoided. In order to show that you are present, it is advised to monitor your body for stress and let go in those areas. You should also keep your mind clear and listen to a person instead of forming your response while they're talking. To show a genuine interest in others, Dorie says you can lean slightly forward and match their energy. Finally she says, that it is best if you pick a specific area of your body language to work on at a time and go from there.