Nonverbal Behavioral Style Clues: Sitting Styles

We have gone over clues to understanding different DISC behavioral styles by observing the way a person walks and the way a person stands. For the third and final week, we will go over posture and positioning when sitting and what this might reveal about a person’s behavior.

Week Three: Sitting Styles  

High Dominance  Clues:

• Prefers to sit with one ankle resting on the other knee
• Takes up a lot of space
• Feet on desk

High Influence  Clues: 

• Sits with legs crossed
• One leg bouncing up and down
• Won’t stay seated for long

High Steadiness  Clues:

• Legs hooked around chair legs
• Legs crossed and underneath body, sometimes sits on their foot
• Hands in lap

High Compliance  Clues:

• Sits sideways in chair with legs crossed (no movement)
• Rests calf of leg on the other knee
• Arms crossed in front or chin resting on one hand or covering mouth