Like many of you, I was glued to the television on Super Tuesday, watching the presidential primary returns. During the candidates’ speeches, my focus was drawn to a secondary player: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
Granted, we don’t know what position Christie is angling for in a potential Donald Trump administration, but he’s not supporting him out of the goodness of his heart. He spoke highly of Trump during his introduction in Mar-a-Lago, Florida:
“The fight this fall is to make sure that a united Republican party and a united American people make sure that Hillary Rodham Clinton never gets back in the White House. Since June 16, when Mr. Trump declared his candidacy, he has shown himself to be tough and strong and bold.”
When Trump took the spotlight, Christie understandably stepped into the background. Christie’s bored, confused or downright angry facial expressions as Trump spoke made him the target of an onslaught of criticism.
Memes immediately surfaced asking why Christie was there— most notably was he angling to be Vice President or Attorney General, there for the free food or because he was lost. Ouch!
Regardless of whether you’re the one in the spotlight, you must present yourself like you’re on camera. That means you must look interested and engaged. At Spaeth, we call it the Listening Face: not quite a smile, but a lifted facial expression that says to the audience, “I like this person, I’m glad to be here.” Instead, many viewers commented that Christie looked like he had “sold his soul.”
Not only does this small yet noticeable skill help with likability, it also saves you from articles calling you a “stooge” or asking questions like, “Why hasn’t President Obama sent in the Navy Seals to rescue” you.
Rescue yourself and master the Listening Face.
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