So you’re back home with family for a New Year’s Eve Party!
Posted on 12/28/10
While the holidays are supposed to be the season for food, fellowship, and fun, they can be tense times too. You may find yourself forced to spend time with relatives you rarely see and often fight with, but fear not! There are a few body language tactics can you use to fend off family feuds.
. Avoid Direct Confrontation - First of all, you want to stay to the side of people that could cause conflicts. Being face to face puts you in an adversarial position and increases stress levels. If you've got a history of bickering with your brother at a holiday meal, make sure you sit to one side of him rather than directly across.
. Stay On Their Good Side - To stay on someone's "good side" you should use what I call the "New Right Side Rule." In the past, the "right side rule" taught people to stay on the right side of others. But in my experience, half of people actually prefer others to stick to their left side. To figure out the side preference of your relatives, take note of how they position themselves when joining a conversation around the eggnog,
. Shift With Your Hands - Looking to change the conversation? Bringing your hands into the mix can help, but you have to be smart about it. When you're shifting topics, introduce the new subject by using a "palms up" gesture. You'll appear less aggressive than you would with a "palms down" gesture and more inviting while encouraging others to follow.
While these tactics won't make grudges go away, they can help make grumpy, Grinchy grudge-holders more pleasant this holiday season. If all else fails, a great bottle of Champaign can go a long way toward making those crabby relatives more appreciative!
Happy New Year!
