The subtle signs you’re about to be made redundant… and how to tell what people at work REALLY think of you

Having spent all summer basking in the sunshine and not giving a second thought to your colleagues, you’ve now got to drag yourself in to the office and face them again.

But if you have a sneaking feeling Janet from Marketing hates you, it might not be paranoia or holiday blues. Here’s how to decode – and win – office politics through body language.

Look at boss’s feet to see how you stand

The best way to work out if you are headed in the right career direction is to look at your boss’s feet.

‘If their feet are pointing towards you when they’re talking to you, it means they’re genuinely interested,’ says Mike Carter, one of the UK’s leading body language consultants. ‘If they’re pointing somewhere else – such as towards the kitchen or the door, they’re probably more interested in getting themselves a coffee than you.’

It also works when sitting down. ‘If your boss folds their legs, with the feet pointing away from you, they’re saying they want to get away,’ he says.

Decode your colleague’s smile

Suspect your workmate is giving you a disingenuous ‘death smile’ – in other words appearing pleasant but in fact wishing you gone? Look above their nose.

You can tell if they’re plotting to stab you in the back by the area between their eyebrows. If it’s crinkled, they’re genuine, if it doesn’t move, they’re bluffing (or had Botox). ‘Above the nose and between the eyebrows is the most expressive part of the face,’ says Mike. ‘That’s the giveaway they’re going through the motions of smiling – it’s easy to detect.’

Show your hands to gain trust

If you want to get colleagues on board, you have to show your hand – literally, says Mike. If someone hides their hands when talking it often means they can’t be trusted.

‘They might fold their arms and hide their hands under their armpits, put them in their pockets, or behind their back,’ he says. ‘If you want to be trusted, keep your hands in sight.’

Perfect your poker face

If you’re one of those people whose emotions are plastered all over your face, you might want to learn how to mask the fact you think Andrew in Accounts is a bore.

‘If you’re trying to maintain a positive working relationship with someone who occasionally tests your patience, focus on professional warmth rather than forced enthusiasm,’ says body language specialist Carole Railton. ‘Face them when they speak. Maintain comfortable eye contact and avoid eye-rolling, sighing, checking your watch or turning your torso towards the door while they’re talking.’

Catch a killer lie by what they DON’T say

Forget looking for clues like touching noses or ears – there actually isn’t one sign someone is lying, says former FBI agent Joe Navarro, author of new book, Mastering Connections.

‘There is not one single behaviour indicative of deception. Instead, look for reactions to words,’ he says. ‘For instance, I once asked a murder suspect about an ice pick. His face flushed, his eyes closed and his head inclined downward as a reaction to that guilty knowledge, which only he had, because he had in fact used an ice pick to kill a person.’

Fake confidence

People who appear confident stand or sit upright, says Carole. ‘Rushing, fidgeting, constantly adjusting clothing or shrinking into your chair, can signal uncertainty,’ she says. And steeple your fingers – place your fingertips together – less like The Simpsons’ Mr Burns and more like former German chancellor Angela Merkel. ‘Leaders often steeple their fingers, which is a sign of confidence,’ says Joe. Contrary to belief, speaking loudly is less effective than lowering your voice.

Bluff your interest on Zoom by tilting

Bored by endless Zoom waffle? Don’t sit too still, says Carole. ‘Staring fixedly at the screen without natural facial reactions can make someone look more like a waxwork than an attentive participant.

‘And don’t assume nobody notices you’re secretly checking emails – the eyes frequently give the game away,’ she says. If you want to fake interest: ‘It’s all about natural timing – nod occasionally and tilt slightly towards the screen.’

See the signs you’re for the chop

Finally, if the marketing director won’t look you in the eyes, are you right to get that sinking feeling and start brushing up your CV? Is it a sign of your imminent ‘re-organisation’ out the door?

Not always, says Mike. Instead look for a group of signs. ‘We talk about “bundles” in body language. If somebody is not giving you strong eye contact, plus hiding their hands, breathing shallowly and folding their arms like they’re giving themselves a bit of a hug… that’s the bundle of signs that would suggest something is wrong and that maybe you’re on the redundancy list,’ he says.

bodylanguageworkshops.com; jnbodylanguageacademy.com; carolerailton.com