Body language expert Stefan Verra takes a closer look at the sensational press conference of Viennese mayor Michael Ludwig and alderman for economic affairs Peter Hanke for the “Krone”.
What does man speak, what does his body say? Ludwig seems very calm. With his chin up, he turns his head evenly from side to side, usually speaking freely. Very stable eye contact and calm gestures. His pace of speech is slow and he leaves many pauses between words. That seems pretty relaxed given the imminent consequences for the city of Vienna.
Did he not realize the gravity of the situation?
The content of his words – “security of supply is guaranteed” – underline one effect: keep the ball flat, don’t panic. That reads as if the mayor of Vienna did everything right in this situation. One could complain: did he perhaps not recognize the gravity of the situation? Where’s the alarm clock? And above all: where is body language that indicates: we made mistakes here and we are sorry for that? It is completely missing here.
And that’s exactly where alderman Peter Hanke jumps in with his body language. Large gestures, sometimes at head height, make his look more restless and he also regularly switches from one leg to the other. Loud, clear words. With graphics he tries to bring clarity to the energy world that is strange to many. He seems more excited – and indicates that he has acknowledged the seriousness of the situation.
Pack members seek the sight of the alpha animal
The signals between Ludwig and Hanke are also interesting. The city council regularly seeks eye contact with the mayor. He turns his head, sometimes his entire upper body, in the direction of Ludwig. This is how they transmit unity. When it comes to body language, the pack members look to the alpha animal for confirmation.
Especially clear at the end of his comments. At the end of his last word, he turns his gaze to Ludwig. After Ludwig shows no reaction, Hanke dances from one foot to the other, a second glance, finally Ludwig returns the eye contact and acknowledges Hanke’s appearance with a short nod, accompanied by a brief closing of both eyes. He clearly liked Hanke’s performance. Hanke can finally wipe the sweat from his face.
Ludwig and Hanke should be a well-trained team in which the classifications are clearly divided. This is exactly what Vienna needs from these two key decision-makers. Emotionally, they do many things well. One, Hanke, radiates alertness and activity, while the other, seemingly unaffected, radiates sovereignty.
What the location of the press conference says
The background is striking. A complex image is intended to signal the networks of the companies in the city of Vienna. It is confusing and reinforces the sense of opacity about the cause.
Source: Krone
I’m an experienced news author and editor based in New York City. I specialize in covering healthcare news stories for Today Times Live, helping to keep readers informed on the latest developments related to the industry. I have a deep understanding of medical topics, including emerging treatments and drugs, the changing laws that regulate healthcare providers, and other matters that affect public health.
