Exercise: Understanding Profile

 10min
Foundation Course Physical Orientation Exercise: Understanding Profile
Think about how frequently you find yourself in Profile to another person. Often during our day-to-day commute, in class, or in the workplace, architecture and meeting layouts intentionally position us in Profile. Observe how when positioned in Profile, the tools used to request Focus default to eye focus or direct verbal engagement. That’s because it’s difficult to request the attention of another person with your physicality if you don’t provide them with any Line Focus. 


Reflect upon how your communication changes when you do not have Line Focus connections with others, or your audience. Are you more comfortable interacting with someone in a side-by-side positioning? Do you naturally shift into a Quarter Turn towards others even in a shoulder-to-shoulder seated arrangement? Remember that the Emotional Center is also disengaged in a Profile orientation. 

Becoming curious about the relationship between what you turn toward with your Line Focus and what you turn away from can be revealing about what may be bubbling under the surface of your feelings. If you are a person that finds Full Front and Quarter Turn to still be too much exposure, especially in front of an audience, you can employ a Profile position as a strategy to gain control over interrupted feelings or nerves and to regain control over thoughts. 

Turn your Line Focus a few degrees beyond a Quarter Turn and away from your communication partner, somewhere in between Profile and Quarter Turn. In a presentation situation, you want to maintain an audience connection. Positioned in Profile, put all your weight on a forward footing or lean forward with your torso to indicate to your audience that you were still engaged with them. This strategy provides you the agency in adapting to intimidating and difficult situations and supplies the image of a confident and connected communicator to your audience. At times, limiting your Line Focus during a conversation can be a strategy for concentrating more on your content, but if limiting your line focus is what you prefer, you may want to shift back into Quarter Turn occasionally to maintain a connection with your communication partner.

Learner Milestones

 

  • Understand that Profile removes Line Focus connection
  • Employ Profile as a strategic orientation for minimizing the involvement of the Emotional Center

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  1. Introduction
    11 Topics
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    4 Quizzes
  2. The Breath-Thought Connection
    8 Topics
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    4 Quizzes
  3. Physical Orientation
    16 Topics
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    8 Quizzes
  4. Frame and Stance
    12 Topics
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    6 Quizzes

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