Exercise: Understanding Three-Quarter Turn

 10min
Foundation Course Physical Orientation Exercise: Understanding Three-Quarter Turn
The Three-Quarter Turn orientation is employed most when our physical attention is unavailable but we are subject to another person’s Focus request. To be clear, Three-Quarter Turn provides no Line Focus but does offer Eye Focus and the opportunity for direct verbal address. This orientation either limits connection or redirects the audience relationship to something else. 

Observing how you employ a Three-Quarter Turn throughout your day may revolve around the practicality of your job, be dictated by the limitations of the room or architecture, or maybe your natural or deliberate orientation. During everyday interactions, reflect upon times when you are busy or preoccupied and someone is requesting your attention. If you are a person who is reluctant to completely disengage from your activity to engage with another person, you may employ a Three Quarter Turn. Three-Quarter Turn sends the message that you are unavailable even if you provide Eye Focus or engage verbally. That being said, your communication partner or audience will sense that the opportunity for verbal exchange is still available. A Three-Quarter Turn orientation during a presentation with the bulk of your line Focus directed toward a display, exhibit, or person, cues your audience to pay more attention to the object or person your Line Focus is favoring. Remember your orientation is a powerful tool for directing audience attention. That makes Three-Quarter Turn a valuable orientation for situations in which you don’t wish to be the center of attention but you are obligated to verbally explain features, facts, or provide instruction. 

Are you a person that has a difficult time disengaging from an interaction? You can begin to practice shifting your Line Focus to Profile and then to Three-Quarter Turn when you need to disengage. Paired with words such as “I am so sorry. I have to go to my appointment now”, a Line Focus denial affirms that you truly do need to be going. In contrast, if you stay in a Full Front or Quarter-Turn orientation, your Line Focus sends a message of continued engagement. Your communication partner will most likely not release their Focus request. That means you’re going to be late to that appointment. So, remember shifting into orientations that limit or deny Line Focus can be a strategy that lets your body say the message when your words fail you.

Learner Milestones

 

  • Understand that Three-Quarter Turn cues unavailability
  • Realize that Three-Quarter Turn is also a focus-directing tool
  • Employ a Three-Quarter Turn as an effective disengagement tool

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  2. The Breath-Thought Connection
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