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as if they are tired. The power cluster is particularly interesting and effective in the business world. In this cluster, you want to have a firm handshake, and know what types of touch can assert respect and power. You also want to speak with strength using pausing as a tool to capture emotion and respect. If you are not interrupted it can be a sign of respect. You may also want to be the first to enter through a door and if you are a woman wearing heels gives you a physically higher position than your colleagues. When using the power cluster you must be careful not to appear as if you are trying to take power away from a potential employer. This may be seen as a threat to their title and will not help in obtaining the position you desire.

The evaluating cluster is pretty simple to understand. The body will usually clasp hands or stroke the chin. Sometimes you might gaze off in the distance or purse your lips. This body language can indicate that you are making a decision, judging someone, or thinking about something. The final body language cluster that is important in working with an employer is submissive. When you are submissive, you tend to keep your body small and sometimes motionless. You might keep your head down or in many circumstances you will have wide eyes. When you look at the dominate person with wide eyes you can be signaling that you're hanging on to every word they say. Another small submissive gesture used is smiling but not smiling with your eyes. This makes you seem as if you're afraid to show your emotion.

The Reason for the Conversation

Now that you have introduced yourself with a firm handshake and a full smile; it's time to declare the intent of your conversation. This intent could be for your employer or for your employees. It's a very versatile concept. In The Seven Challenges Workbook: A Guide to Cooperative Communications Skills for Success at Home and at Work by Dennis RiversRivers mentions that you should have consent to a conversation before you begin. An example of this could be "Hi, Steve. I need to ask for help on my project. Do you have a minute to talk?" Another equally effective and humorous example could be "Hi, Jerry, this is Mike. How ya doin? I want to talk to you about Fred. He's in jail again. Is this a good time to talk?"

When we start out conversations asking for consent we are able to embrace four important principles needed for the initiator to have a comfortable conversation. First, we are giving the person asked

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