Why politicians soften the warrior gesture. Earlier this week I showed you the warrior: one finger raised, your sword, the gesture that adds authority. Watch Donald Trump on any stage and you will see him use a version of it constantly. Except he usually does not raise the finger. He brings the thumb and forefinger together instead. That is what I call the soft warrior. The full warrior, delivered by someone with real power, can come across as too dominating. It starts to feel like an order. Politicians need the authority without the aggression, so they soften it. The pinch says something different. It says precision. I know exactly what I mean, and I am giving you the exact detail. Whatever you think of his politics, it is a smart piece of body language, and you do not need to be a president to use it. The soft warrior is perfect when you are explaining a number, a step in a process or a distinction you want people to notice. It keeps you authoritative while staying approachable. So you now have two tools. The warrior, held up and still, for the line you want remembered. The soft warrior, for the detail you want trusted. Choosing between them is one of the quiet skills that separates a good presenter from a compelling one. Have you ever noticed this gesture before today? #PublicSpeaking #BodyLanguage #Gestures #Presenting #Leadership - @theandyharrington