E114 – Tuning Up Your Body Language featuring Jane Hanson
Trench Leadership: A Podcast From the Front is humbled to have been named #5 in the Top 20 for Best Canadian Leadership-themed podcasts for 2025.
Your team is constantly reading you—analyzing every movement, stance, and gesture you make as a leader. Even when you're silent, your body is having a conversation with everyone around you. What exactly is it saying?
Nine-time Emmy Award-winning journalist Jane Hanson pulls back the curtain on leadership's most under-appreciated tool: body language. With insights developed through decades of television broadcasting and leadership coaching, Hanson reveals the powerful truth that humans communicated through body language for millions of years before spoken words existed—and this primal language remains our most trusted form of communication today.
Throughout the conversation, Hanson shares practical wisdom for emerging leaders navigating the complex world of nonverbal communication. She explains why crossing your arms might undermine your credibility regardless of your intentions, how claiming your physical space earns respect in new environments, and why the pause may be your most powerful (and under-utilized) leadership tool. When your words and body language don't align, people instinctively trust what they see over what they hear.
Perhaps most compelling is Hanson's perspective on vulnerability and compassion in leadership. Rather than viewing these qualities as weaknesses, she demonstrates how authentic physical presence—leading with an open posture and genuine engagement—signals both kindness and strength. "I don't think you can be compassionate and not be strong," Hanson notes, challenging traditional notions of authoritative leadership.
What is your body language revealing about your leadership style right now? Listen, reflect, and transform your silent communication to lead with greater authenticity and impact.
Jane’s Episode Links:
1. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janehansonofficial/
2. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janehansontv/
3. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JaneHansonTV
4. Website: https://www.janehanson.com/
Jane’s Recommended Book/Movie/Podcast List:
Books: I love to read thrillers simply because they pique my interest. Books that help me escape are my favorite. Tom Clancy and Daniel Silva are two of my favorites. Growing up, I wanted to be a CIA Agent.
Movies: Because of my business, I love The Kings Speech and the stuttering.
Podcast: Smartless
Leadership Without Passion Limits the Depth of Your Vision.
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Cite this episode
Kardynal, S., E114 – Tuning up your body language featuring jane hanson. Trench Leadership: A Podcast From the Front. 2025.