Last month, a series of conversations recorded in 1964 between Jacqueline Kennedy and Arthur Schlesinger Jr., a former Kennedy aide, was published into the latest book on the legendary first lady – and one of my favourite 20^th-century style icons – titled Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy. During these conversations, Jackie speaks her mind – sometimes controversially so – sharing her opinions on political figures, musing on life in the spotlight, reminiscing on past times with JFK. Though her words in these conversations can be raw, from them emerges a new perspective on Jackie’s life from the woman herself – and it serves to remind me what a strong and unforgettable woman she was.

Elegant and poised even in moments of extreme crisis: Jackie Kennedy acted as a role model for women of her time and continues to remain so today. What are the elements that composed such an iconic public figure and, of course, such a revered celebrity in the fashion world as well? Though her wardrobe revealed her impeccable taste, it was not simply her outfits that made her so celebrated as a paragon of style. It was also how she presented herself: her graceful mannerisms and speech, the way she wore her clothes. She used all the components of self-presentation to her advantage.

How can we take after Jackie to look our best in front of others? First of all, Jackie was a woman who knew how to carry herself. She had superb posture – most likely a result of years of horseback riding as a girl. Good posture can make you instantly appear confident – not to mention taller and thinner. Slouching, however, can make you look disinterested or sloppy, and can even give you back or jaw pain. So keep your shoulders straight and your head held high: you will seem and feel more alert.

Jackie also knew what types of clothes fit her best. For formal affairs, she often chose empire-waisted gowns (a high-waisted dress that gathers just below the bust and has a long, flowing skirt) in order to lengthen her legs. She also wore boat-neck shirts in order to accentuate her collarbone, one of her most striking features. By knowing her body type and understanding what looked best on her figure, she was able to take fine clothes and make them look extraordinary.

And, naturally, there was her wonderful sense of style. Jackie had a penchant for French fashion; her year studying at the Sorbonne at age 20 perhaps sparked this lifelong passion. She also had a remarkably colourful wardrobe – sometimes daringly so – that is largely imperceptible in the black and white photographs that documented much of her time as First Lady. Her taste and choices of clothing have been imitated since she entered the public sphere, not only by millions of women around the world, but also by established designers such as Givenchy and Tom Ford.

To me, Jackie Kennedy is a timeless figure of grace, strength, and style. Following her example, women everywhere can adopt her elegance as a model for when we need to look our best in the public eye – whether we are giving an important presentation, making a speech in front of an audience, or even simply sharing our thoughts at a minor meeting. No matter the size of the crowd, Jackie carried herself admirably and let her strength shine through.

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The job search can be daunting, whether you have just entered the market for the first time or you are seeking a change after years of employment. Finding a new job requires not only persistence and determination, but also a sound set of tools, including your resume, cover letter, interview skills and plan of action. At Corporate Class Inc. we also teach that a well-developed professional image and an understanding of business etiquette contribute significantly to your growth as a professional and to your success in the job market. Because these tools and skills combined are all vital when searching for jobs, we would like to recommend a useful resource that addresses all these components and outlines the process in a comprehensive guide: Narinder K. Mehta’s recently published Five Steps to Your Next Job: A Powerful Manual for Job Search and Career Development.

The strength of Mehta’s guide comes from its relevance to today’s market: Mehta features components of the job search that have always been important, but he has updated them for use in a contemporary context. “Social Media and the Job Search” is a section of the book we found to be particularly strategic as it not only lends advice on how to use popular social media for advancing your career, but also focuses on properly conducting yourself within these sites so as to project the best professional image – two objectives we highlight in our own work at Corporate Class Inc.

As Mehta explains throughout the book, networking is as important in the job search as a strong cover letter and a refined resume. Now, with social media sites that lead to countless avenues of connections, networking has grown significantly in form and dimension. According to Mehta, “your online presence is a crucial component of your resume.” Not only is it becoming more common for potential employers to search candidates online, but also an “online presence” is a beneficial tool for actively making connections with colleagues and professionals in your field of interest.

One suggestion that Mehta offers for establishing yourself professionally online is to start a blog. Once you have a few posts published, it will reveal your writing skills and your ability to sustain a project or a set of ideas. We agree with Mehta’s recommendation to choose one particular theme so that you are not rambling or that your blog is not just an “unstructured journal of your thoughts.” Similarly, it is advantageous to monitor not only any personal information that you publish, but also to keep tabs on the language and content of your posts and any following comments from readers. If a reader leaves a negative comment following a post, always engage in a courteous and brief manner publicly, then follow up with the person in a private message to resolve any issue. Don’t engage in an extended and hostile debate on a site: it will not represent you or your blog well.

Mehta proposes another tip that we find to be very valuable in online networking: creating a LinkedIn account. Mehta touts the importance of making connections with anyone you may know and asking for recommendations from former colleagues so that potential employers can immediately access a professional reference. LinkedIn is certainly one of the best sites for those networking online; Mehta has great insight here on how best to use it. We would also add that while it is very important for you to add all your credentials and professional experience to your profile, be careful of exaggerating your skills: not only could you be caught in an awkward moment if an employer realizes you do not meet your self-described qualifications, but also your former colleagues can read and recognize such amplifications. Be descriptive but realistic.

As Mehta illustrates in this portion of the book, the Internet is now an indispensable part of the job market. There are countless opportunities to search for positions, to make connections with employers, and to reveal your skills and credentials. The key is to know how to portray yourself professionally online and to find the most useful networks in your field; once you have done so, you are on your way to advancing your career.

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Leadership is a skill that is not reserved solely for managers, directors, VPs, or anyone else who is the head of a department or a company. It is a crucial quality that any valuable employee should demonstrate in some form or another in the workplace. The term “leadership” can encompass a wide variety of actions and attitudes; it does not necessarily apply only to a single leader of a group. Leadership can manifest in small actions that can ultimately result in change – and as such, it is an essential part of the progress both of a company and of your individual growth as a professional.

As an employee of a company who is not in a position specifically defined as a “leader,” why is it important to demonstrate leadership, and how can you do it? Firstly, good leadership skills can help you advance within your company or field. If your supervisor and colleagues notice that you take initiative on a regular basis – by offering to organize a project, prompting a discussion or meeting, or tackling even a minute issue that has been ignored or delayed – they may recognize that you have the leadership skills that can apply to a larger set of responsibilities.

Remember, too, that leadership goes hand-in-hand with confidence: if you are confident in your skills and ideas and are willing to take risks by advancing them, your ability to lead will follow suit. Building self-confidence may not be a fast or easy process, but it is an achievement within any individual’s reach. A few basic tips for confidence in the workplace: first, always be prepared. You will feel the best about your work and your efforts to build relationships if you know that you have done everything you can ahead of time to begin a new project or complete a task thoroughly and correctly. In addition, dress for success and look your professional best in the workplace. It will give you more confidence to get up in front of people – whether in a one-to-one discussion, a small group meeting, or a boardroom packed with people – and then let your ideas do the talking.

It is important not only for individuals, but also for companies to build a strong foundation of leadership in order to effect long-term growth and sustainability. When the leaders of a company are competent and dependable, employees within it will come to trust in their company and invest themselves in their work. Yet there is concern that many companies and organizations today lack vital leadership: in an article last week in the National Post, Dr. Mary Donahue cited a current “leadership desert” in the US and Canada, and called for companies to re-evaluate and improve their means for cultivating leadership internally. In her article, she champions mentorship programs not only for passing knowledge to newer employees, but also (and perhaps more importantly) for what they can teach mentors about leadership by “forcing them to review how they lead and how they communicate excellence in the workplace,” as well as by helping “leaders learn how to provide context, define success, and enable their followers to fail and learn from their failures.” These experiences, Dr. Donahue claims, are indispensable for creating “staff satisfaction and loyalty.”

If Dr. Donahue’s prediction that the younger generations in the workplace will become increasingly uncommitted to organizations and their positions within them because of distrust in their leaders, then perhaps the call for improved leadership is an urgent one. This process can start with you, no matter what your professional position: because if you demonstrate your willingness and ability to lead, you may be the one in the future who is building the fundamental bonds of trust and inciting dialogue, creativity, and innovation among your colleagues.

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My first go-to piece when the conditions turn cool is a classic trench coat. These heavy-duty coats are timeless for both men and women, and will work well with almost any outfit underneath. Women, if you usually wear dresses, look for a longer trench; a shorter cut coat will go well if you prefer to wear pants. This double-breasted tan trench coat from Burberry is a classic, but there are many variations on this model to add a bit of panache: many designers (including Burberry) offer the trench coat in a variety of colours, with an extra fur trim on the collar or lining, or with a single breasted cut instead of the standard double. I also like the creativity that the belt on a trench allows: you can choose to fasten the buckle, tie the belt into a knot or a bow, or even replace the cloth belt entirely with a leather one of your own.

If you would rather stay dry under a traditional raincoat, there are many great styles that you can choose from without wearing a one-size-fits-all plastic poncho to the office. Finding a fitted raincoat isn’t hard: I love this French twill raincoat from London Fog. The cinched waist is key in an elegant raincoat, and the interesting silver buckles embellish the jacket without going over the top.

Let’s discuss footwear. Do you walk to work everyday, or spend time walking between your home and your means of transportation? If so, you probably want to wear a different pair of shoes or boots than you would wear in the office – it will keep your heels or dress shoes in better condition for a much longer time if you wear them outside as little as possible. In an upcoming post I will discuss some of my favourite styles of leather boots for fall, but on those awful rainy days, consider a pair of chic Wellington boots or rain boots for full protection from messy puddles. In the past couple of years, rain boots have become a trendy option for everyday footwear with brands like Hunter and Tretorn, available in a range of colours and heights. I recommend wearing them only for transit between work and home on wet days – they might look great on a casual day on the street but are inappropriate for the office. Be sure to have a pair of work shoes either in storage under your desk or in the closet of your office, or carry a pair with you in your bag.

And it may seem obvious, but a good umbrella is fundamental – I always keep a spare under my desk for those unpredictable weather days. How often have you been caught in a downpour and have gotten soaked to the skin when merely catching a cab or heading to a meeting off-site? Avoid those frustrating moments of having your professional appearance go from composed to chaotic in just moments by keeping a reliable umbrella in both your home and your office. You never know when you might need it.

That’s the dilemma with this season: one day, the weather is bright, sunny and refreshing; the next, the drastic difference threatens to rain on your parade. But, as you can see, it’s easy to stay prepared and polished – even in the worst the weather has to offer!

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A captivating new phenomenon in business communication recently has emerged: office-wide social networking sites. Reading an article in The Globe and Mail last week detailing the pros and cons of this rapidly growing form of internal communication, I was struck by the possibilities for valuable discussion between all levels of employees that this casual forum enables. And yet I couldn’t help but wonder: what new questions or problems for communication etiquette could these sites invite? As I learned more about the sites and their benefits, I kept this question in mind.

The interfaces of company social networking sites such as Yammer may look like Facebook – but their purposes vary greatly. Instead of providing a space for posting photos and networking with friends and acquaintances, office social networks are limited to discussions within a company, and exist for sharing ideas or questions regarding projects, products, issues, or anything else traditionally addressed in a meeting or an e-mail chain between colleagues.

To me, this kind of in-office discussion seems ripe with potential. Providing such a familiar meeting space could allow employees to feel more relaxed about casually proposing ideas. It’s also a great solution to keep employees who are traveling, working off-site, or who otherwise couldn’t attend a meeting in the loop. And, as Carly Weeks of the Globe and Mail points out, such sites can “put an end to annoying, time-wasting and hard-to-follow e-mail chains between large groups of employees.”

What, however, could the downsides of company-wide social networks be? To start, analysts at research firms such as Forrester Research and IDC Canada argue that all employees – from senior level managers to Millenial-generation interns – must actively partake in the sites in order for them to be effective. Convincing all members of a company to participate could be a challenge.

But what really interested me was what the growing popularity of these sites could mean for business communication. As e-mail several years ago introduced an array of business communication faux-pas that some professionals still grapple with today, so might social networking sites invite a level of informality, which could be inappropriate when used in a discussion that your boss or manager could be contributing to as well.

How casual is too casual, when participating in an informal online forum? Although your colleagues may include some of your best friends, remember that everyone in your company will be able to see what you post – and that includes senior-level VPs. Therefore, retain a level of formality with your words. Don’t use Internet abbreviations such as “lol” and emoticons: you want your ideas to be taken seriously; let your language reflect that. In addition, even though these sites act as a space for informal discussion, do put some thought into your posts before you hit “send.” Even if the sites offer a “delete” button, you don’t want some colleagues to read words that you will later regret writing.

It will be interesting to see whether these company-wide social networks take off. Maybe they will go so far as to replace internal e-mail, or perhaps the excitement will simply fade out before the vast majority of companies have a chance to experiment with these new forums. Either way, remember – that no matter what the setting – your language and your communication skills will always represent you and your ideas. Keep them professional, tactful, and appropriate.

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A well-rounded selection of business attire is essential for any professional. Yet I would add that the right set of business accessories is equally as important in developing a polished image for the workplace. Professional accoutrements combine form and function to give the impression of a prepared and put-together individual. Anyone ranging from recent graduates just entering the workforce to seasoned employees can benefit from these suggestions.

An elegant bag or briefcase.
For new graduates heading to job interviews: it’s time to retire the backpacks and book bags you used in university, at least for business functions. If you are attempting to make a good impression on a potential employer, a worn canvas or nylon bag won’t do the trick. Investing in an elegant briefcase or a smart work bag will prove its value as you advance your career – or, if a new purchase isn’t an option, consider borrowing one from a family member or friend. Leather is ideal, but a durable synthetic material in brown or black can also look great.

A portfolio.
How often do you find yourself at a formal meeting, trying to impress a client or boss with your hard work? Your research, ideas, or reports may be top-notch – but if you bring them in a messy stack of papers stuffed in a flimsy folder, it could distract from your progress. Whomever you are meeting may interpret any visual disorganization as a reflection on your work. It looks much more impressive when you have all your papers crisp, clean, and ready at hand in an attractive folder or portfolio. Look for classic and neutral colours; stay away from overly dramatic patterns or logos.

Business stationery.
Whether you need to write a thank-you note after a business meal or an interview, or if you simply want to make a personal connection with a valuable contact, good stationery is key. Choose fine paper or note cards with matching envelopes in white or ecru. When writing, use a blue or black ink pen: this looks more polished than ballpoint pen or pencil.

Business cards and cardholder.
In Japan, exchanging business cards (or meishi) is a formal affair. The individual giving his or her information will remove a pristine business card from a sleek cardholder and present it. Accepting the card with both hands, the recipient then takes the time to look at all the details of the presenter’s name, company, and information. Here in North America, we may not pay as much attention to the aesthetics of exchanging business cards – but a stylish cardholder nevertheless will help you keep your cards organized and show that you take yourself and your company seriously. If you don’t own business cards, consider getting calling cards printed with your name, phone number, and e-mail address. They make a great networking tool and will help contacts to remember you.

These accoutrements are not only a practical means of keeping you organized and prepared, but also can be a fun way to show your style in the workplace. In choosing business accessories, look for professional and elegant design – but don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through, too!

More on Dressing for Success…

- Clothing does send a message
- Inappropriate dress at work may send the wrong message

- Bargain hunting for corporate apparel
- Size doesn’t really matter
- Perfect Packing for Business and Pleasure

Tools to help you Dress for Success…

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Assess your Executive Presence with our NEW Self-Assessment Tool

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Life is filled with meeting and greeting new people. Even though we’re reminded repeatedly; “Never judge a book by its cover,” we do. We’re constantly making snap judgments about the people we meet and greet. Curiously, it turns out, our first impressions tend to be quite accurate:

“We have long known that people jump to conclusions about others on the basis of very little information but what’s striking about these findings is how many of the impressions have a kernel of truth to them.”
– Psychologist Sam Gosling, The University of Texas at Austin.

In other words, we make assumptions, or jump to conclusions, with very little information and generally, we’re right!

Appearance, body language, intonation and interaction all work together to create a first impression. When they work in harmony, the result is positive. Let’s examine the four keys:

Appearance: What people see first
You may have seen the Tide® laundry detergent commercial with its clever tag-line; “Style is an option. Clean is not.” Although clearly, I do not agree with the first statement, I most definitely do, with the second. Fresh, clean clothes and impeccable grooming underscore a person’s social awareness; anything less implies a sense of carelessness. Sometimes referred to as “the unmentionables” —poor dental care, untrimmed eyebrows, nose or ear hair — send signals of negligence that sabotage even the world’s best haircut.

But back to style. It reflects our awareness of the world around us. I’m frequently asked to explain the difference between fashion and style. I guess my short answer is: Fashion could be defined as head-to-toe dressing in Banana Republic’s new Mad Men collection; (link http://bananarepublic.gap.com/). Style is incorporating elements—perhaps a narrow tie or pencil skirt —from that collection. In September’s Vanity Fair, American fashion icon Ralph Rucci answers the same question by explaining that Fashion is constant change, while: “Style is a continuum. It’s a refinement of the same vocabulary. Style takes you from day to evening, season to season.” Exactly!

Body Language and Intonation
A head held high is one of the magic keys to the Kingdom of Powerful First Impressions. It conveys an obvious sense of ease and a positive message. Who wants to be bothered with the round-shouldered guy in the corner whose chin rests on his chest? Pro-active is the way to go.

“We can pick up a smile from 30 meters away,” says Paul Ekman, professor of psychology at the University of California Medical School in San Francisco, and a pioneer of research on facial expressions. “A smile lets us know that we’re likely to get a positive reception, and it’s hard not to reciprocate.” When you consider that experts say we draw conclusions about a person in less than five seconds, a smile fosters a fine first impression.
During body language training, I help students learn very specific skills for mastering the art of conversation – fixed eye contact and the nuances of turning your body toward the person speaking; matching intonation and speech rate; unspoken responses that confirm the speaker’s message is clear. No question, there are subtleties about this training: the jokester learns to harness his stand-up routine; the passionate storyteller to edit her monologue and the inveterate interrupter to let the speaker finish his sentence.

Interaction
The ticket here is to make people feel welcome. It’s about “time-sharing” with a new acquaintance. Neither hogging the conversation nor expecting the other person to hold the fort.

Damage control
I’ve often heard so-called experts say; “When it comes to first impressions there are no second chances.” I strongly disagree. My experience as an image consultant has taught me that when interpersonal infractions occur, they’re often not intentional. However, when an infraction involves integrity, it’s very difficult for the offender to recover – getting caught in a lie, comes to mind. If on the other hand, the infraction is at a capability level, let’s say a person is on unfamiliar turf and clearly can’t follow the conversation, people tend to be more forgiving.

Misinterpretations: A few examples from real life
Meet Lucy – she thinks she’s listening to you attentively, showing tremendous interest. You keep talking and waiting for her to smile. And then you wait some more. Still no smile. Uh-oh. You’re starting to get a negative vibe. She’s just not there!

Point # 1: Smile to show engagement.
Meet Michael — he thinks, as he tells one joke after another, that he’s a funny, confident and positive person to be around. You feel he’s an obnoxious goof in desperate search of an audience.

Point # 2: Don’t be a road-hog. Share air time.
Meet Brenda – she thinks she’s informative and enlightening as she discourses with intense, detailed information about an endangered species she’s researching throughout the world. No detail is too minuscule. She even name drops in Latin! You can’t wait to escape her boring monologue and total self-absorption.

Point # 3: Curb your enthusiasm – when it comes to your own personal passion.
Meet Raymond – he thinks he’s showing interest in your recent holiday re-cap as he rudely butts in and interrupts. You can’t even finish a sentence and ask yourself; “Who is this self-centred twerp and why is he so disconnected?”

Point # 4: Don’t even consider interrupting. Ever.

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I’ll make no secret about it, the number one question I’m asked, from the emails I receive to the meetings I attend, is how to, “Dress for Success.” Sure, some people put a slightly different spin on it —  professional clothes, dress for an interview, business formal attire —but fundamentally what they’re asking me is, the how to dress for success question.

Back in 1975, when American John T. Molly coined the term Dress for Success as the title for his book, the concept of power-dressing was just emerging. John T.’s book catapulted to the top of the New York Times best-seller list almost immediately with its promise of prosperity, if you just dressed the part. Little wonder, that in over 30 years, no one has been able to coin a better expression to convey this goal.

In this same time period, dress codes have relaxed dramatically. Office clothes or business outfits include a whole new category that started with the Casual Friday concept and has morphed into business casual clothing.  Casual can be interpreted as anything from an open collar shirt to cargo pants and flip flops. And this is the problem. Business casual is very different from cottage casual but clarifying the boundaries of what’s appropriate and where, often falls to individual interpretation.

Establishing guidelines is often mandated to me by both large and small corporations, that want to avoid the appearance of a sort of clothing-police-state. They recognize that it’s a reluctance to actually spell out these guidelines, that can create issues. Boundaries are not such a big deal, as long as people are aware of them. Deciphering and defining clothing lingo can be confusing: a picture is worth a thousand words.

The expression “Dress for Less Stress” has recently found favour in some quarters, notably those where people say they want to be taken seriously. Actually, the exact opposite happens. Show up for work in the aforementioned cargo pants, guy or girl, and you send a message that you are just not in sync with your colleagues. Some firms see it as disrespect, or rude, or even selfish but under no circumstances does that speech about how, “I just want to be judged for my work, or on my own merit,” win points. Au contraire. Of course, if the corporate culture is creative and edgey, head-to-toe black or jeans-reign-supreme or even those ubiquitous cargo pants, may be the defining dress code.

Last week, during a trip on my office elevator —sometimes known as the microcosm of corporate life — I witnessed, I guess, what was a pretty serious breach of office dress codes. A very well-dressed man said to the younger, more casually dressed man beside him, “You changed your pants!” Whoa, I thought to myself. What’s going on here? Apparently, the younger man had actually been sent home to change because his colleagues(!) complained. Very awkward for everyone involved. Chances are, if you think you’re undressed, you are.

A Royal “footnote”

Every summer, I am barraged with panti-hose quandaries. And honestly, there are so many variables ranging from geographical (way too hot in Texas and Florida) to office protocols and formalities, that there is no simple answer but to take cues from

C-suite role models. Or the Duchess of Cambridge! This past week, during her Canadian tour, her legs were always dressed in panti-hose with just the lightest shimmer that set-off her impeccable pumps. Poised and polished, she was always perfectly turned out and knew exactly when to slip into her slim jeans.

More on Dressing for Success…

- Clothing does send a message
- Inappropriate dress at work may send the wrong message

- Bargain hunting for corporate apparel
- Size doesn’t really matter
- Perfect Packing for Business and Pleasure

Tools to help you Dress for Success…

Subscribe to our FREE monthly newsletter
Assess your Executive Presence with our NEW Self-Assessment Tool

Although I’d read that two billion viewers were expected to watch, the actual London turnout signaled this was going to be a real celebration. And it was. Impeccably timed, perfectly rehearsed —everything went smoothly but with such a sense of joy, this was modern pageantry at its finest. You just knew that everyone from the cheering crowds to the wedding guests was enjoying the entire spectacle.

Top of my list was, of course, the wedding gown. There had been so much speculation about which British designer would receive the coveted commission that British bookies were laying odds! Remarkably, both the design and the designer remained secret till the moment Miss Catherine Middleton, soon to be Duchess of Cambridge, exited the Goring Hotel.

I believe by choosing Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen, she sent a strong statement about her personal sense of style and one that’s truly apropos —given her new role. The fashion house of McQueen is often described as Britain’s edgiest couturier but with a profound respect for the highest standards of workmanship.

And this benchmark of quality with style is exactly what Sarah Burton delivered in her timeless ivory silk tulle and lace gown, with hints of days gone by. The lace appliqué for the bodice and skirt was handmade by the Royal School of Needlework at Hampton Court Palace and is based on an Irish technique called Carrickmacross lace, dating from the 1820’s. I guess my one regret is that the exquisite attention-to-detail this artisanal work requires just didn’t come across on camera.

Perhaps the biggest departure from traditional wedding party attire was Maid of Honor Philippa Middleton’s ivory gown. For years, guests and bridal attendants have all lived by the rule that ivory or white is reserved for the bride and only the bride. Both Philippa’s cowl-necked column and the bridesmaids’ dresses actually echoed the wedding gown’s exact colour.

We all expect to see the lace bodice and full-skirted gown duplicated at weddings this summer — and probably for years to come — but I’m wondering if we may also see a new trend towards ivory bridesmaids and a departure of the ubiquitous strapless bridal party silhouette in favour of cowl necked columns?

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Almost four million viewers tuned into the English leadership debate Tuesday night, myself included. My mission was more than personal interest. I needed to take copious notes on the demeanor and dress of the four leaders.

Although typically media will call me for commentary following the debates, this time I’d been given a heads up, by the producers at CBC Radio’s The Current, and was scheduled for an early morning discussion with two other women keeping close tabs on the evening: Kady O’Malley, political correspondent with the CBC and Globe and Mail columnist, Tabatha Southey.

My mandate, clearly, was not to comment on content but to interpret the body language of four seasoned politicians, all determined to make their points under crossfire — and the hot lights of a TV studio.

Not an easy venue, even for these parliamentary pros, but I was surprised in the earliest stages to hear Prime Minister Harper’s voice quiver — a sure sign of nerves. And his arms remained close to his chest suggesting cautiousness. Throughout the opening hour he appeared frustrated, almost ill at ease, but he controlled his emotions by holding on to the podium.

By comparison, Jack Layton seemed to be enjoying himself. His gestures reinforced his content. He appeared sincere and when he directed a question to PM Harper about G8 spending, he stepped back from the podium and put a hand in his pocket. Clever.

Michael Ignatieff carried an air of defiance about him. With his hands constantly on his hips he appeared confrontational. I’d say more professorial than presidential — too heavy-handed when it came to gesturing.

Gilles Duceppe was just plain pushy! All that finger pointing was supposed to create a sense of control, or dominance, but it had just the opposite effect. He appeared to be losing control. And he was whiny, like a small child about to have a temper tantrum.

On the other hand, Mr. Duceppe was definitely the best dressed. Jack Layton scored points for his high contrast tie and shirt and missed the mark by only centimeters —the tie was too wide.

PM Harper is definitely a busy guy but should have made time for getting his suit altered and selecting another tie. The suit jacket was far too snug and the striped tie took on a life of its own under hot lights. I’m not the first to comment on his glasses and poor choice of frames; he seemed to be squinting the entire time.

Michael Ignatieff always seems so somber, like a grey day. Sadly, scruffy is the only word to describe his hair. But that said I’d be hard pressed to pick the worst haircut of the evening.  Amazing, three have hair coverage most men would envy and between them they can’t find a decent barber.

Finally, the French debate was an entirely different experience. Animated, lively and emotional, the time flew by. Imagine, what if we had a debate in every province?

Note: You can listen to the full discussion I had with Kady O’Malley and Tabatha Southey on CBC’s The Current by listening to the podcast here

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