23: Body Language of Billionaires: Exploring the Intersection of Movement Pattern Analysis (MPA) & Decision-Making
23: Body Language of Billionaires: Exploring the Intersection of Movement Pattern Analysis (MPA) & Decision-Making
Insights from Jesse Itzler and Sara Blakely - and Other Business Titans and Celebrities
Last week, after sharing the stage with the incredibly dynamic (and super authentic) billionaire entrepreneur and extreme health buff Jesse Itzler at a Las Vegas event for an cutting-edge organization called ProSource, I felt inspired to peel back the curtain on a fascinating aspect of my world: Movement Pattern Analysis (MPA).
This revelation came from not just observing Jesse but also having the privilege to interview and profile both him and his powerhouse wife, Sara Blakely, who invented SPANX. Their unique movement patterns offered profound insights into their decision-making processes, sparking today's focus.
BONUS CONTENT: Oh, and guess what? I even dropped a couple of TikTok vids about Jesse's MPA game, 'cause my friend, Jesse, deserves all the hype, especially after he smashed it and got a standing Ovation! Go Jesse! 🎉
Unlocking MPA: A Dance of Decisions
So, check it out! Ever heard of Movement Pattern Analysis (MPA)? I’m sure that’s a big “NOPE!” It's this cool decoding people system that traces back to Rudolf Laban, a dance artist and theorist, and his buddy Warren Lamb. Laban was like the OG of studying movement and dance, doing his thing back in the day, you know, like the early 1900s.
Laban came up with this whole shebang called Laban Movement Analysis (LMA), which is still a big deal in dance, theater, and even physical therapy. Seriously, it's mind-blowing how detailed this stuff gets!
Now, Warren Lamb, he took Laban's ideas and ran with them. He wasn't just about dance; he saw potential everywhere. So, he applied these movement analysis principles to business and management. Like, imagine using dance theory to understand how people make decisions and lead teams. Pretty wild, right?
Well, there are now only 36 MPA profilers (in the world) because it’s a complicated and time-consuming science to learn. Four members of my company and I went to Columbia College, in Chicago, where they offered a year and a half long-program to get certified as MPA profilers back almost 10-years ago. And I’m going to share less than 1% of the information I learned in and since receiving that certification.
Alright, buckle up 'cause we're DRIVING into the world of Movement Pattern Analysis (MPA), baby! So, you know Laban, right? The dance maestro? Well, his genius sparked this whole shebang called MPA. We're talking about how we move and groove and how it links up with how we make decisions. And get this, it's not just some random idea; it's backed by solid "grounded-theory," and it's practically spot-on, like 98%!
Now, imagine this: your swag, your hand gestures, heck, even how you strut down the street—it's all giving away your secrets about problem-solving, leadership, and how you mesh with others.
MPA? It's like mixing art and science in a blender and pouring out a cocktail of understanding human behavior and decision-making. And guess what? It's not just some fancy theory; it's got practical perks for personal growth, sniffing out leadership styles, and building dream teams. Who knew dance moves could rock the boardroom, right? 🕺
Balancing the Scales: Navigating the Spectrum of Decision-Making Traits in Movement Pattern Analysis
See, how this whole thing works is 100% of your time and energy are divided among these six pieces of the decision-making puzzle. And depending how much time you organically spend in each area puts you in a High, Moderate, or Low category for that zone and this tells MPA profilers, like me, exactly what your strengths and weaknesses are in decision-making, team building, communicating with others, and much more:
High: 20% and above
Moderate: 10-19%
Low: 0-9%
Alright, check it out, guys!
In this newsletter, I'm shining a spotlight on just two of Jesse Itzler's many decision-making superpowers embedded in his movement DNA (with his permission): Investigating (22%) and Determining (23%). These bad boys work hand in hand for Jesse, along with his Anticipating (22%) – we won't dive into that one in this edition of "IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT," though.
When someone is rocking a high score in Investigating (22%) and Determining (23%), along with a high in Anticipating (22%), like our guy Jesse, here's how it might play out in different scenarios:
Problem Solver Extraordinaire: Picture Jesse tackling a tricky situation at work. With his high Investigating, he's gathers info quickly and analyze every angle. Then, his Determining kicks in, and boom! He's making decisive moves, getting stuff done like a boss. However, there is anther area of Jesse’s profile which we also aren’t addressing in this newsletter, which indicates that Jesse’s priorities can change often.
Strategic Planner: Say Jesse's planning a big project. With his keen Anticipating, he's already thinking several steps ahead, while his high Determining ensures he sticks to his plan and sees it through to the end, no matter what obstacles come his way. (Ummm yup!)
Master Negotiator: In a negotiation, Jesse's high Investigating means he's picking up on every subtle cue from the other party, while his Determining helps him stay focused on his goals and drive a hard bargain, coming out on top.In his keynote he even told a story about how the big meeting with the CEO of Coca-cola wasn’t going well so he dropped his “partner’s name, “Matt Damon.” And with some detailed quick thinking linked to his long-term goals, Jesse saved the deal (see video below of Jesse telling the story in his recent keynote in Vegas).
Risk Assessment Whiz: When faced with a risky decision, Jesse's high Investigating helps him research, while his Determining gives him the confidence to take calculated risks and go after big opportunities.
Leadership Dynamo: Leading a team, Jesse's high Anticipating lets him foresee potential issues before they arise, while his high Determining ensures he's making clear, confident decisions that keep the team moving forward and motivated. Again, keep in mind other parts of the profile, lead Jesse to change priorities that aren’t set in stone (like how much time he spends with his kids, wife and family - these are non-negotiables).
So, there you have it! With Jesse's killer combo of Investigating, Determining, and Anticipating, he's like a decision-making superhero in any situation! 💥
This is why Jesse's the real deal, folks! He's got these six specific movements all happening at once, which connect to his decision-making and interactions styles, and let me tell you, it's like he's got us hooked on his every move. 🎯
Let's break it down: Whether you're riding high, chilling low, or just hanging in the middle in any of the six MPA zones, it's all about seeing how these traits play out in your strengths and weaknesses.
Investigating*
The deep dive into data and details.
High:
Strengths: These people are motivated to spend time and attention thoroughly paying attention to details, which increases the chances of leading to well-informed decisions.
Weaknesses: The weakness could be analysis paralysis, where over-analysis delays decision-making.
Low:
Strengths: May excel in quick decision-making by not getting bogged down in details.
Weaknesses: Risks overlooking important information, potentially leading to poorly informed choices.
Moderate:
Strengths: Balances the need for detailed analysis with the ability to make timely decisions.
Weaknesses: Might occasionally miss depth or speed in decision-making, depending on the situation.
Exploring
The creative quest for alternatives - thinking out-of-the-box.
High:
Strengths: Creative and this person has the ability to generate numerous options, fostering innovative decision-making.
Weaknesses: Potential indecision from having too many options - and they may introduce some wacky ideas and not be taken seriously.
Low:
Strengths: Decisions are made more straightforwardly without the distraction of too many alternatives.
Weaknesses: But may miss out on innovative or better solutions.
Moderate:
Strengths: Offers a balanced approach to considering alternatives without being overwhelmed.
Weaknesses: Sometimes might not explore enough or might explore too much, missing the optimal middle ground.
Determining*
The resolve to stand firm against challenges and persist against difficult odds.
High:
Strengths: Confident and decisive, effectively standing firm under pressure. When you increase pressure on this person, they’ll increase pressure back on you. When the going gets tough, they get tougher. (A’hem Jesse and I are BOTH high in this area).
Weaknesses: This can lead to inflexibility and a reluctance to reconsider decisions in light of new information.
Low:
Strengths: Flexible and open to changing decisions as new information arises.
Weaknesses: May struggle with decisiveness, leading to a lack of conviction or appearing as a pushover.
Moderate:
Strengths: Can stand firm on important decisions while remaining open to adjustments as necessary.
Weaknesses: May occasionally find it challenging to strike the right balance between conviction and flexibility.
Evaluating
The balanced weighing of options and prioritizing.
High:
Strengths: Motivated to spend time and energy at structuring and prioritizing tasks. Enjoys creating systems. (I’m high in this area and that’s why I have endless rhymes to help you memorize body language, i.e. “The higher the hold, more anxiety is told.”)
Weaknesses: May prejudge and see things in black and white, leading to potentially strained relationships due to an overcritical nature. (Umm, yup!)
Low:
Strengths: Flexible and quick in decision-making, suitable for fast-paced environments.
Weaknesses: Prone to overlooking important priorities and may make decisions without thorough analysis of pros and cons.
Moderate:
Strengths: Prefers to balance priorities.
Weaknesses: Might face challenges in consistency and may miss the “why” does this matter moments.
Timing
The knack for seizing the right moment and adjusting the pace, either accelerating or decelerating.
High:
Strengths: Possesses a keen sense of when to act, maximizing the effectiveness of decisions.
Weaknesses: Potential hesitancy while waiting for the "perfect moment," which may never come. May also change deadlines and expect people to accelerate or decelerate for no reason, and they may finish other peoples projects simply because they have a little extra time in their hands, and they knock it out.
Low:
Strengths: Tends to make decisions and act without delay, which can capitalize on immediate opportunities.
Weaknesses: But also risk premature action. And they may remain at one speed, either doing everything quickly or doing everything slowly they’re not able to alter between accelerating and decelerating with ease.
Moderate:
Strengths: Generally balanced at choosing the right moments to act.
Weaknesses: But might occasionally miss the optimal timing because they might not be able to speed up fast enough or slow down fast enough.
Anticipating
The foresight to predict and prepare.
High:
Strengths: Strong at forecasting and preparing for future challenges, looking at last wins and losses, leading to proactive decision-making. These people are often the trendsetters.
Weaknesses: An overly forward-focused approach might neglect present needs. And these people may not get a lot of sleep because they’re running all the possible scenarios of what might go wrong. They don’t need to plan a, B and C. They need to plan A to Z.
Low:
Strengths: Lives in and responds to the present, enabling rapid response to current situations.
Weaknesses: Risk of being unprepared for future developments.
Moderate:
Strengths: Balances forward-thinking with present responsiveness.
Weaknesses: Might sometimes focus too much on one at the expense of the other, depending on immediate pressures versus future considerations.
Understanding where one falls on the spectrum for each of these areas can aid in leveraging strengths and addressing weaknesses in decision-making processes.
Now that you have the big picture on all six areas of decision-making with MPA, we will DRIVE deeper into only two of the pivotal areas noted above, both of these areas I recently addressed in a couple TikTok videos I did highlighting Jesse Itzler.
These facets not only illuminate our approach to opportunities and problems but also align closely with two of the strong decision-making characteristics of leaders like Jesse Itzler. Maybe you’re similar to Jesse or maybe you know someone like Jesse?
*These decision-making modalities are:
Investigating (preliminary consideration)
Determining (where decisions are made)
Studies from Harvard and the Naval War College affirm MPA's effectiveness in predicting leadership capabilities and decision-making styles.
Why Investigating & Determining Matter: Real-World Scenarios
Alright, check it out, friend! We're about to DRIVE into why Investigating and Determining are key players when it comes to making decisions in your life. Get ready to learn why these things matter! 🕵️♂️💡
HIGH OR LOW INVESTIGATING: Detail Preference in Business Settings:
Sales Pitches:
Tailoring the level of detail to your audience’s preference can significantly increase engagement and conversion rates.
Challenge for High Investigating: Risk of overwhelming potential clients with too much detail, causing decision fatigue.
Quick Fix: Prioritize and streamline information to highlight the most compelling points. Use visuals to convey complex data more accessibly.
Challenge for Low Investigating: Might overlook critical details that could clinch the deal, leaving prospects underinformed.
Quick Fix: Develop a checklist of key points to cover in every pitch, ensuring all vital information is presented in a concise manner.
Presenting Reports:
Knowing whether to dive deep into analytics or provide an overview can make your presentations more effective.
Challenge for High Investigating: Reports may become overly detailed, losing the audience's attention.
Quick Fix: Use an "executive summary" at the beginning of reports to capture the essence of findings. Offer detailed appendices for those interested in diving deeper.
Challenge for Low Investigating: Might miss out on providing enough evidence to support conclusions, weakening the report's impact.
Quick Fix: Incorporate peer reviews in the drafting process to ensure sufficient depth and validation of the data presented.
Email Communication:
Adjusting the detail in your emails to match the recipient’s style can lead to faster and more favorable responses.
Challenge for High Investigating: Emails may become lengthy and dense, leading to key points being overlooked by recipients.
Quick Fix: Adopt the practice of bullet points or bolding key information to ensure critical details stand out, keeping the body of the email concise.
Challenge for Low Investigating: Essential details might be omitted, causing back-and-forth clarification emails.
Quick Fix: Use templates for common email types that outline necessary information fields, ensuring completeness without excessive detail.4.
Project Planning:
Allocating tasks based on individuals’ preference for detail can optimize team efficiency and satisfaction.
Challenge for High Investigating: Getting bogged down in details, leading to delays in project kickoff or progression.
Quick Fix: Implement a phased planning approach with milestone reviews to keep the project moving, allowing for detail adjustments as necessary but within a structured timeline.
Challenge for Low Investigating: Overlooking critical project components or dependencies, risking project integrity.
Quick Fix: Utilize project management software with built-in checklists and dependency tracking to ensure comprehensive planning without getting overwhelmed by details.
Client Onboarding:
Customizing the depth of information shared during onboarding ensures a better client experience and understanding.
Challenge for High Investigating: Overloading clients with information, potentially leading to confusion or a sense of being overwhelmed.
Quick Fix: Structure the onboarding process in stages, providing information in digestible segments and allowing for questions before moving on to the next phase.
Challenge for Low Investigating: Failing to provide sufficient background or detail, leaving clients feeling unprepared.
Quick Fix: Create an onboarding packet or online resource hub where clients can access all necessary information at their own pace, ensuring they have a thorough understanding without feeling rushed.
By acknowledging the challenges associated with high and low levels of Investigating in these contexts, and implementing these quick fixes, you can ensure more effective communication, smoother project execution, and more successful client engagements.
HIGH OR LOW DETERMINING: Standing Ground vs. Flexibility:
Negotiation Tables:
Knowing who will stand firm can alter your approach, aiming for compromise or preparing for pushback.
Challenge for High Determining: May struggle to compromise, potentially leading to stalemates.
Quick Fix: Implement a "pause clause" where negotiations can momentarily stop to allow both parties to reassess and return with a more flexible stance.
Challenge for Low Determining: Risk of conceding too much, weakening their negotiation position.
Quick Fix: Establish clear, non-negotiable points before entering negotiations to ensure a baseline of objectives is maintained.
Team Projects:
Assigning roles based on individuals’ tendencies ensures a balance between visionaries and executors.
Challenge for High Determining: Could overshadow less assertive team members, leading to unbalanced contributions.
Quick Fix: Assign a mediator role within the team to ensure all voices are heard and valued, balancing the dynamic.
Challenge for Low Determining: May not voice their ideas or concerns, reducing the diversity of input.
Quick Fix: Implement structured feedback loops where everyone is required to contribute ideas and feedback, ensuring all perspectives are considered.3.
Hiring Decisions:
Identifying a candidate’s natural stance can predict their fit within your company culture.
Challenge for High Determining: Potential bias towards candidates who display similar levels of determination, risking a lack of diversity in problem-solving approaches.
Quick Fix: Use a structured interview process with a diverse panel to evaluate candidates from multiple perspectives, balancing the focus on determination with other valuable traits.
Challenge for Low Determining: May underappreciate the value of assertiveness and determination in certain roles, leading to imbalanced teams.
Quick Fix: Incorporate scenario-based questions that reveal how a candidate handles pressure and conflict, ensuring a more rounded assessment of their determination.
Customer Service:
Tailoring conflict resolution strategies to the client’s disposition improves outcomes.
Challenge for High Determining: Might resist bending policies to accommodate customer requests, potentially escalating conflicts.
Quick Fix: Train staff on when to uphold policies versus when to offer creative solutions, emphasizing the importance of customer satisfaction alongside company standards.
Challenge for Low Determining: Over-flexibility may lead to inconsistent service or exploitation of policies.
Quick Fix: Establish clear guidelines on what flexibilities can be offered, ensuring consistency and fairness in customer service responses.
Personal Relationships:
Understanding a partner's or friend’s inclinations enhances communication and mutual respect.
Challenge for High Determining: Sticking too rigidly to one's own views can lead to conflicts and misunderstandings.
Quick Fix: Encourage regular, open discussions about each other's viewpoints to foster understanding and compromise, without losing one's stance.
Challenge for Low Determining: May struggle to assert personal needs, leading to unmet expectations.
Quick Fix: Set aside time for individuals to express their needs and expectations clearly in a supportive environment, strengthening mutual respect and understanding.
Through understanding and adapting to the levels of Determining in these various contexts, individuals and organizations can navigate challenges more effectively, leading to improved outcomes across the board.
How is Your MPA Profile Determined?
Alright, so you wanna know how they figure out your Movement Pattern Analysis (MPA) profile, huh? Well, it's like this: you go through this fancy assessment, on a 2-hour zoom interview, with a trained MPA pro. We're like detectives, but for your movements!
During this assessment, we're watching you like a hawk, checking out how you move in twelve specific ways. We're looking for clues in how you stand, gesture, and carry yourself that match up with the six decision-making areas in MPA. We might even throw in some scenarios to see how you naturally handle things.
Once we've got all the info, we put it together into this detailed mack daddy profile. It's like a roadmap of your decision-making style, showing where you shine and where you might need a little boost. This profile isn't just about knowing yourself better; it's about giving you real strategies to level up in life and work. It's like having your own personal coach in your corner, helping you make the best moves possible! 🚀
If you are interested in getting your profile, please let me know and my team and I can get you on our calendar for Winter 2024. It’s pricey though ($5,750 per person) because it takes two hours to interview you, 10 hours to code you and write a report and a two hour feedback session.
Take the Wheel
Alright, listen up, friend! It's time to take charge with MPA and DRIVE into the art of decision-making through real-deal body language. Remember, every move, every decision, it's all like a window into our minds.
By tapping into these patterns, we're like master navigators cruising through the twists and turns of both our personal and professional lives with style and smarts.
So, keep that curiosity alive, and let's keep on rolling ahead with drive and determination! 🚗💨
Until next time, keep moving and stay in the DRIVER’S seat!
Cheers,
Janine DRIVER
P.S. Ready to DRIVE deeper into the other four decision-making areas and discover more MPA applications? Keep an eye out for future issues, where we’ll uncover additional strategies to enhance your professional and personal journey. 🚀