Vanessa Van Edwards Shares the Signals That Shape How You’re Perceived
- Jan 8
- 4 min read
Brainz Magazine Exclusive Interview
Vanessa Van Edwards is a renowned behavioral researcher, international bestselling author, and instructor at Harvard University. Her books Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People and Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication have been translated into over 18 languages. More than 70 million people watch her engaging YouTube tutorials and TEDx Talk. Vanessa shares tangible skills to improve interpersonal communication and leadership. Her science-backed framework helps anyone communicate with confidence.
She is renowned for teaching science-backed people skills to audiences worldwide, including Harvard, SXSW, MIT, and Stanford. Her engaging workshops and courses teach individuals how to succeed in business and life by understanding the hidden dynamics of people. Millions visit her website monthly for her methods that turn “soft skills” into actionable, masterable frameworks that can be applied daily.
Hundreds of thousands of students have taken her popular communication courses on LinkedIn Learning, and thousands have taken her advanced social skills course, People School. Vanessa helps entrepreneurs, growing businesses, and trillion-dollar companies, and has been featured on CNN, BBC, CBS Mornings, Fast Company, Inc. Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, USA Today, The Today Show, and many more.
She regularly speaks to innovative companies, including Google, Facebook, Comcast, Frito Lay, Microsoft, Amazon, and Univision. She has keynoted on major stages, including Dave Ramsey’s EntreLeadership Summit, Lewis Howes’ Summit of Greatness, and twice at the Global Leadership Summit.
“One of my favorites is what I call ‘the eyebrow flash’ — a quick, subtle lift of the eyebrows when you meet someone.”
For those who haven't met you yet, how do you like to introduce yourself and the work you do around body language and human behavior?
Hi! I’m Vanessa Van Edwards, a behavioral investigator and bestselling author. I study why people do what they do, and I teach practical, science-backed strategies to help people connect, influence, and communicate more effectively. My work is all about giving people tools to feel confident in their interactions — whether that’s acing a presentation, building stronger relationships, or just having more fun with the people around them.
What's one body language cue that builds instant trust in a professional setting, and why does it work so well?
One of my favorites is what I call “the eyebrow flash” — a quick, subtle lift of the eyebrows when you meet someone. It’s almost instantaneous and signals recognition and openness. People read it subconsciously as warmth and attentiveness, which helps create trust before a single word is spoken.
What's a common nonverbal habit that might unintentionally make someone seem less confident, and how can we shift it?
Fidgeting with your hands, hair, or phone can make even the most knowledgeable person appear unsure. A simple shift is to use purposeful gestures instead. Try grounding your hands on the table or using gestures that emphasize your words. Even small, deliberate movements can instantly signal calm confidence.
Many of our readers are leaders, coaches, or entrepreneurs. What's your advice for someone who feels like they're either too warm and not taken seriously… or too competent and not seen as approachable?
Balance is key. If you lean too warm, add a slight pause before responding — it signals thoughtfulness and authority. If you lean too competent, soften your tone and add small cues of connection, like nodding or smiling with your eyes. The magic happens when you combine warmth and competence in every interaction — people trust you and want to follow you.
“The magic happens when you combine warmth and competence in every interaction — people trust you and want to follow you.”
Are there any small shifts in body language that you've seen have a huge impact, especially in high-stakes moments like pitches, interviews, or presentations?
Make eye contact at the end of your statements. This is a power cue and creates connection.
Are there any body language cues you've found that people misread often, and what do those signals actually mean?
Crossed arms are one of the most misread cues. Many people interpret it as defensive or closed-off, but often it’s simply comfort or habit. Context is everything — notice how someone’s body aligns overall. A small shift, like a relaxed hand gesture or nod, can completely change how the same posture is perceived. However, knowing that people perceive crossed arms poorly, you should try to avoid it if possible!
Can you share a recent study or insight that shifted how you think about connection, and maybe also one of your all-time favorite studies you think everyone should know about?
I love a study that talks about how mirroring can help salary negotiations. I think of this as subtly being in tune with someone else’s cues and matching them as a sign of respect.
You've built an incredible platform around helping people connect better. What's been one key lesson in growing Science of People as a business that you think more entrepreneurs should hear?
Experimentation. We try everything and think of “failures” as learning. Don't be afraid to try things before they are perfect. We do this on social media, with products, and even with community initiatives. We even tell people that we are experimenting to have full transparency. People love us more for it, even if we don't get it right!
Vanessa Van Edwards continues to demystify human connection and her work reinforces a powerful idea echoed throughout the interview: meaningful communication is not innate—it is learnable, testable, and improvable with intention.
