What It Means: There are 2 variations of the shoulder shrug: But after he passes, he may go straight back into his relaxed position!Īlso, have you ever noticed how business suits often have shoulders that are padded? Padded shoulders are there to make wearers look more authoritative and powerful 2, as if the wearer’s shoulders are permanently rolled back. For example, if you ever peoplewatch in public, you might notice a guy roll his shoulders back and stand up straighter as he passes by an attractive woman. Men also sometimes roll their shoulders back to display their dominance and masculinity. They might be feeling confident in their decision and it may be hard to sway them, unless you can knock their socks off somehow. I noticed that in business settings a sudden rolling back of the shoulders might mean someone has made up their mind. And you may even be able to spot a veteran as they may continue to keep their shoulders back out of habit, even as a civilian. People in the military have to make sure they always remember this posture to look professional.

What It Means: Have you ever been told to sit with your shoulders back and your head up straight? This indicates a strong and confident posture.

The shoulders’ complex movements also make it a hotspot for body language reading. Did you know that the shoulder is the most mobile joint in our body? We can move it up and down and rotate it all around.

Quick look over the shoulder