Michael Howard
Michael Howard used to be the hard man of Tory politics but in this election we are seeing a different, more approachable side to him. What has changed?

Pleasantries - When Howard was home secretary he used many of the tells of dominance [link to power tells]. But now he is leaning back far more, smiling, opening his eyes wide and looking askance. These are all signals designed to show that a person is not dominant but approachable. Watch for these in interviews.

Worlds apart - Far from stabbing and making emphatic gestures to reinforce his points Michael Howard has taken to controlled gestures with his hands slightly apart. This is a tell signalling sincerity.

Dominant male - Michael Howard has a naturally languid manner and a slow rate of speech, less than 120 words per minute. The effect of this is to convey dominance especially when accompanied by slow and relaxed gestures. Charles Kennedy has the same measured style.

Say ahhh! - Watch Howard when he is being interviewed. If he is with someone he doesn't like his tongue will invariably pop out. This is an unconscious sign of rejection which psychologists believe stems from the way babies push the mother's nipple out of their mouth with their tongue when they are full.

Charles Kennedy
The leader of the Liberal Democrats Charles Kennedy is not only fighting the election but also coping with life as a new dad. What are the tells which distinguish him in an environment where the three main party leaders are very well matched in dominance.

Blink and you won't miss it - Charles Kennedy has a very, very slow blink rate. The effect of this is to make him seem as if he is transfixed when he talks.

Powerful voice - Kennedy has a deep voice which gives a sense of dominance to the listeners. Most of his communication is done through his voice so he doesn't feel the need to be convincing in other ways. Think about John Major's voice - how much confidence did he inspire?

You can look for tells like this in other politicians over the election period and maybe they will help you to separate the politician from the politics. After all, you aren't choosing who will read the news to you for the next five years. You are choosing who will run the country for the next five years. Separating what they say from who they are means you stand a better chance of voting for the policies that will actually impact on your life.

To get a better idea of what lines your thoughts are taking why not check out the Selection Machine on our X website.