Security guard body language: what your posture says before you do
Posture, hands, eyes, distance: what official sources recommend for the guard, how to read the signs in someone else, and what body language does not tell you.
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Before you have said a word, the person in front of you has already read your posture, your hands and your eyes. Body language can calm a situation or make it worse: that is what the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) says. Here is what official sources recommend for your own posture, how to read the signs in someone else, and what body language will never tell you.
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The posture that calms
CCOHS describes a calm body posture. It comes down to six points.
- A relaxed posture, without stiffness
- Hands relaxed, and visible
- An attentive expression: the person must see that you are listening
- The same height as the person. If the person is seated, sit, crouch or bend down, rather than standing over them
- About one metre of distance, or three feet of personal space
- At an angle, rather than directly face to face
Standing at an angle and keeping your distance serve you twice: they are less threatening for the other person, and they give you time to react.
The gestures that provoke
CCOHS names five gestures that can be perceived as a challenge. They are often reflexes: you do them without thinking, especially after hours on your feet.
| Gesture to avoid | Instead |
|---|---|
| Staring at the person | Look at them while they speak, then let your eyes move |
| Hands on hips | Hands relaxed, in front of you |
| Pointing a finger | Show a direction with an open hand |
| Waving your hands | Slow gestures, and few of them |
| Crossing your arms | Arms at your sides or hands joined in front of you |
The left column comes from CCOHS. The right column is our way of applying it, based on its advice on relaxed posture and relaxed hands.
Looking without staring
CCOHS gives two pieces of advice that seem to contradict each other: look at the person while they speak, without looking away, and do not stare. The difference lies in duration and intent. Looking at someone who is talking to you shows that you are listening. Staring in silence, without blinking, looks like a challenge.
Reading the signs in the other person
CCOHS publishes a list of physical signs that can signal rising tension. They fall into three families.
| Where to look | Signs |
|---|---|
| The body | Pale or flushed face, sweating, trembling, restlessness, repetitive movements, clenched jaw or fists |
| Voice and breathing | Higher pitch, rapid and shallow breathing |
| Attitude | Glaring or avoiding eye contact, exaggerated or violent gestures, scowling, a person who moves into your personal space |
CCOHS asks that these signs be read in context, and that two things be watched above all: several signs at once, and a worsening over time. A person who has been pacing for ten minutes, whose voice is rising and who moves closer with every sentence tells you more than a single clenched fist.
When the signs add up, you move to de-escalation. It is explained step by step in our article on the aggressive client.
What body language does not tell you
CCOHS is clear: there is no typical profile. The signs indicate tension, not intent.
- A single sign proves nothing. A flushed face can come from the cold or from effort, trembling from a health problem, avoiding eye contact from embarrassment
- The CCOHS fact sheets do not talk about detecting a lie. Nowhere do they claim that a gesture reveals what a person is thinking or hiding
- The absence of signs guarantees nothing. A person can stay still and appear calm
Body language is for adjusting your vigilance and your distance. It never replaces the facts: what the person says, what the person does and what your instructions provide. In your report, write what you saw, such as "he was clenching his fists and raising his voice", and not your conclusion, such as "he was about to hit someone".
What the regulation requires of you
The Regulation respecting standards of conduct of agent licence holders does not mention posture. Three of its rules nonetheless apply to the way you carry yourself.
- You must not be disrespectful or impolite toward a person (s. 1)
- You must not use threats, intimidation or harassment (s. 3)
- You must not present yourself as having the authority, status or powers of a peace officer (s. 6)
Planting yourself ten centimetres from someone to scare them, blocking their way with your arms crossed or looking them up and down in silence: these are gestures, not words, but they can earn you a complaint to the Bureau de la sécurité privée. A calm posture protects you there too.
Day to day, away from crises
Most of your exchanges are not conflicts. The same principles apply.
- At the reception desk. Look up and look at the person arriving. It is the first thing they notice
- With a person who is seated or in a wheelchair. Bring yourself to their height, as CCOHS recommends
- On patrol. A relaxed posture and free hands say that you are available. Hands on your equipment say the opposite
- At the end of a shift. Fatigue brings back crossed arms and hands on hips. That is the moment to think about it
The written instructions of your agency and your client always take priority over this advice.
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Frequently asked questions
What posture should you adopt with an agitated person?
CCOHS recommends a relaxed posture, relaxed hands, an attentive expression, about one metre of distance and standing at an angle rather than face to face. If the person is seated, bring yourself to their height.
Should you look an angry person in the eye?
Yes while they speak, to show that you are listening. No if it turns into a stare: CCOHS lists it among the gestures that can be perceived as a challenge.
Why avoid crossing your arms?
CCOHS names crossed arms, hands on hips, a pointed finger and waving hands among the gestures that can be perceived as provoking. Keep your hands relaxed and visible instead.
Can you tell if someone is lying from their body language?
The CCOHS fact sheets do not claim so. They describe signs of tension, to be read in context, and point out that there is no typical profile. Rely on the facts and on your instructions.
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