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Tim Cooks Hands - During Events.

Piggie

Piggie

macrumors G3
Original poster
Feb 23, 2010
9,202
4,170
Is it just me, or does it look like Tim Cook is starting to have some really weird issues with what he's doing with his hands during recent Keynotes?
Do you think it's a medical condition, it's him deciding to act in this way, or he's being directed by some "body coach" to act in this manner.
As it's really becoming quite weird and bizarre now.
The almost guaranteed every single time he says something, hands in the Praying position.
Followed by sweeping motions.

He's always done this just a little bit, but it's got way out of control now. I find myself seeing the camera going back to Tim, and waiting for the praying gesture to happen, which is does almost instantly.

The event this Tuesday was crazy in this regard, as if he simply can't stop it, and it's not looking like he's got a problem.
As I said, perhaps it's someone giving him coaching, but it's way over the top.

I did wonder if this pose started off, as someone trying to come over as honest and genuine, and, as I said above, it used to be fine, but it's like he simply can't stop doing it constantly now.


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I just think its the way he is. He might have some body coach though as these events go out to millions.
 
JustAnExpat said:
It looks like he's wai-ing (traditional Thai greeting gesture)
Click to expand...

As I said, it used to be fine. A bit strange perhaps for English viewers, but he just did it now and again and was barely noticeable.
This hand now turned into he constantly doing it as it's he simply can't stop himself.
It's as if he simply does not know what to do with his hands, and he's developed this habit that's gone too far.

Unless, as I say it's some body language coach who thought it looked cool, and is simply telling him to do it all the time now as they think the audience love it.
I'm now finding it really distracting as I'm watching his weird hand movements and taking my focus away from what's being said.
 
No one else in the entire presentation does this.....
Wonder why he can't stop clutching he hands together in front of him and doing this?

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You’re over-reading into this. He has Always been this way. I’ve been following Tim Cook since his leadership role back when he superseded Steve Jobs (Keynotes, media interviews, ect) and he’s always had mannerisms where uses his hands in a very pronounced way. Even when he’s sitting for an interview, he will constantly lean in and arches his back when he’s replying to someone, especially when it’s a really passionate topic for him like trade wars with China, investor notes, stockmarket fluctuation, the companies financial standing.

Sometimes when we are in front of an audience, we tend to present ourselves differently than we normally would in a relaxed state. I’ve given multiple presentations to law-enforcement agencies with training and seminars, and I see myself doing things I normally wouldn’t. I think it’s almost like a switch that you ‘turn on and off’ to exhibit a certain style of how you present yourself.
 
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^ Yes, I will agree with you, he's always had these mannerisms to a point.
Perhaps it's my imagination, but it seems like it's getting more pronounced recently to the point of being rather weird.
No problem with it, but I will admit, if I was coaching him, I'd try and get him to tone it down.
I did wonder if it's some OCD type thing where you start repeating things and find it really hard to break the habit.
 
AngerDanger said:
Pretty sure Steve did this too.
Click to expand...

Yes, he did, and nothing wrong with it.
We can all use a whole variety of mannerisms whilst we get our point across to an audience.
As you said, Steve did it, but only as a small part of a whole range of presentation gestures.
 
Piggie said:
Is it just me, or does it look like Tim Cook is starting to have some really weird issues with what he's doing with his hands during recent Keynotes?
Do you think it's a medical condition, it's him deciding to act in this way, or he's being directed by some "body coach" to act in this manner.
As it's really becoming quite weird and bizarre now.
The almost guaranteed every single time he says something, hands in the Praying position.
Followed by sweeping motions.

He's always done this just a little bit, but it's got way out of control now. I find myself seeing the camera going back to Tim, and waiting for the praying gesture to happen, which is does almost instantly.

The event this Tuesday was crazy in this regard, as if he simply can't stop it, and it's not looking like he's got a problem.
As I said, perhaps it's someone giving him coaching, but it's way over the top.

I did wonder if this pose started off, as someone trying to come over as honest and genuine, and, as I said above, it used to be fine, but it's like he simply can't stop doing it constantly now.


da3d971d7d45e5567a5520aa6079c6ce.png
Click to expand...
 
No this is something that Steve Jobs did as well and a lot of tech people do and it's something that is taught intentionally it is body language used to projected image of a person that has nothing to do with an illness or anything like that but it's carrying forward a mannerism that Steve Jobs used to do as well as many other tech people. Hand gestures in general can tell a lot about a person how they've been coached or what type of person they are hand gestures usually promote some type of emphasis on the conversation.
 
Piggie said:
The almost guaranteed every single time he says something, hands in the Praying position.
Followed by sweeping motions.

He's always done this just a little bit, but it's got way out of control now. I find myself seeing the camera going back to Tim, and waiting for the praying gesture to happen, which is does almost instantly.
Click to expand...

Yep, I kept waiting for it & seeing it over and over too. It stood out bc the only time I’ve ever seen anyone do that is when they’re actually praying (which would be pretty weird while talking about phones in a keynote), or gesturing desperately hoping something doesn't go wrong, so it was kind of unsettling. OR, if Tims a bhuddist (which he might be for all I know), then he may have picked it up as a common gesture too, so... ?
 
Everyone has their own way of public speaking and presentation, I'm sure this is not a habit he emulates in his day-to-day. It's probably just the "style" he's grown to be comfortable with.

It is completely plausible though that he and rest of the executives have used body coaches, but like another user pointed out above, he's been doing the same thing more or less for quite some time already.
 
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He does seem to be doing it more than in the past. I thought he did not look well health wise in the presentation. Pressure getting to him or something else?
 
Pilot Jones said:
Everyone has their own way of public speaking and presentation, I'm sure this is not a habit he emulates in his day-to-day. It's probably just the "style" he's grown to be comfortable with.

It is completely plausible though that he and rest of the executives have used body coaches, but like another user pointed out above, he's been doing the same thing more or less for quite some time already.
Click to expand...
Nope. It’s intentional.
 
Wonder if he is naturally awkward without practice on a presentation, and it is a comfort thing. Because I am like that.
 
Between the way he holds his hands and the way he speaks it becomes almost like a plead. Sort of like an invitation to hear him out. Maybe a prayer that you will see the good in what they are brining to the table (yeah, that might be a stretch, but....). I think it makes you lower your defenses (unless you notice and it bothers you) and actually listen - it is definitely less threatening and somewhat (somewhat) less distracting than handwaving. Just a thought - and a feeling I get when going back and thinking about it - having not even noticed it until it was Brought up.
 
compwiz1202 said:
Wonder if he is naturally awkward without practice on a presentation, and it is a comfort thing. Because I am like that.
Click to expand...

He has had so many speaking engagements in the past, not just for keynotes, but business presentations, college graduation ceremonial speeches, investor seminars, etc. I don’t think it has anything to do with ‘naturally awkward‘, it’s just a mannerism of direction of style how he presents himself.

On a side note:

How awkward that we’re talking about Tim Cooks hand movements? Next thread, will probably discuss something like, ‘why does Cook part his hair to the right instead of the left.‘😁
 
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Relentless Power said:
How awkward that we’re talking about Tim Cooks hand movements? Next thread, will probably discuss something like, ‘why does Cook part his hair to the right instead of the left.‘😁
Click to expand...
On an unrelated note, I've never seen an italic emoji before. 🤯

OH MAN YOU CAN MAKE THEM BOLD and it's barely noticeable

Normal vs. bold: 🧑‍🦽🧑‍🦽
 
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