Team Work and Handwriting

The most important component of success in today’s workplace is everyone working as a team and everyone sharing and communicating in a positive, forward-thinking manner.

I’ve found that one of the most dependable areas to perceive Team Work is in the strokes of Handwriting. It’s amazing how many times I’ve seen how people’s work team relationships work so well because they have common drives as reflected in their writing.

I’ve spoken to many groups whose ability to communicate and care/counsel others is paramount to the success of their team; it’s amazing how common characteristics thread through all the writings in the group resulting in all team members being on the ‘same page’ in their goals, their work ethic and their desire to help one another. Such a team would as a matter of course have gently forward-slanted writing that makes them natural counselors and people who love to give their time and help to others. Such a team would also be inclined to have ‘fluidity of mind’ in their writings where all or most of their t-bars join to the next letter and where they have many fluid figure-8 g’s and y’s in their script. Such fluidity would not only enhance their communication, but would help them be expert at troubleshooting difficult situations and shifting tough topics to ‘safe waters’ without the other person realizing they had done so.

Solidity within teams at work where communication and care are paramount can also be seen where the lines of writing of those on the team are steady, indicating their dependability, their reliability and their sincerity with others. In a team where rules and guidelines need to be adhered to, team members will likely have letters that join together, indicating their logical, sequential mind and their ability to effectively problem solve.

Where the positions predominant in the team are guideline-focused, team members who opt for the tried and true and for methods that work are usually the most comfortable. In handwriting this is seen where the person predominantly retraces the mid-portion of their letter h’s. Where there are break-away strokes in the mid-portion of this particular letter it indicates the person will occasionally take a ‘risk’; where this is combined with all the stroke tendencies in the paragraph immediately above, it suggests the person will take a ‘calculated’ risk as long as they’re sure that what they’re doing will work out well.

The next time you find yourself assessing a team at work, try having them write some of their goals and objectives as a team on blank paper and, especially if the team is geared toward caring and counseling, check their writings to see if all or most of the above stroke tendencies are present. The more the writings have in common with one another, the more your team will have a similar mind set, goals and focus.

Be sure to view my 5-minute “Power of the Pen” DVD on my Home Page at www.handwritinganalysistoronto.com

Handwriting: Regular or Inconsistent?

I’ve found that one of the most frequent characteristics an employer seeks of their candidates is consistency in work style and work production.

Some of the areas in handwriting where this is evident is in the consistent size of letters, the consistency of slant, consistent pressure and the ‘cadence’ or strokes that return to the baseline of the writing on a regular basis. The presence of this constellation of trait strokes indicates the level of stability, maturity and self-discipline of the candidate. This is the type of person who will have the staying power and reliability that most employers value so highly.

All too often a writing is seen where the size of letters fluctuate in size within a word or the slant will vary greatly from word to word or line to line. A candidate whose cursive or printed script has these characteristics is someone whose maturity has yet to be developed, someone who is less than disciplined and someone who might be careless in their work.

All too often I have seen candidates’ writing where there is frequent patching of letters, frequent flooding of ink within words and cross-outs of letters or words that seem almost angry. I have seen instances where candidates have this crossing-out of letters within their own name or the date. Such a writing is far from what could be termed ‘regular’.

Most people would agree that capitalizing the name of the company you are applying to would be usual, if not an understood or unconscious stroke of the pen. Believe it or not, I have in my possession a candidate’s writing where they on three occasions used lower case letters to write the company name. This, once again, is something I would definitely call irregular!

There are some who might immediately think: “What if the person is from another country and English is not their first language?” I have seen writings from people very new to North America that are by far more regular and consistent than people who were born and educated here.

A writing that is consistent and ‘regular’ is termed a writing with ‘good form level’. The opposite features mentioned above are red flags employers need to watch for!


Be sure to view my 5-minute “Power of the Pen” DVD on my Home Page at www.handwritinganalysistoronto.com

Handwriting: Letter Spacing

Letter spacing in handwriting relates to self-expression and, in regard to relationships, your level of warmth and receptivity.

If you were to look for an ideal space between letters, you might like to think of having the space of a ‘u’ between letters. With this amount of space between letters, you would be someone who could adapt, respond in a friendly manner, and be able to have a good give-and-take within your relationships. Not only would you have an openness to learning, but you could alter your point of view within that learning. You would likely be open-minded, candid and have a good level of self-discipline and steadiness.

Irregular letter spacing suggests someone who will likely be inconsistent in their responses to others, sometimes acting impulsively and sometimes pulling back, and seeming to not know where they really want to direct their efforts. Confusion of interests and the result rollercoaster ride of feelings that accompanies it may be far more attractive to this person than consistency and directed effort. In truth, this type of writing indicates a person who is anxious and not sure (or inwardly worried) about which way to go. They may well overreact to situations and people.

Very narrow letter spacing suggests someone who tends toward impulsiveness or overreactions in most situations, and whose judgment may be ‘off’. This type of person tries to fit in because the most important thing to them is acceptance. A narrow letter spacing can be indicative of someone who experiences confusion about what they feel and also about what others feel.

Someone whose letter spacing is wide is usually more outgoing and tending toward spontaneity. This is the type of person who responds ‘in the moment’ rather than taking time to ponder. They may fall in and out of love easily, for their attachments may appear to be to many, but in reality are to few. This type of person can on occasion be a little thoughtless and can lack tact at times.

Be sure to view my 5-minute “Power of the Pen” DVD on my Home Page at www.handwritinganalysistoronto.com

Handwriting: Word Spacing

Word spacing in handwriting relates to your ‘space’ in relation to other people around you. Word spacing can indicate whether you’re an easy, go-with-the-flow type of person or a more arm’s length type of person. Your word spacing can also reflect your style of speech, whether you talk quickly or in a more paced, relaxed manner.

If there is a nice visual balance between the space between your words, this suggests that you are likewise well balanced and have a good sense of boundaries between yourself and others. Your balanced word spacing also indicates you are reasonable, quite self-confident and are likely at ease in social settings. It also indicates you’re likely comfortable whether alone or in the company of others as well as a clear thinker.

If the space between your words is narrow, this does suggest you seek contact with others and have a strong desire to maintain constant relationships. Your narrow word spacing also suggests you may think, talk or act with minimal reflection. Very narrow word spacing can suggest you give advice freely (perhaps too freely), and your judgments are based on feelings. In addition, there is some insecurity that can be an integral part of close word spacing and some inclination toward occasional periods where you can feel isolated or lonely (resulting in you more strongly reaching out to others to compensate).

Wide word spacing suggests you’re not one to allow another close without giving time for the relationship to develop. Should your word spacing be wide, you likely hold others at arm’s length until you get to know them. You’re likely a little reserved. Extremely wide word spacing indicates you are quite independent and a little wary of intimacy. You may give the impression that you are self-assured, but feel shy or isolated inside.

If your word spacing varies between wide and more narrow, you’ll approach issues from a varied point of view depending on your mood of the moment. There are times you may feel a little anxious or scattered, and you can tend to worry. Your sense of boundaries may be blurred.


Be sure to view my 5-minute “Power of the Pen” DVD on my Home Page at www.elainecharal.com!

Handwriting: A Fine Line

The space between lines of writing is significant. Line spacing reflects how clear emotionally the person is, it suggests organizational abilities and has ramifications in regard to goal setting. Self-discipline and common sense are also factors in line spacing.

All the above is challenging to assess if you give your potential candidate or friend lined paper, for the lines of writing and so many other factors are dictated by the margins as well as the lines on the paper. Remember to always use blank paper.

Line spacing that is balanced suggests someone who can plan well, and who has a clear objectivity in their outlook. Balanced line spacing, in addition, suggests clarity of thinking and a good ability to plan. In addition, this is an area where you can assume that your candidate or friend’s level of common sense will be strong.

Where you observe narrow line spacing, when you can see that the lines are almost going to collide, it suggests a questionable judgment on the part of your potential candidate. It also implies a lack of comfort with self and a questionable level of knowledge about themselves. Their sense of reserve can also be called to question.

Overlapping lines, where the handwriting resembles a ‘traffic accident’ immediately raises red flags in relation to ability to follow through in an organized fashion. Where the upper loops (ideas, philosophies) are colliding with the lower loops (imagination, ability to bring what you are thinking into ‘reality’) it also suggests the person’s thinking may be far from organized. If you think of the writing as one line stepping on the other, it can call to mind a person who steps on another’s toes and who therefore lacks consideration for others. The look of such a writing can be analogous to the proverbial dog’s breakfast, and suggests issues with perspective and judgment.

A writer whose line spacing is wide is indicating they wish to be more detached, perhaps so that it is easier for them to exercise their judgment. If the distance between the lines is significant, it can suggest the writer feels somewhat isolated emotionally, or at least someone with an arm’s length idea of manners or protocol—perhaps a more elegant or ‘refined’ individual. Overly wide line spacing can also suggest the person is experiencing some level of upset or is a dispassionate individual.

Line spacing that is up, down and all around is an obvious red flat insofar as inconsistent confidence, demeanor, and can indicate moods that swing this way and that way at will. This is type of person who can be impetuous and whose moods are ‘of the moment’.


Be sure to view my 5-minute “Power of the Pen” DVD on my Home Page at www.elainecharal.com!

Handwriting: A Marginal Issue

Margins not only create a person’s ‘universe’ as encapsulated on a piece of paper, but they create a frame around the writing. Margins also represent the writer’s area for communicating. For example, just as some people crowd their lives with activities, they crowd their page without any room to spare. Others leave space around their page, analogous to time left for reflecting upon their thoughts.

The person who has no discernible margin around their paper, but who uses every inch of space wants to live life fully. His sense of boundaries may not be developed, and they may believe that because they’re interested, everyone is interested. Someone who writes with a fairly even, broad margin all around is someone who makes sure there is plenty of space in their lives for everything to be done. People like this are not inclined to extend themselves beyond comfortable limits. Those with average margins have a good overall sense of control, neither being over-involved or distant with others.

A left margin that drifts righward is usually characteristic of someone who is enthusiastic and wishes to move to their future. This writer is so excited by what they are doing, they don’t want to take the extra time to go all the way back to the left margin. The writer whose left margin drifts leftward is someone who prefers to opt for the tried and true and established methods rather than ‘taking a risk’. In a sense, this person is ‘backing up’ from taking risks.

Should a page have a concave margin to the left, the person likely starts a project quite enthusiastically; as they realize they are overly far from a familiar ‘comfort zone’, they’ll likely move back toward the familiar (similar to the way their margin steadily drifts back to the left). The writer whose right margin is concave has readily sailed into a new project only to back away mid-page in the right margin pulling back toward the left when they’ve had a chance to re-consider their initial action. After such introspection and with renewed feelings of security that things will work out very well, their right margin is free to drift back from the left and back into the rightward area of the page.


Be sure to view my 5-minute “Power of the Pen” DVD on my Home Page at www.elainecharal.com!

Handwriting: Big or Small Picture?

In essence, the size of writing reflects your need for visibility and recognition. The letters, line direction and more marching across the page will indicate your ability to remain steadfast and steady, and whether your ego strength will help or hinder you in your quest for goals and objectives.

Large Writing: If your writing is very large, you are unconsciously ‘broadcasting’ that you feel a different standard or construction of the page should be created for you to accommodate your script rather than having to pinch your writing into a smaller space. This alone says volumes about you. Your very large script will almost seem to challenge the page; you’ll likely respond to life with the same confidence and enthusiasm. You’ll be very likely to enjoy risks and you’ll be quite at ease with others and in terms of your ‘inner self’. Your goals are likely high, and you’ll naturally assume a leadership role. Others will usually acknowledge and recognize your ability to influence others.

Small Writing: If your script is the opposite end of the proverbial spectrum from the large writer’s, it’s likely you’ll be more introspective. You may not be as open as the larger writer, although you’ll have a talent for detail and organization, personifying your small script. You’ll find it easy to focus for long time periods. In a sense you’re a kindred soul to the large writer, for you both have chosen paths away from the ‘norm’ and your small writing (similar to the large writer’s script) makes you quite independent. Your goals may be just as grandiose as the larger writer’s goals, but you’ll be more private and introspective about them. As a small writer, you’ll be comfortable working alone and, when you’re focused and intent on what you’re doing, will exclude the entire world without even realizing it.

Average-Size Writing: If your lower case letters are about one-eighth of an inch high, your writing is average in size and indicates you have the ability to be practical and realistic; you are able to adapt to your writing without compromising yourself in the process.