In her 16 years as the German chancellor, Angela Merkel has not only made a lasting impact on global politics, but also found a rather iconic solution to the eternal awkward question: what to do with your hands while on a public platform? The leader’s Merkel diamond/rhombus hand posture — the fingertips of both hands touching to form a quadrangular shape — which she typically holds near her stomach has become one of the most recognisable gestures in the world. Adorning bus stands, façades and posters, and with its own Wikipedia page, the diamond has long been encased to portray that Germany was in good hands. But what does the diamond, and other such identifiable body language markers, reveal about Merkel and public personalities like her? Body language consultant Khyati Bhatt, founder and CEO, Simply Body Talk, gives us the lowdown.

Barack Obama does an elbow-tap handshake with Mitt Romney. Pics Courtesy/Getty Images