Pamela Barnum

Former Undercover Police Officer and Federal Prosecuting Attorney | Trust Strategist & Nonverbal Communication Expert

Imagine what it would be like to live as a different person with a different name, identity, and background. For months at a time, you’re living with a false identity, and your success depends on building trust and detecting deception with some of the most dangerous people imaginable. That’s precisely what Pamela Barnum did for years working undercover in the Drug Enforcement Section. She learned real-world techniques for building trust and interpreting body language.

When Pamela graduated from law school, she left policing and accepted a position as a federal prosecuting attorney. She spent countless hours in the courtroom, perfecting her proficiency as a trust strategist and body language expert.

Following a successful 20-year career in the criminal justice system, Pamela studied corporate negotiations in graduate school. Now, she shares her expertise with others, teaching them how to improve their communication skills to increase trust inside corporations, associations, and law enforcement agencies.

As a body language expert and trust strategist, Pamela delivers techniques once thought of like a “secret second language” that participants can begin using immediately.

Take decades of experience, including working deep undercover in narcotics, followed by a rewarding legal career, and you get real-world strategies that help participants crack the code on trust and improve professional relationships using proven field-tested techniques.

Pamela shares her experience, research, and expertise with humor, candor, and energy, blending actionable strategies with memorable stories.

She is also a featured expert and contributor in print media, radio and television news programs in Canada and the United States. She has appeared in person in front of audiences ranging from 50 – 12,000 and on countless virtual stages.

Crack the Code on Trust: Insider investigative Techniques for Leaders

Studies show that the higher the level of trust, the more successful the outcome will be. Nonverbal communication is a significant data source used to make decisions around trust.

Using insider techniques, Pamela will help you and your organization Crack the Code on Trust by learning to:

• • Accurately assess others nonverbal cues (body language). Discover and learn strategies used to build trust quickly and easily with anyone; including demanding clients, difficult customers, and challenging stakeholders.
  • Behave in a way that communicates confidence and trustworthiness in every situation. Develop nonverbal communication techniques that make people feel validated and appreciated.
  • Create an environment that fosters authenticity and trust – turning first impressions into winning impressions.

Conflict & Violence Reduction in the workplace

Studies show that workplace conflict and violence continues to increase year over year and has become so commonplace that most fail to report it. The cumulative effect of violence creates burnout and contributes to organizational failure.

While enhanced security measures are one solution, the costs can be staggering. However, using what is currently already available in many workplaces and training employees to decode others’ nonverbal cues for indicators of violence while using proven de-escalation techniques is a cost and time-effective solution.

Using insider techniques learned in law enforcement and the latest research, participants will learn how to:

• • Correctly interpret others’ nonverbal cues in a dynamic environment that can shift toward violence at a moment’s notice. When cues are recognized, you can react using strategies to de-escalate and limit exposure to violence. 
  • Perform in a way that communicates calm control. Using nonverbal communication that displays confidence and empathy that makes people feel validated and appreciated will set the tone for a culture of safety founded on trust. Participants will be given several tools they can begin using immediately. 
  • Design an environment that fosters safety and trust, thereby stimulating high confidence and performance in the people who work for and with them.

3D trust in a 2D World: Innovative Approaches to Enhance Trust Virtually 

Within milliseconds, people judge your confidence, competence, and credibility. Virtual events and meetings enhance the subtle nuances that either improve or destroy your trustworthiness. Participants will discover:

• • The in-person communication techniques that do not translate to virtual meetings and how to avoid awkward moments and “Zoom fatigue.” 
  • Nonverbal techniques and platforms leaders can use to increase engagements during the meeting or event. 
  • The top three nonverbal techniques that increase trust and the top three that damage trust during virtual events and meetings – and they aren’t what you think.

This program is delivered virtually on your platform of choice.

Empowering with Empathy

The intentional display of empathy layered with confidence arouses leadership, influence, fascination, and engagement, thereby establishing trust. However, our habitual/unconscious nonverbal reactions keep us stuck, repeating miscommunication cycles, resulting in a lack of trust. 

Fortunately, when we shift our nonverbal cues (body language) to communicate empathy and confidence, we inspire leadership, influence outcomes, and fascinate and engage during the most challenging circumstances.

Participants will learn how to immediately: 

• • Communicate confidence and empathy using nonverbal cues. 
  • Apply emotional intelligence to process others’ affective states, mental states, facial expressions, and postures. 
  • Translate cues to assist with perception-taking; a reliable method to reduce negative social stereotyping.