Host: Viji Hari
Handwriting is more than just a means of communication; it is an extension of our subconscious mind. Every stroke, slant, and space on a page reveals deeper insights into our personality, emotional state, and behavioral tendencies. In the latest episode of the Safe Space Podcast, host Viji Hari explores the intriguing world of graphology—the analysis of handwriting. She is joined by Dr. Gomathy Venkateshwaran, CEO of Fugo Health and Furniture, who has spent over 25 years studying handwriting patterns. Together, they discuss how graphology is used in recruitment, workplace investigations, and even personal relationships.
Graphology: The Science Behind Handwriting and Behavior
Graphology is not just about analyzing handwriting—it is a scientific approach that deciphers emotions, thoughts, and behavioral traits through writing patterns. According to Dr. Gomathy, handwriting captures subconscious cues, revealing a person’s ability to work in a team, their leadership style, and even tendencies toward deception or aggression. This makes graphology a powerful tool in areas such as workplace investigations and hiring decisions.
A Personal Journey into Graphology
Dr. Gomathy’s fascination with handwriting analysis began during his college years in Chennai. Frequent visits to the British Library introduced him to Osborne’s books, igniting his curiosity. Initially, he analyzed friends’ handwriting for fun, but as he saw the accuracy of his interpretations, he realized the potential of graphology as a professional tool. Today, he applies graphology in recruitment, behavioral assessments, and even personal relationships to better understand human nature.
Applications of Graphology in the Workplace
Graphology in Recruitment and Relationships
One of the most practical applications of graphology is in hiring decisions. Recruiters often struggle to choose between candidates with similar qualifications. Graphology provides an additional layer of insight, assessing a candidate’s work ethic, leadership potential, and compatibility with a corporate culture. Dr. Gomathy introduces the concept of corporeal balance—a blend of professional and personal relationships. Understanding a person’s true nature through handwriting can help prevent misjudgments based on molded behaviors, which are temporary personas people adopt in high-stakes situations.
Graphology: A Tool for Understanding True Personality
Unlike astrology, graphology is not a predictive tool. It does not forecast the future but rather provides expectations based on behavioral patterns. It serves as a catalyst for better decision-making in personal and professional settings.
Handwriting analysis focuses on various elements such as:
- Stroke Patterns – The movement of letters like ‘Y’ and ‘G’ that extend below the baseline versus ‘L’ and ‘T’ that rise above.
- Letter Connectivity – Whether letters are written in a continuous flow or separately.
- Slant and Alignment – Whether handwriting leans left, right, or remains straight, indicating emotional tendencies.
- Margins and Spacing – How a person structures their text on a blank page can reveal organizational skills and cognitive processing.
To get the most accurate analysis, it is best to write on unruled paper using different pens (ink, ballpoint, and gel). This reveals how a person adapts to different environments and pressures.
Graphology beyond Recruitment
Beyond recruitment, graphology can be used in various worplace scenarios:
- Employee Compatibility & Teamwork – Graphology helps determine how well an employee will collaborate, handle stress, and follow standard operating procedures.
- Leadership Potential – It identifies whether a person is a natural leader, respects hierarchy, or tends to bypass structures.
- Work Style Assessment – Graphology aids in classifying employees under McGregor’s Theory X or Y—distinguishing between rule-followers and independent thinkers.
- Behavioral Predictions – It provides insights into conflict resolution, attention to detail, respect for authority, and adaptability in the corporate environment.
Graphology in Workplace Investigations: A New Lens for Understanding Intent
In sensitive workplace inquiries, particularly sexual harassment investigations, uncovering true intent, emotional state, and behavioral patterns is crucial. Since many incidents happen behind closed doors with limited evidence, handwriting analysis can serve as an additional tool to assess the authenticity and emotional undertones of written statements.
Handwriting Analysis in Investigations
Graphology does not focus on the words themselves but on how they are written. In an investigation, analyzing the complainant’s and respondent’s handwriting can reveal:
- True Intent – Is the complaint genuine, or is it exaggerated/misinterpreted?
- Emotional State – Was the statement written under distress, fear, or calculated intent?
- Response Analysis – Is the accused person defending themselves with sincerity, or do they appear defensive and pre-planned?
- Signs of Deception or Guilt – Handwriting can indicate whether a person is concealing information, feeling anxious, or avoiding responsibility.
Handwritten Statements: A Critical Tool in Investigations
Many modern organizations rely on typed statements for documentation. However, asking for a handwritten complaint and response allows for deeper analysis. A well-trained graphologist can assess whether:
- The complainant truly believes they have been wronged or if they have misinterpreted a situation due to personal biases.
- The accused is composed and truthful or is displaying avoidance and defensiveness.
- The response was written with sincerity or pre-rehearsed to create a certain impression.
Graphology in the Court of Law
Graphology is also recognized as a forensic tool in legal proceedings. Courts have used handwriting analysis in fraud cases, forgery investigations, and criminal profiling. Expert graphologists have testified in trials, helping to determine the authenticity of documents, the psychological state of individuals at the time of writing, and whether signatures have been manipulated. In high-profile cases, graphology has provided crucial insights that influenced judicial decisions.
Takeaway for PoSH Investigations
Since sexual harassment cases often lack tangible proof, adding handwriting analysis to the inquiry process can bring valuable insights. Encouraging handwritten complaints and responses instead of digital or typed statements can provide additional behavioral cues, making investigations more comprehensive and insightful.
The Relevance of Graphology in a Digital World
Despite the prevalence of digital communication, handwriting remains a deeply personal and revealing aspect of human behavior. Graphology offers unique insights that can aid in hiring, workplace compatibility, personal relationships, and investigations. By understanding the science behind handwriting, individuals and organizations can make more informed decisions, leading to better team dynamics, improved leadership selection, and fairer workplace evaluations.
As we continue to embrace technology, graphology reminds us of the power of human expression through the simple act of writing.
The Future of Graphology in Workplaces
Dr. Gomathy highlighted the growing potential of graphology in workplace assessments, particularly in recruitment and team-building. As AI and automation take over many cognitive tasks, organizations will seek deeper insights into human personality and behavior, making handwriting analysis a valuable tool for:
- Evaluating authenticity – Unlike AI-generated responses, handwriting reveals genuine traits, helping employers understand an individual’s core personality.
- Selecting the right candidates for leadership – Graphology can assist in identifying suitable leaders by assessing traits like decision-making, stress tolerance, and compatibility
- Building cohesive teams – A single disruptive team member can affect workplace morale, and graphology may help filter potential issues early.
However, Dr. Gomathy also noted its limitations, such as:
- Ineffectiveness for children under 13 (since handwriting is still developing).
- Typing-intensive professionals (who may have altered handwriting due to repetitive strain).
- Individuals with neurological disabilities (where shaky handwriting may not reflect personality traits).
Conclusion
This episode of The SAFE SPACE Podcast highlights the fascinating world of graphology and its potential applications in workplace dynamics, recruitment, and investigations. Understanding handwriting can provide valuable insights, but it is essential to use it as a complementary tool alongside other assessments.
We look forward to bringing you more thought-provoking discussions in our upcoming episodes. If you have any specific topics you’d like us to cover, do write to us! If you’re interested in being a part of this podcast, we’d love to hear from you. You can reach out to me at viji@cecurus.com.
