Body language is referred to the part of communication that is not spoken and is used to express our feelings and sentiments.
Body language can be unspoken gestures like body movements, which can react to the other person’s saying. Body language plays a significant role in most communication but is more often done unconsciously.
These gestures may differ between countries and hence cannot be acclaimed as a universal communicative process. Here are some Do’s and Don’ts to maintain positive body language:
Tips to Keep Positive Body Language
Keep a relaxed posture – your posture or attitude has to be a relaxed one while sitting or standing. The backbone should be kept straight with a relaxed shoulder. Avoid stiffness of the body. Relaxation will help you to get comfortable with your surroundings.
Use comfortable space – avoid sprawling yourself; instead, keep a significant distance between legs while you sit or stand. This gesture will make others believe that you aren’t stressed. You must learn to show your confidence by this time.
Bend in slightly – this will ensure active participation in listening to the person on the other end. Bending away symbolizes your unresponsive or disinterest towards the topic.
Positioning of the arm – if you cross your arms, this will give a hint that you are willing to drop off from the conversation taking place around you. Hands should be kept relaxed along your side or keep them on your lap to show that you are ready to take up the conversation taking place around you.
Gestures using hands – movement by your hand to explain certain expressions will help you to communicate further, but remember not to use too much of it or else it may seem irrelevant. The prominence of a word through hand movements may ensure better communication and may assure more credibility.
Shaking hands – this may initiate a positive approach towards starting a meaningful conversation. A sturdy handshake may prove confidence and provide immediate credibility.
Keeping firm eye contact – keep straight and confident eye contact with the person while you are speaking and when you are listening from the other end. This will develop mutual trust and understanding.
Agreeable movements – signing some affirmation movements by head nodding or keeping a smile may show some awareness towards the ongoing topic. This kind of action helps others understand your agreement towards their approach or recognize their predicament.
Noting down information – this convinces the person on the other side that you are endorsed into the conversation and that you value what the person is putting up. Identify and analyze the correct occasion to take down notes as it is not necessary for every instance.
Concentration – inhale deeply, hold the breath and breathe out. This will help in staying calm. Focus on reducing body movement and slow down verbal interaction. This helps you to concentrate on your own speech and make you stronger and confident.
Avoid looking at the time frequently – checking your watch frequently displays that you have other commitments and do not wish to continue in the same place for any more time. If you genuinely have urgency, inform the respective person and smartly take leave with consent.
Do not touch your face – frequently, if you touch your face, it reveals a sign that maybe you are not telling the truth or hiding something from the person to the opposite end. Keep a check on yourself; master the course of focusing on different emotions and body languages.
Do not pick on objects – avoid picking your personal belongings, body parts, or objects near you. This shows disapproval and rudeness towards the other person. Picking at things may explain boredom and hence must be managed.
Avoid sticking close to the other person all the time – try not to invade the other person’s personal space while indulging in a conversation. Getting too close questions your ethics and manners, which is not at all desirable.
Avoid tapping objects or body parts – tapping your feet, palm, or even an object may define your impatience and nervousness.
Do not blink too much – over-blinking may lead to deduction of stressfulness. Blink usually and always have a relaxed approach towards the other end. Do not provide unnecessary body language so that you get judged easily.
Keep your palms open – this posture signifies a casual and friendly pose. It also keeps an open end to welcome views and conversation.
Keep a genuine smile on your face – This will help you to observe and analyze situations better.
Reciprocate other people’s body language – This will help to proceed with the conversation and show that you seem interested in the spoken topic.
Avoid a false smile – Fake smiles during inappropriate situations are easily identifiable and may be considered as faulty or dumb reactions. React only when you relate to the topic and maintain honesty in conversation.
Take up greetings – Take up cultural greetings before meetings. This will tighten your socio-cultural relationship with colleagues.
Clarity –There must be enough clarity and confidence in your speech. This will increase credibility and help to convince the other party.
Speak in an even tone – Avoid too much voice modulation. Too many changes to the pitch of your sound may distract your client and make your presentation annoying. Keep an even and calm tone throughout.
Try pointing out – while presenting a screen, try pointing out the screen. This helps to grab the attention of the audience and helps them get interested in your speech.
Walk promptly – walking readily displays self-confidence. It helps to show that you are an enthusiast and have fresh energy to take up projects.
Avoid looking downward-looking downward reveals a weaker personality. It symbolizes a lack of confidence, hence keep a glance at the level of other people’s faces.
Leaning head on one side – this means you have deep concentration over the topic spoken or presented. This displays your interest in grasping the valuable information that is being told.
Avoid monotonicity – Do not forget to blink and change your sight after short instances to keep some pause during the conversation, or else it may seem monotonous and robotic.
Joining fingers of your palm together – keeping the fingers close and palms apart shows authority and superiority. Be careful while using such gestures while in subordinate posts.
Crossed arms near the chest – such a gesture may indicate defensive body language. People may regard that you wish to close off any kind of conversation.
Tugging your ear – pulling your ear sometimes refers to that you are indifferent about making a decision. This signifies a non-committal attitude.
Body language VS Sign language – sign language has its own special grammatical laws and is used entirely as non-verbal communicative means. Whereas body language is a particular gesture used along with verbal discussions to emphasize a certain conversation.
Do not adjust your tie or shirt – this gesture may reveal your discomfort and fear. Try and get rid of such habits to showcase positivity.
Rubbing sweaty hands against your clothes – don’t rub your sweat on your shirt or dress as it displays an anxious nature.
Perfect dressing – always wear well-pressed formals. Dressing correctly shows you a high confidence level. It may also help you prove that you are an extremely organized individual.
Narrow eyesight level – do not try to narrow down your vision in front of the speaker as it may convey the message that you are unable to like him.
Placement of your palm – placing your palm on your cheek while a speaker addresses you convey the fact that you are sincerely interested in the discussion and are trying to evaluate the topics being discussed.
Smacking your lips with your tongue – avoid smacking your lips with your tongue because it is a sign of nervousness.
Avoid too much eyeball movement – look at the person when you are indulging in a communication process. Looking around while answering a question may raise a concern about the credibility of the answer.
Control your speed while speaking – don’t speak faster to show your fluency in a particular language. Speak in a usual manner such that your opinions are understandable.
Positioning of your hand – don’t put your hands on your back or the back of your head as it may convey superiority even when you are the subordinate. It also displays a sign of disrespect and arrogance.
Remain alert about maintaining proper manners in the public – don’t yawn continuously in front of others. It typically shows a sign of disrespect towards the speaker. Continuous yawning also proves that you are not interested in the topic being discussed.
Avoid false concern – don’t fake remorse and empathy towards a person and their situations of crisis. It displays a lack of morals and ethical values.
Proper arrangement of space – use the space provided to you accordingly. This shows your orientation as well as the skills of optimum utilization of resources.
Avoid prolonged eye contact – don’t make prolonged eye contact as it may make the person at the other end uncomfortable.
Ensuring a firm placement of the feet on the ground – placement of legs and feet plays an important role during important interviews. A firm grip of feet on the ground signifies your self-esteem and steady nerves.
Laughter – don’t laugh at inappropriate situations. This is because laughing at serious situations questions your sense of responsibility.
Avoid fidgeting accessories – don’t fidget with accessories on your arms such as rings, wristwatches, or bracelets as it emits a sign of insecurity.
Avoid amalgamation of languages – avoid mixing two or more languages. Try to speak in one language with which you are comfortable enough to express your views and respond satisfactorily.
Avoid making disoriented sounds with your mouth – It shows the lack of behavioral knowledge and disrespect towards other dignitaries. It may also seem annoying to the people around.
Body language has to be a compliment with verbal communication. Hence, proper verbal communication is a universal key to the success of which body language is a subset. Keep on practicing proper body language to showcase in any situation and prepare a catchy speech. This may brighten up your experience, lift confidence and push you to your ultimate destination.
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