10 Quick Tips about Body Language
The term body language refers to the different ways we express our feelings through non verbal communications. These are clues and codes we can generate and derive from unspoken words. These non verbal communications are expressed through behaviours and feelings such as gestures from hands, facial expressions, touch, body posture and eye contacts. Consciously and unconsciously, we display these non verbal codes on daily basis. People around us are also able to decode the meanings of these unspoken expressions. The following are some tips on body language:
- Here is a body language exhibited globally. People tend to move closer to the people they love and are comfortable with. When you notice that someone is trying to get close to you, it’s an indication that they like you and would love to be your friends.
- The importance of look. Experience has shown that nervous people tend to look away from the eyes of a speaker. A sideway look could also imply submission. Understanding body entails understanding different personality and having a perfect knowledge of the situation. Look is another powerful body language.
- Hand shake helps to connect. One of the ways through which we can connect with people we are meeting for the first time is to shake hands with them.
- The power of smile. Smiling is a body language that makes you feel good and also make the people around you happy and comfortable. If you are new to a place and you need to make friends quickly, then smile at the person you will like to go with.
- The power of gestures. This is a powerful body language. Often times we see people accompanying their “goodbye” with the wave of the hands. Even children are taught this same technique of waving goodbye. It makes our spoken words more meaningful.
- Movement of the legs. Nervousness is often controlled through regular leg movement and shift which are body languages. A nervous speaker can be detected by his frequent shift of legs which a sign of uneasiness.
- The power of frown. People that are unhappy and sad often display more confidence in an interview. If you are a nervous person and you naturally feel uncomfortable before a panel, it might be helpful if someone gets you upset few minutes to the time.
- Looking into space. Most speakers are usually nervous at the beginning of their speech. The solution to such sense of inhibition is to look into space as if no one is before you. Looking into the eyes of your audience might stare up inhibition and stage fright. To look into space, therefore, look above their head level.
- Uncrossing legs and arms. By uncrossing your legs and arms, your memory is improved. Research has shown that people who uncross their legs and arms have more retentive tendencies.
- Level of voice. Experience has shown that those who shout are nervous and command less respect unlike those who keep the level of their voice low and cool. To command respect and prove to others you are authoritative, you must keep down the level of your voice.
A Selection of Body Language Quotes
“What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
“The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said.” ~ Peter F. Drucker
“Electric communication will never be a substitute for the face of someone who with their soul encourages another person to be brave and true.” ~ Charles Dickens
“The human body is the best picture of the human soul.” ~ Ludwig Wittgenstein
“But behavior in the human being is sometimes a defense, a way of concealing motives and thoughts, as language can be a way of hiding your thoughts and preventing communication.” ~ Abraham Maslow
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