Whether you’re
- – going for an interview
- – giving presentations
- – contributing at meetings
- – ensuring you have a presence at work or in social situations
the way that you choose to communicate and present yourself has a powerful impact, positive or negative.
What is communication? The word derives from the Latin ‘communis’ meaning ‘shared understanding’.
Shared understanding depends upon
- – how we speak,
- – how we listen and
- – how we build empathy.
It involves how clearly we express ourselves and structure what we say, our choice of words, taking time and patience to understand. It is also about our body language.
When you’re planning for an interview, meeting or presentation, you may well spend much time thinking about what to say. Think too about how you say it.
Your body language is vitally important as it has the power to
- – enhance
- – confuse or
- – undermine
what you want to get across.
Your body language is also an indicator to others of
- – how confident or unconfident you are, and
- – how you see yourself
People can misinterpret body language and unfortunately a shy person can even come across as arrogant.
How you come across at meetings, interviews and presentations, managing staff, networking and social gatherings at work – and in your personal life is greatly affected by your body language. It will play a key role in encouraging or discouraging people to listen to you and take your seriously
What is body language?
There are many elements of body language. Here are eleven of them:
- Accessories
- Breathing
- Clothes
- Eye contact
- Facial expression
- Gestures
- Hair style
- Handshake
- Personal space
- Posture
- Tattoos
How many more can you think of?
Body language gives signals about feelings, separate from the words themselves. It can indicate anger, fear, nerves, or excitement and positivity. It can say “I respect you” or “Stay away from me”, “I am interested” or “I am disinterested”. It gives clues as to how you feel, even though you don’t express it.
Step forward……
So work on developing positive body language.
- Be aware of what your body language conveys. No matter how articulate you are, your words and intentions will be lost if you are inaudible, mumble, hunch your shoulders, fiddle with a pen or look down at the ground.
- Maintain a straight posture, yet with open and relaxed gestures.
- Wear clothes that are relevant to the occasion, formal or informal, and fit with the culture
- Keep good, pleasant eye contact, neither staring or glaring.
- Ensure your words are clear and your voice audible, that no one is struggling to hear
- When you walk into a room, whatever the occasion, show to people a quiet, outer confidence, even if you feel nervous inside. Greet people, shake their hand, nod a welcome.
- If you go to join people at social gatherings or parties, have confidence to catch someone’s eye, go across and introduce yourself. If you see 3 people talking together, that’s best number to join as you may interrupt 2 people in a private conversation. It’s easier to integrate in a threesome. You can also tell from others’ body language, how receptive or not they are likely to be. Do they give eye contact, do they look welcoming?
- Show empathy and that you’re truly listening, through your facial expression, nodding, shaking your head, frowning, smiling – as is appropriate.
- Keep up with people, whether walking, talking, listening – don’t lag behind or race ahead.
Assertive body language reinforces the message of the words.
Showing a calm confidence will enable you to engage, to have dialogue, to build and maintain relationships and for others to do so with you.
Remember that if body language is inappropriate and either passive or aggressive, can you can trip yourself up without any help from anyone else!
