“What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
A large part of communication comes from body language. A listener must understand the nonverbal part of a message, and a speaker needs to match body language with what they are saying.
Here are some helpful tips for understanding body language:
• Hand gestures – like stop, okay, a firm handshake, thumbs up. Watch Gestures around the world (2.45)
• Head motions – Tilts: curiosity or puzzlement, Other positions: chin lift confidence or determination, Nods for agreement, Shakes for disagreement.
• Expressions – facial expressions often reveal emotion. See the seven universal facial expressions. A genuine smile is conveyed by crinkles at corners of the eyes.
• Looks – eye contact conveys trust, interest, confidence. 4-5 seconds at a time, 50 % of the time while speaking and 70% of the time while listening.
• Posture – good posture is straight (upright), open, approachable, and relaxed.
• Proximity – maintain a proper distance of physical closeness and personal space.
• Proximity – maintain a proper distance of physical closeness and personal space.
Contexts and Cultures
The information communicated through body language varies depending on Contexts:
• Cultural – Read about cultural differences at businessballs.com and skillsyouneed
• Relational – closeness of the relationship
• Individual – skills of the individual
• Social – norms and rules of a group
• Physical environment – location such as a church, a school, or a bar
Learn more about body language
• Try a body language quiz from scienceofpeople, or from the guardian.
• Find exercises for improving posture at this Wakelet.
• Non-verbal communication Pinterest Board
Videos:
TED talks: Your body language shapes who you are by Amy Cuddy (21.02), You are Contagious by Vanessa van Edwards (18.16), and The Power of Non Verbal Communication by Joe Navarro (12:55).
Body language at scienceofpeople
Power of Body Language from gcfglobal.org
Body language at businessballs.com
Power of Body Language from gcfglobal.org
Body language at businessballs.com
Non-Verbal communication from skillsyouneed
The Power of Body Language from Toastmasters
Books:
• The Definitive Book of Body Language by Barbara and Allan Pease
• The Dictionary of Body Language: A Field Guide to Human Behavior by Joe Navarro
• Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication by Vanessa Van Edwards
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