Some of the most powerful means of communication require very few words, if any at all.
Our bodies can express an array of emotions. How you carry and present yourself physically is just as important (and in some cases, more so) as being well-spoken
SO WHAT IS BODY LANGUAGE?
Body language, also referred to as nonverbal communication, is how we interact with others without using words.
This interaction can be something as simple as a shift in weight when we’re standing or a more substantial gesture such as burying your face in your hands.
Regardless of the movement, nonverbal communication often conveys far more about your feelings than any words could, filling in the gaps of an individual’s communication style.
It can tell us if someone is a leader or a follower, engaged or disinterested, fearless or afraid, loving or detached.
But how exactly does the body speak?
Can you train yourself to communicate better through your movements?
Can you also learn to read the body language of others:
HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITHOUT WORDS
Our ability to convey a wide range of emotions without the need to say a word stems from our bodies being incredibly complex machines.
Effectively, we are communication towers that can walk. The signals we send out to others have been refined over time so that most are universal and easily translated.
However, we are each unique, and so too is our physical communication style. To help you refine your nonverbal methods and techniques, let’s review the most common aspects of body language.
POSTURE AND POSITION
Are you an open individual?
Or someone that is more closed off to others?
How you sit or stand, and the placement of your extremities while doing either can reveal the type of person you are. And it goes beyond simply maintaining a stiff spine.
The way you hold your head can communicate confidence or lack thereof.
The manner in which you walk matters too. Straight and upright displays a sense of purpose. Slouched and dragging your feet will send out a definite vibe of laziness or low energy.
Folded arms or crossed legs can quickly close you off to others. Power poses like placing your arms on hips, and feet facing forward, shoulder length apart can inspire respect.
Your posture and positioning is often the first impression an individual has of you, and the way you carry both will instantly communicate a lot about the type of person you are.
GESTURES
In general, gestures are the most explicit way to show nonverbal prompts, and our hands are some of the best indicators of positive and negative feelings.
From thumbs up and thumbs down to an okay sign or something a bit more profane, we can quickly convey multiple sentiments with the shape of our fingers.
Also, the common act of talking with your hands is a crucial component of gesture-based language.
Many people associate hand gestures while speaking with an excellent grasp of the subject matter. At the same time, it provides visual cues for an audience to follow, thereby keeping them engaged and drawn in with the presenter.
Think back to some of the best public speakers you’ve seen, and chances are high they incorporated hand movements into many of their speeches.
Though one aspect of hand gestures to remember is that when you travel abroad, those same gestures we reference for the US may not always translate the same for nonverbal communication in other countries.
PROXIMITY AND TOUCH
These could easily be two separate discussions, but in today’s society where personal space is more respected than at specific points in the 20th century, proximity and touch go hand in hand.
First, let’s start with the all-important handshake. Firm handshakes can infer a dominant, commanding personality. Anything less than enthusiastic can easily label that individual as disinterested and weak.
It’s good to find a middle ground with what often serves as our initial greeting with others. Firm and authoritative while not holding the grip too long will establish you as serious, committed and genuine.
When it comes to spacing, the distance you give others is very situational, and many times depends on the relationship you have with each other or the interaction that is required.
With co-workers and colleagues, you’ll want to read how others exert their physical presence. Some people very clearly put distance between themselves and others. This can be both a means to exercise power or to provide isolation.
However, working in groups or dealing with friendly acquaintances may close the proximity gap significantly.
You have your own level of comfort to consider too.
In general, spacing of about 3 to 5 feet is acceptable for close proximity interactions or 5 to 10 feet if the situation is a bit broader.
For family, friends and significant others, the distance and touch rules obviously change. As we noted, it depends on the type of relationship and the comfort level the individuals have with one another.
FACIAL EXPRESSION
Your facial features when your mouth isn’t moving doesn’t exactly fall under the heading of body language, but it indeed leads the discussion when talking about nonverbal communication.
Let’s face it, nothing conveys (or betrays) your emotions faster than a roll of the eyes, a purse of the lips, or a raise of an eyebrow.
People may quietly recognize if you’re arms are crossed or buried in your pockets, but they will almost always acknowledge what’s written on your face.
It’s not unreasonable to say that more than any other type of nonverbal prompt, your facial expressions will be judged by others.
It makes sense too when you realize you can relate everything from anger and fear to joy and happiness with the expression on your face.
With that said, to improve your nonverbal communication, it’s good practice to train yourself to present facial expressions appropriate for the environment in which you find yourself.
A good rule is to avoid being overly emotional or too underwhelmed in public or professional settings. Save your most expressive facial reactions for private moments or when you’re around people you trust.
This guest post was graciously shared by Anna Kucirkova. Anna speaks 3 languages and has a passion for kids and writing. While she has been to many places in Europe and SE Asia she still wants to explore the rest of the world. The link to her original piece is here.