Body Language

Did you know that body language accounts for over 90% of a conversation! Body language can be used to help conduct an interview, give a presentation or make that important sale: a conversation stretches so much further than speech.

Usually when we communicate with or see people, we only respond to what is being said, heard or generally seen. Our body language will give others an impression of ourselves or show our emotions, it ca also express a thousand words.

Everyone has a different posture and it usually develops through habit over the years.

Gestures

Doing one thing may mean another as the case may be. A simple touch of the nose could mean that you aren‘t being truthful.

If you talk to someone who originally has folded arms, crossed legs and perhaps turning away slightly, you may think that they are uninterested and also feeling detached from your conversation. If they start to unfold their arms, uncross their legs, etc, it may be a sign that they are accepting your issue.

Another gesture that we use is called ‚mirroring‘. You may not know it, but we are attracted to those people who are similar to ourselves.

Grooming gestures are those things we do to reassure ourselves.This may involve you perfecting your hair or clothes. We normally do this when we are around people we don‘t know, and so we groom ourselves to make us look more presentable to lift our confi dence.

Facial expression

A simple smile can make others feel more at ease where a frown can make people see that you are aggressive or unsure of something. We use facial expressions to get our points across in the right context.

Eye contact

Maintaining eye contact when talking or listening to someone gives an impression that you are confi dent and honest. Making little eye contact can say that the other person doesn‘t like you, is nervous or shy, or perhaps believe that they are higher in status and think that eye contact isn‘t necessary. If talking to people outdoors, avoid wearing sunglasses as this can be very uncomfortable for the other person and can give an image of trying to hide your identity.

When we don‘t know someone, we use their body language to get fi rst impressions of them. In most cases, the impressions we make are wrong, as a positive form of body language may mean something negative about them.

Use body language to make you appear more confi dent, powerful, trusting, etc depending on the situation. If you give off negative signs, then it could be the difference of achieving your goal (e.g. a successful presentation, proposing an idea in a meeting, etc).

Pavla Mrůzková (ABC Article Directory)

Vocabulary:

accounts- odpovídat za

conduct- vést

stretch- rozpínat se

posture- držení těla

respond- odpovídat

habit- zvyk

gestures gesta

truthful- pravdomluvný

detached from your conversation- vyčleněn z rozhovoru

sign- znamení

issue- záležitost

‚mirroring‘ zrcadlení

grooming gestures- gesta upravování se

reassure- ujistit se

perfecting- vylepšení

groom- upravit se

lift our confidence-zvýšit sebedůvěru

facial expression- výraz obličeje

ease- uvolnění

frown- zamračený pohled

unsure- nejistý

maintaining eye contact- udržování očního kontaktu

confident- sebejistý

honest- upřímný

higher in status- výše postaven

uncomfortable- nepříjemný

appear- vypadat

depending on- v závislosti na

give off- vypustit

achieving your goal- dosažení cíle

 

A QUIZ 

Decide if these statements are True or False:

1. Touching your nose could mean you are a liar. …..

2. Having your arms crossed means you are involved in a conversation. …..

3. Grooming gestures make you feel better and comfortable. …..

4. You may achieve the goal without getting rid of your unpleasant signs. ….

Solution : 1.T, 2.F, 3.T, 4.F