Unlocking the Secrets of Body Language: Enhance Your Communication Skills

Confidence, personality, behavior - Your body language says it all.

Body language is a skill that many people do not have, but it must be developed in today's work and life contexts.

By mastering Body Language Basics, you will gain valuable tools to leverage for your benefit. These versatile tools can be used at home and in the office. A solid grasp of body language basics can give you a significant edge in your communication.

Your body language counts, especially regarding your profession or career, from when you interview to when you attain senior-level positions or become a business owner.

The Body Language Basics online course provides a skill set to help you understand that what is not spoken is just as crucial as what is said. It will also allow you to see and realize how your body language is perceived. You will be able to adjust and enhance your communication through nonverbal communication.

Learning objectives in a nutshell:

• Understand the meaning of body language
• Learn the purpose and benefits of interpreting body language
• Ability to interpret basic body language movements
• Awareness of common errors when interpreting body language is crucial.
• Gain a deep understanding of your body language and the messages you convey
• Master the art of projecting confident and polished body language

Studies reveal that your words account for less than 7% of your messages. The remaining 93% is non-verbal communication. 55% of communication is predicated on what people see; therefore, the other 38% is transmitted through tone of voice.

Within the business setting, people also focus on how you carry yourself.

As you proceed with the body language basics course, you will learn that eye contact is the most blatant way you communicate. How much eye contact should you maintain in a meeting or interview? How much will not be too much? Usually, maintaining eye contact for 60% of the time appears healthy and shows that you are concentrating.

Facial expression is another kind of non-verbal communication. A smile sends an affirmative signal and is suitable. Smiling indicates warmth and an aura of confidence. Your mouth gives cues, too, not just while speaking. Facial expressions such as pressing your lips or twisting them to one side can suggest deep or hidden thoughts during a meeting or discussion.

The head is an indicator of thoughts and feelings. Its position speaks tones, making it the perfect place to start the body language training course. While it takes practice to master the correct head position accurately, the basic positions and movements are not difficult to learn.

Head movements and position:

• Agreeing: Nodding is often a sign of agreement. The speed of the nod, however, can indicate various meanings. A slow nod can indicate genuine interest or a polite, insincere gesture. Seek validation from others. A quick nod indicates a lack of patience with the speaker.
• This position suggests that the individual listens without preconceived notions or favoritism.
• Looking away: This posture suggests a lack of interest or disagreement with the presented information. When done during an activity, it indicates a lack of strength or fatigue.
• Leaning to the side indicates a person's contemplative or open demeanor. It can indicate a sense of reliability.
• Confidently raising one's head: Confidently raising the head can indicate a sense of self-assurance or superiority.
• Keep your head held high: Keeping your head high signifies a sense of defiance or confidence.
• Move forward: Directly facing someone shows that you are interested. It is a promising indication.
• Head down: Lowering the head indicates disapproval.
• Disagreement: A head shaking indicates a difference of opinion. The speed at which the shaking occurs directly correlates with the intensity of the disagreement.

How receptive you are is shown by how you place your arms. Arms crossed or folded over your chest usually show a lack of interest and are considered disrespectful. Waving your arms may show enthusiasm to some, but others see this gesture together as uncertainty and immaturity. The most effective body language is to place your arms by your side. This position makes you look confident and relaxed.

Further, as you delve deeper into body movements, you will realize that not all body language is universal. There are vast differences in how men and women communicate; body language is often confused between genders. To avoid misunderstandings, it is crucial to grasp the universal signals and the gender-specific body language cues that people commonly use for communication.

As an illustration, women generally display more frequent smiles compared to men. Women often smile as a social courtesy or to meet societal norms. Smiles can often be misinterpreted, leading to misunderstandings. In addition, there are differences in how people perceive facial expressions between men and women. It was found in a study published by the American Psychological Association that women, despite displaying the same facial expressions, were perceived to be angrier and less happy compared to men.

But above all, what hinders our professional life can be some of the following gestures which we should avoid at all costs:

• Biting nails: This indicates insecurity or nerves.
• Turning away: Looking away shows disrespect.
• Open palms: Showing open palms is a sign of sincerity or innocence.
• Pulling ears: Tugging at ears can mean indecision and is a turn-off.
• Head tilt: A brief head tilt indicates interest; holding it means boredom.
• Rubbing hands together: Rubbing hands is a sign of excitement or anticipation.
• Touching the nose means the person is lying.
• Touching the chin: A sign of a decision is made.
• Drumming fingers: Sign of impatience.
• Hand on the cheek: Thinking and processing thoughts indicate whether someone is touching the cheek. It can also be a mark of doubt or rejection.

Here are some tips to enhance your body language:

• Exercise: Building a strong body can greatly enhance personal confidence. It can also enhance posture.
• Attire: The way we present ourselves has a direct impact on our self-assurance. Looking sharp can boost our confidence.
• Body Language: Maintaining an open posture can help exude confidence. It will also improve the perception others have of you.
• Speech: Speak with the assurance of someone who knows their worth. Speak clearly and enunciate your words.

We hope that you have learned a reasonable deal about body language. As you go through the learning, you will understand in-depth and practically learn good body language.

There are no prerequisites for joining the course. It is something everyone needs to know in today's world. After all, we are all humans, and the first impression is the last!