Body Language
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People use different ways of communication in their social lives as well as in their professional lives. Apart from the verbal language we mostly use, there is another important aspect of communication called body language. It is the non-verbal communication in the form of body postures, gestures, eyes, and hand movement.
This type of non-verbal communication is the most reliable and quick way of sending thoughts, expressions, and messages. Our body postures, gestures, eye contacts, the tone of voice, or the hand movements are unconscious and are controlled by the limbic system of the brain. The person making such kind of actions is mostly unaware of the messages he or she is conveying through body language.
Similarly, the other party immediately notices the body language of the person and interprets it before he tries to get the verbal message of the other person. The interpretation of body language and its different signs varies according to the society, culture, the perception of the recipient, and many other factors. That is why communicating through body language is often ambiguous.
Importance Of Body Language In a Career
- Research shows that 55% of communication consist of body language. So, the effectiveness of professional life depends on how a person communicates through his or her body language.
- Sometimes communicating through written letters and verbal language is not enough to convey the message or convince the other party, so in that case, responding through different non-verbal techniques prove successful.
- A person appearing for job interview must learn to master the art of non-verbal communication as it is the quick and direct way to respond or understand the other person’s directions. The job candidate, through his proper body gestures, confidence, face expressions, even the dressing, can impress the interviewer. Similarly, if he can interpret the interviewer’s body language, he can easily understand his intentions and in return respond accordingly.
- Through powerful body language, a person can motivate his subordinates, successfully carry out his business deals and meetings, impress his superiors, or smoothly carry on with his team members.
How To Improve Body Language
Improving and learning the art of non-verbal language is not a rocket science. A person needs to have a sharp observation of other people, broad perception, and understanding of different societies and cultures. For instance, understand the social and cultural background of the interviewer in the case of a job interview or working in a foreign country.
Similarly, to better deal with your colleagues in a multinational firm, one must understand different norms of different cultures and different perceptions of different societies. There are numerous examples of using body language at a workplace to achieve success.
- A confident posture in a job interview like sitting straight with high head gives a very positive impact. If you are seated in an awkward position with your arms folded, it shows a lack of confidence and interest. A smiling face has an immediate positive impact on the other person.
- Similarly, the tone of voice matters. A low to medium tone should be used in the workplace to give a positive image. Sometimes the harsh and loud voice is considered as rude.
- Maintaining an eye contact with another person is crucial in establishing an active relationship with someone else. Studies show that 50 to 60% eye contact is necessary during a conversation to show your level of interest. Gazing in other directions here and there can give an impression that you are least interested in the discussion. Rather, one should look downwards in between to break the eye contact.
- Understanding another person’s body language can help you respond accordingly. For example, during an interview or a business meeting, if the speaker senses a negative response from the body language of the opposite party, he can quickly alter his course of action accordingly and try to convince them. The non-verbal communication is as important as the verbal communication to excel in our professional lives.
