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5 minute read
How often do you think about your body language on the day-to-day?
Most of the time, our body language is unconscious. We move naturally in certain ways without even noticing.
This means we're sending signals all the time, even if we're unaware of them.
By being able to understand our own and other people's body language signals, we can improve our communication on a wide scale.
In this post, we'll cover exactly what body language is, why it's important and how you can use your body language to your advantage in the workplace.
Contents:
- What is Body Language?
- Why is Body Language Important?
- Importance of Using Body Language Cues in the Workplace
- How to Improve Your Body Language for the Workplace
- Key Takeaways
- Download Our Free Communication Skills Handbook
What is Body Language?
Body language is nonverbal communication that includes our posture, hand gestures and movements.
According to experts, nonverbal communication like body language makes up around 70-93% of all communication.
This means, although we use our verbal communication (words) to share and speak our opinions, our body language will often communicate even more to our audience than we realise.
Body language is vital when we're public speaking or presenting to a small or wide audience, here's why.
What is the Role of Body Language in Communication?
Body language enhances and amplifies the verbal message being portrayed through hand signals, gestures and postures. It helps us to convey emotions and intentions that may not be adequately expressed through words alone.
For example, a simple smile can convey friendliness or nodding can convey understanding. This is just two very simple examples. Think of body language as an added bonus to any verbal conversation.
Why is Body Language Important?
Body language allows us to decode what a person is truly thinking or feeling without solely relying on their speech alone. It acts as an additional insight into unspoken emotions which can be crucial in the workplace.
Think about this example:
If a speaker gives off negative body language signals during their speech, the audience is less likely to listen to what they’re saying.
This might sound harsh, but this is just how our human brains think.
Now, not only is this speaker losing the interest of their audience, but they’re also steering away the audience’s attention from the topic – no matter how important it is. No one wants this to happen.
3 Reasons Why Body Language is Important:
1. Understand the Feelings of Others
Being able to read body language means you can understand how another person is truly feeling using unspoken words and reactions.
Some body language types can be difficult to spot as they can happen fast, so you need to give your full attention to keep up and stay on the ball.
Read about common types of body language so you can read anyone’s body language.
2. Show You’re Truly Engaged
Want to show someone you’re truly engaged in their conversation without actually saying it?
Use your body language.
If you’re speaking one-on-one with someone, open up your body language using good posture, a healthy amount of eye contact, open hand gestures if having a discussion and a smile.
This means no crossed arms, hands on hips, harsh hand gestures or zero eye contact! Using disengaged body language might appear that you're uninterested in what they have to say - even if you're not.
Thinking about your body language when you’re listening will help you bond and develop relationships with anyone you speak to.
3. Demonstrate Your Confidence
Not everyone feels confident, especially if you become uncomfortable under pressure or in front of groups of people.
But even the most visually confident people in the world have days where they don’t feel confident but still look it.
So how do they do it?
Using body language.
If you look confident using nonverbal communication, your audience is more likely to believe in your words and follow your lead.
Importance of Using Body Language in the Workplace
Just because you’re not singing on stage or a football manager answering questions, doesn’t mean the same body language principles don’t apply to you in the workplace.
If you want to show you're a team player and that you truly care about the organisation and your colleagues, body language is your answer.
Body language in the workplace can help you show your enthusiasm for projects, your team and their successes or even your friendliness with new team members.
Using body language will help you find it easier to have conversations with colleagues and team members and achieve what you set out to in the workplace.
This means, by not using nonverbal cues in the workplace, you might be misunderstood and leave others confused about your true thoughts on their conversation or even them as a person.
If you stare at someone and subconsciously grind your teeth, others are going to notice and become defensive. We advise you not to do this!
Further reading:
How to Improve Your Body Language for the Workplace
1. Move slowly
If you've ever watched a presentation where the speaker rushes their words, uses quick hand gestures and can't stand in one place, you'll know about this.
Moving quickly with a sense of urgency shows you're uncomfortable in the situation and can also make your audience feel the same.
Although you might be feeling uncomfortable, you may not want your audience to know.
By slowing down your movements, you'll become more relaxed and confident in your words - and your audience will too!
2. Ask for Feedback From Your Peers
Try to be aware of the impact your body language is having during different interactions throughout the day. It might even be worth asking for feedback from those you’ve spoken to really understand how your body language comes across to others.
3. Adopt an Open Posture
What's the difference between an open and closed posture?
By using an open posture, you can build a connection more easily
Bonus Tip: If you find it difficult to remember to use an open posture, give mirroring techniques a try. This is when you pay attention to the body language of others and mirror it subtly - reflecting their expressions or body positions. This doesn't mean mimicking their every move but doing so subtly to create a rapport with that person.
4. Attend a Confidence and Assertiveness Course
If you want to make a positive impact at work or with your colleagues, start by understanding how you are perceived in certain situations. This will help you get the results you're looking for no matter the context.
Our Confident Communication and Assertiveness course is led by Communications Coach and expect, Anne Walsh, who can help you enhance your communication through body language tips and truly understanding your communication style.
Want a taste of what to expect? Access our free taster session with Anne to discover a taste of what you can learn on one of our Confidence & Resilience training courses.
Mastering positive body language isn’t something that can be done overnight - it takes time to naturally be open, confident and engaged.
But work at it and you’ll find yourself doing a little bit better at poker the next time you play.
Key Takeaways
- Body language means nonverbal communication such as eye contact, hand movements and gestures.
- Body language is essential in communication because it gives us insights into how a person is really feeling and thinking.
- Using body language in the workplace offers an opportunity to show you're truly engaged in conversation, interested in what another person is saying and demonstrate confidence.
- Start improving how you use body language in the workplace by attending one of our courses, adopting an open posture (no crossed arms and slouching) and asking for feedback from colleagues to see which areas you need to focus on.
Improve Your Daily Interactions at Work with our Free Communication Skills Handbook
Body language is just a small part of becoming a fantastic communicator. If you’re trying to improve your communication skills or you’d like to be a more engaging public speaker, then download our helpful guide today.
Click the 'Download the Guide' button below to get started.
