Body Language

Body language

Body language refers to the non-verbal gestures that we use to communicate to others. Body language is part and parcel of our day to day activity. Believe it or not, but it is an integral part of our life – even things that we do not intend to communicate verbally, can get expressed non-verbally. 

Research indicates that 7% is conveyed by words, 38% by voice tone and 55% by facial and body expressions. Body language includes behaviors like – body posture, facial expressions, eye moments and gestures.

Body language plays a very important role in one’s personal and professional life. It reveals much about one’s feelings and meanings to others and how others reveal their feeling towards us. Most of the basic communications are common all around the world.

 For example when someone is happy, he/she smiles, when one is angry or sad, they frown. Another example is that of nodding the head which indicates either a “yes” or a “no”. A shoulder shrug is also an example of universal gesture that again indicates that the person doesn't know or doesn't understand. The ring is a universal sign for okay, a v – sign indicates victory and so on.

Types of non – verbal communication

1. Facial expression – our face is extremely expressive. We express countless emotions through our expressions. Few of the emotion expressed by facial expressions are – happiness, anger, excitement, disgust, fear, surprise, desire etc.

 2. Eyes - is considered to be the “window to the soul”. They tell us much about what we feel and think. The ways you look communicate much about you. Now, if the person is looking directly into your eyes it indicates that the person is interested and paying attention and if the individual is breaking eye contact in between that indicates disinterest and uncomfortable. Blinking is a reflex; however how much a person is blinking also indicates much about a person. Excessive blinking indicates discomfort and distress.

3. Mouth – mouth expressions are also important to understand body language. Lip biting is often seen to be displayed by people. Lip biting indicates one’s feeling of being worried, anxious or stressed. A pursed lip on the other hand is an indicator of distaste, disapproval, or distrust.

4. Arms and legs – also provides great amount of information. For example, crossed arms indicate defensiveness and self protectiveness. Similarly, crossing legs away from someone indicates dislike or discomfort from that person. Standing with hands placed on hips indicates that the person is ready and in control. Rapidly tapping fingers is a sign of feeling bored, impatient or frustrated.

5. Posture - our posture tell a lot about us. How we hold our bodies also showcases body language. Sitting up right for example, indicates that the person is focused, friendliness, openness, willingness and paying attention to what is going on. Sitting with the body hunched forward indicates feeling of being bored, hostility and unfriendliness.

6. Touch - we communicate a lot through touch. This includes handshakes, hugs and so on.

Let’s have a look at some positive and negative body language signs that can help us bring forth few changes in us.

Positive body language

• Positive body language is generally quite reliable as an indicator of a person's feelings. It signals interest in the other person and in the conversation.
•  Relaxed posture - comfortably seated, relaxed breathing, no visible stiffness or abrupt movements. These indicate no major barriers to communication.
• Arms relaxed - uncrossed arms and hands open are signs of openness.
• Good eye contact - looking in the other person's eyes, particularly when they are speaking, indicates interest in that person. Proper eye contact involves looking away occasionally to avoid staring.
• Nodding agreement - when nods are used to punctuate key things the other person has said, they signal agreement, interest and understanding. However, continual unconscious bobbing of the head usually indicates that the listener is tuning out.
• Taking notes - shows interest and involvement, particularly if notes are on what the other person is saying.
• Smiling/adding humor - this is a very positive sign. It signals a warm personal relationship.
• Leaning closer - reducing the distance between two people, particularly when the other person is speaking. Indicates interest is up and barriers are down.
• Gesturing warmly - talking with hands, particularly with palms open, indicates involvement in the conversation and openness to the other person.
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Negative body language

• Body tense - stiffness, wrinkled brow, jerky body motion, and hands clasped in front or palms down on the table. These can indicate concern with the topic or dealing with the other person.
• Arms folded in front - creates a barrier; can express resistance to what is being said.
• Hand on face - a hand over one's mouth is a closed gesture. Leaning on one's elbow with the chin in the hand can communicate boredom.
• Fidgeting - moving around a lot, playing with things and drumming fingers are usually a sign of boredom, nervousness or impatience.
• Arms behind head, leaning back - in a well-established relationship this can be a relaxed gesture. In a new relationship, it is often used to express a desire for control or power.
•  Yawning - boredom, confusion. The other person is talking too much or in too much technical detail.
• Impatience - trying to interrupt what the other person is saying, opening one's mouth frequently as if to speak.
• Distraction - eyes flicking about, blank stares, flipping through literature without really reading it, looking at others in the office, looking at the person's body or clothing.
• Leaning away - avoiding moving closer, even when something is handed to the person, is strongly negative.
• Negative facial expressions - these include shaking head, eyes narrowed, scowling, frowning.
• These entire factors can communicate a lot about you. It helps one to form a general impression about us. Is these factors are kept in mind it can help people form a more positive notion about us.