Remember that when we are delivering any message, only 7% of that message is our words. The rest is our tone of voice and our non-verbal body language. Our bodies speak volumes. We are always sending signals to others, whether we like it or not. Body language combined with vocal tone can override or even cancel the meaning of the words we say. Make sure your mouth and your body are sending the same signal.
Here are some things to keep in mind about body language:
Eyes, eyebrows, and mouth send out the signals that can make a world of difference.
People who smile are happier than those who don't. Smiling releases a chemical in your brain that makes you feel good. It's a great way to establish a rapport with listeners.
Eye contact helps you carry your message to each person in the audience. It builds trust.
Learn to speak with your hands. Draw lines in the air, make a point, count on your fingers, and emphasize length and width.
Work on appearing sincere and comfortable.
Let your hands do what they want to do, as long as they don't get in your pockets, fiddle with an object, or make obscene gestures to your audience.
Your body posture affects your emotions and how you feel determines your posture. If you are confident, happy and ready, your body will show it.
One of the most important things you can do with body language is learn to pick up cues from people that you are making them uncomfortable.
Rocking
Leg swinging
Tapping
If you sensitize yourself to these simple cues, over time, people will have the experience of feeling more relaxed, at ease, and open with you (and to you). These are the first signals of tension and indicate that the person feels intruded upon or nervous. If it escalates, these signals are often followed by:
Intermittent closing of the eyes
Slight tucking of the chin into the chest
Shoulder hunching
Basically, learn to watch for these, and then adjust your approach. Sometimes just taking one step back, or ceasing talking and getting the other person to talk to you instead, will be all it takes to ease the tension.
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Author: Matthew Coppola, Managing Director of Client Centric.
Client Centric – Executive Employment Solutions are a boutique employment services company specialising in executive and managerial level roles. We are committed to helping you succeed in your career and to do this we have the best staff on board to help you reach your goals. Our team are highly experienced and knowledgeable in a broad range of areas and expertise, so you get the best advice. We service clients all over Australia including Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney and Hobart. We provide Resume Writing Services, Cover Letter Writing, LinkedIn Profiles, Addressing Selection Criteria’s and we also offer a Job Application Service where we apply for jobs on your behalf and all you do is wait for the call. Please visit our website at www.clientcentric.com.au to find out more.
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