BODY LANGUAGE
Do dogs speak? I asked this question to every dog lover who came across me the last week and the single word answer was yes,
Sound strange isn’t it, how when the dog doesn’t know any verbal communication language does he speak, the only relevant answer to it is- that he answers his master thru his body language and boy! What a wonderful understanding and rapport they share with each other.
But many at times when we humans are communicating with each other we misunderstand each other, leading to misinterpretation and confusion. This is only due to disperancy, between the sentences we deliver [verbal] and gestures we make [non-verbal] -which do not match with each other.
Haven’t we often wondered why even after replying all questions to our best capacity in the interview we were not selected, yes the culprit here again is the wrong body language.
Hence even if we are a naturally good communicator- and just as important, a good listener our skills never reach their full potential unless, we understand and follow right body language.
Research consistently shows that in any message only half of the meaning is conveyed thru the spoken word and the other half comes across in the speaker’s body language.
Hence let’s now look into the tips, which we can utilize into our every day use to improve our body language.
- While conversing always maintain eye contactwith breaking the gaze by looking sideways occasionally, but never ever look down while talking and nor stare continuously without blinking .
- While listening always nod slowly, as rapidly nodding the head leaves an impression of a person being impatient.
- Avoid touching the hair again and again, pulling the ears or keeping the hand on the mouth as these can be interpreted as signs of hiding something.
- Always give a firm handshake as a ‘dead fish hand shake’ will not advance one’s candidacy, neither will the opposite extreme ‘ironman bone crusher’ Another thing to add to the handshake ritual is – use only one hand, shake one / three times and drop, don’t keep shaking.
- For the people to perceive you as a confident person always walk tall with the shoulders and head erect and with a non- hurried and deliberate
Wish you a happy conversation.
