subject: About Body Language And Communicating With People [print this page] The term body language refers to the messages you send out together with your body gestures and facial expressions. Some body language specialists claim that only about 7% of our messages to other people are communicated through the words they speak. The remainder of our messages is conveyed through our body language, tone of voice, and facial expressions.
In the work of your whole life you have been sending messages to others through your posture, gestures, and facial expressions. When you were an child, before you learned to speak, people were peering in to your small child face, taking a look at your gestures, and listening to your small cries and gurgles, trying to decipher what kind of mood you were in, and what you were trying to say.
If some body language signals can frighten people away, are there signals that will encourage people to come forward and approach you? Yes, you can look much more approachable to others in case you adopt body language that is open and non-threatening.
Whether you are sitting or standing, objective for a posture that is upright and alert, yet relaxed. In case you notice that your chest or shoulders are slumping, straighten up. Become aware of the way you are breathing.
Does your breath move in and out smoothly? Or does it move with jerky small stops and starts?
In case you notice that you are holding your breath, or inhaling a shallow, jerky manner, this is a sign of anxiety. When you breathe shallowly, you need to breathe more often, which can increase your appearance of nervousness. Consciously tell all the muscles of your body to relax. Use your abdomen to help you breathe smoothly and deeply. Let the bottom part of your lungs fill up with air as well as the top.
You ought to never cross your arms in front of your chest unless you don't need somebody to approach you. That is the message this gesture sends out. In case you need to look open and approachable, keep your arms at your sides, or put one hand in your pocket.
In case you need to hold something in one hand, keep your hand at the side of your body, and not in front of you. Holding your arm in front of your body can be seen as a signal that you need to defend yourself against other people.
Stay aware of and focused on your surroundings and the people around you. In case you find yourself tuning out your surroundings, you will start to focus much on your negative inner sensations and thoughts. This can quickly increase your anxiety to a uncomfortable level.
