Body Language - Non verbal communication

What is body language? And what’s its importance?

¨       Body language is a language of signals, without a word being spoken.

¨       Body language is the unique non verbal channel of communication.

¨       It conveys information or expresses ourselves through conscious or sub-conscious gestures, body movements & facial expression, some times unaware that we are doing so.

¨       Study says that 50-60% of information on the character, impact and creditability of a person is conveyed by body language.

¨       Body language has rules & systems that to some extent are learned through imitation and to some extent are determined by our culture.

¨       The ability to identify body language in other and to know how to use it yourself, will give you an immense advantage in dealing with others.

¨       You can communicate more forcefully by using your body effectively.

¨       You can harmonize your inner & outer attitude, so that you feel more relaxed and experience less stress in yourself and in your relationship with others.

¨       You can learn more about others from their body language than from what they say.

¨       Learn the difference between studied and spontaneous body signals, making it difficult for others to hide their true selves.

¨       You can develop your own body language and communication more easily with others.

Body Signals

Our eyes transmit signals about our inner most feelings to other people. We change the expression of our eyes both spontaneously and deliberately. 

Veiled Eyes (To cover secrecy)

Boredom look lack of drive or neutral dullness.

Slit Eyes (Narrow space between eyelids)

The circular muscle around the eye contracts and leaves only a small eye slit. Means –

¨       Extremely concentrating.

¨       Significantly – look.

¨       Also narrow minded.

¨       Or jealous personality.

(But short sighted people often narrow their eyes to see better)

Closed Eyes

¨       Such eyes are protective.

¨       Feeling of isolation.

¨       Dhyan mudra.

¨       Or enjoy listening music.

A wink (opening/closing excessively)may convey – unreliability / Dishonesty.

Screwed up Eyes (Squeezing eyes.)

¨       If you screw-up your eyes you close them tightly to show that you dislike some thing / unpleasant / reluctance.

Blinking eyes (Rapid or repetitive involuntary movement of eyelids) - 

Embarrassment / In security / Tension.

What’s in a look?

Eye contact, directions and movements are ways of observing and interpreting the relationship between two people. An exchange of glances between two people reveals the dominating character in a conversation. In principle, the stronger personality creates eye contact more quickly, more often and more persistently. You can also find out that:

¨       Those who look at others can support the validity of what they say and appear more competent;

¨       Those who look at the floor are overcautious and try to avoid new ideas, experiences or risks;

¨       An open look comes from an open person.

More Body Signals

Person sitting back in his / her seat with chin down & arms crossed on his / her chest.	Speaker may have a feeling that his delivery was not going across. Means audience needs to be involved.
When people smile	Sign of happiness.       Sign of appreciation some time.
When people frown / scowl / glare	SAD or ANGRY
Nodding the head	YES / Affirmation.
Shaking the head from side to side	NO – or / NAGATION.
Shoulders shrug gesture. (With exposed palms & raised brow)	Person does not know or understand what you are talking about.
Sitting with crossed arms and legs tightly	Feeling cold and / or, not interested.
An open palms	Honesty

It somebody holds coffee cup with both hands in front of the chest	Insecurity; the cup.
Lean back in chair with legs spread. (Steeple gesture)	Arrogant / superior / over confident.
Crossed arms & legs & glancing away	Looking unreceptive / not interested.
Slouch / hunch shoulders keep head bent	Depicting lack of confidence.
Movement with head raised, & Speight posture, shoulders square and even, sketched shrive keep body weight equally balance on both feet.	Sense of self esteems and confidence, equisetic.
A firm hand shake with warm smile and steady eye contact.	Sign of strength and honesty.
Bone crushing squeeze hand shake	Dominant and aggressive.
A weak hand shake, or only fingertips are in contact	Ineffectiveness / negativity / insincere.
A damp palm	Nervousness.
Mimicking (unconsciously) (consciously)	Agreement, Friendliness.
Thumb up	All’s well.
Ring signal	Okay
Kissing the finger-tips, chin and beard stroking, or stroking each cheek with the thumb and the first finger.	Appreciation of a woman.
Thumb down / holding the nose by pinching the nostrils	Bad news.
Shrugging / turning down the corners of the mouth / raising an open hand to shoulder height	Failing to understand.
Lopsided smiles, head turning, contraction the pupils of the eyes	Lack of interest.
Twiddling the thumbs / rubbing the cheeks with the back of the fingers	Signs of boredom.
Drumming the fingers / foot fidgeting / slapping a thigh	Impatience.
Distorted smiling	Sarcasm
Stroking the throat	Disbelief.
Rubbing an eye / ear, rubbing the neck	Signs of deceit.

 Messages by nose and mouth

1	Wrinkling you nose  (To move part of your nose so that small lines appear on it) (The medicine made him wrinkle up his nose in disgust)	Reluctance / displeasure / disgust but agreed to suffer something.
2	Pouting - Pushing out of your lips         – (specially lower lip)	Shows anger ness, Shows you are annoyed.
3	Without a word	Eloquent lips can adopt a variety of postures which reveal a wide range of emotions from attraction to fury embarrassment to boredom.
4	Pressed lips	I disagree, I do not want this.
5	Pursed lips	Sign of disapproval (Arrogant and superficial character)      (Self important people like to purse their lips).
6	Biting your lips Best of luck - Ashutosh	Lack of self confidence. Make your life better - www.shreepadgems.com http:shreepad-gems.blogspot.com