Skip to main content

Six Instances When Body Language Matters!

Research has shown that over 70% of communication is non-verbal in nature.

Which means that what you do or what you show is far more impact-making than what you say!

Yes, folks, body language or unconscious non-verbal communication matters more than we think.

So, wouldn't you like to ensure that you are giving the right impression through your body language?

Read on to know how....


  • Facial Expressions: Is your face always serious and bordering on grumpy? Do you have an invisible frown plastered on? Do you find it difficult to smile? Beware....your facial expressions are negative and indicate a surly, non-cooperative nature. Smile more often, relax your facial features. 
  • Eye Contact: Do you avoid looking at a person while talking? Do you tend to glare? Eye contact should be maintained in case of face to face communication. In formal communication with seniors, eye contact suggests sincerity and purpose. However, certain cultures do not encourage direct eye contact between subordinates and seniors. Also, while receiving or delivering bad news, eye contact should be discretionary.

  • Posture: Slouching on the chair while sitting? Head bending down on shoulders? Feet sprawled in front? Walking with the weight of the world on your shoulders? All big no-nos. Posture is very important in case of formal communication. Make sure you sit straight, walk with head held high, and sit with your hands in front of you on your lap.
  • Gestures: Do you continuously move your hands in the air while talking? Have a habit of swinging your key-chain? Fiddling with your ring/pen? Foot tapping nervously? All these gestures are dead giveaways of your nervousness/impatience/distracted attitude/lack of confidence. Control your gestures and fidgeting. Use head and hand movements only to stress a point while speaking, or show that you understand while listening. 
  • Tone of voice: Do you mumble while speaking with strangers? Or shriek while expressing annoyance? Or holler at people when you are angry or irritated?
    Watch out! These are all negative traits. Use voice modulation while speaking in public, and an even tone while speaking one-to-one.
  • Use of space: Do you put your elbows on the table in front of you, even when you don't know the person? Do you lean over the shoulder of strangers to see what their mobile screens are showing? Do you deliberately linger on to listen to private conversations? Indians in particular violate personal space of other individuals too often. Do not overstep your boundaries and step into another's space. Maintain a distance, literally and figuratively.

I hope these tips were helpful to you. Do comment if you want to know about more body language dos and don'ts.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Self-Supported Publishing - Boon or Scam?

When I started writing stories, I felt some people would find solace in my words. The purpose wasn't to earn money through selling books, but yes, money would be welcome when it came. The idea was to provide readers with something they could connect with. As it is, the process of writing involves immense churning within, and exhaustive editing and finishing after you have finally written what you want to. Any creator will tell you it is almost like birthing a child. Self-doubt assails you, you get nervous and unsure about your work, you aren't sure the denouement is looking apt, or the characters are relatable.  Then comes the commercial aspect of it all - as a new writer, you have to keep an eye on the reader's liking, avoid esoteric words and concepts, and make your content readable and catchy. Finally, what starts is the toughest part. Yes. Finding a publisher for your work.  Common Publishing Models For the uninitiated, there are basically two types of publishing models...
1 comment
Read more

Enough! No more rape!

The recent horrifying, stomach-churning incident in Kolkata is not a one-time aberration. It keeps occuring in our country. And we women are also responsible for this stinking rot in society. Ask yourself these uncomfortable questions. How many of you protest when a girl wearing "revealing clothes" is cat-called?  Did you show your support for our wrestlers protesting against a habitual offender? Did your blood boil when you saw pictures of our sisters in Manipur paraded naked?  When rapists are released from prison or routinely escape punishment, do you raise your voice? How many of you have tolerated violence or even casual sexism in your own home? Do you turn the other way when transgenders are leered at? Do you grin and bear it when the men in your family crack obscene jokes? Do Kathua and Hathras ring a bell? And lastly, how many of you thronged cinema halls to make misogynistic horrors like Animal and Kabir Singh blockbusters? I have asked myself and am distinctly feeli...
Post a Comment
Read more

Laapataa Ladies - the Unfortunate Story of Lost Women

Laapataa Ladies is a deceptively simple, yet extremely thought-provoking satire couched in a simple story of exchanged brides. Image Source: IMdB This is the unfortunate story of countless ordinary women living under the veil, in the shadow of uncaring men. Who can't remember any details of their husband or the sasural they are married into. Who are trained only to obey their husband, do their duty in the kitchen, and follow orders of in-laws. Who don't have the liberty to study or do something for their own betterment. What can we expect for such women, except a lifetime of slavery? If the husband happens to be good, then there's some ray of hope. If he's a rascal, then God save her. Thanks to Kiran Rao for addressing the woes of 80% of Indian women living in nameless villages. And thanks for calling out the "greatest fraud" - the fraud of getting ready for marriage and domesticity. Where you can make the perfect kalakand, but you can't find your way...
Post a Comment
Read more