Body language, posture and distance provide important information to supplement words, or verbal communication. They are a crucial addition to the overall message. The full picture also includes facial expressions, eye contact and voice.
2. So, what exactly is Body Language?
Body Language is all the non-verbal communication
we make – both conscious and unconscious.
3. HOW WE JUDGE OTHER PEOPLE AND
HOW THEY JUDGE US
A huge part of our judgments
of other people and their
judgments on us are
visual. Studies have
suggested over 50%
of these judgments
are visual.
4. HOW WE JUDGE OTHER PEOPLE AND
HOW THEY JUDGE US
How do we stand?
How aggressive or
non-threatening are
our gestures? How do
our eyes, skin, hair,
clothes and shoes look?
Do we look happy or
sad, clean or untidy,
confident or nervous,
tired or awake?
Another large part of
these judgments will
be made by listening
to someone’s voice –
the resonance, timbre,
volume, pitch and
pacing.
5. Just how important is it?
And some studies
suggest that only 7%
of our judgments are
based on WHAT WE
ACTUALLY SAY! To be
fair these studies were
usually taken when the
body language was
not CONGRUENT.
6. The actual figures can
be disputed but there is
no doubt that a huge
part of an audience’s
judgment is visual and
vocal.
People spend hours
honing a script for their
speech, choosing exactly
the right words – and of
course that is highly
important – but, it must
be worth also paying
close attention to the
visual and vocal
judgments that
audiences are making
of you every time you
stand up to speak!
7. Different types of body language
There are basically
five types of body
language. You will
probably be able to
recognize the more
obvious signs
8. CLOSED – AGGRESSIVE body
language
Hands on hips
Legs too wife – too
macho
Invading personal space
– too close
Aggressive gesturing –
finger pointing
Standing ‘over’ someone
Over firm handshake
‘Eye balling’ – out
staring
9. CLOSED – DEFENSIVE body language
Crossed arms or legs
Hunched shoulders
Poor eye contact
Leaning away
Tight voice
10. CLOSED – NERVOUS body language
Nail biting
Dry throat –
swallowing / coughing
Blushing –
face/neck/chest
Weak handshake
Avoiding eye contact
11. CLOSED – BORED body language
Looking around the
room
Looking at watch
Drumming fingers
Yawning
Shifting weight
Rubbing face
12. OPEN – INTERESTED body language
Firm handshake
Good eye contact
On the same level
Confident stance
Confident gestures –
chosen gestures
Showing interest –
head nod / slight lean
in