Body language is a form of non-verbal communication that conveys messages through facial expressions, gestures, eye movements, posture, and physical behaviors. Signals are sent and received consciously or subconsciously and accurately interpreted through observing clusters of behaviors. Some key behaviors that can indicate dominance, supportiveness, negativity, or compliance include eye contact, smiling, touching, posture, and hand gestures. Factors like attitudes, appearances, expectations, and settings also impact the messages sent and received through body language.

1. Body Language

2. Non-verbal communication
A series of conscious or subconscious signals to others
Signals are sent by—
Facial expressions
Eyes
Hand movements
Gestures of arms and hands
Leg movements
Posture
Zonal distance and orientation

3. Signals are accurately read in
‘clusters’
Encodes decodes
Sender  Signal  Receiver

4. Selecting positive behaviours
Facial Expressions:
Seven main expressions-
Anger
Disgust
Fear
Happiness
Interest
Sadness
Surprise
Most of the information is carried by eyes, eyebrows, and mouth.

5. Gaze:
Maintain eye contact when talking and when listening
Level of contact depends upon relative status of other person
Area of gaze varies in line with ‘status’

6. Gestures
Head nodding
Beckoning / welcoming

7. Body posture:
Stand with hands held loosely behind the back
Lean slightly towards the other person
Sit still, with no sudden movements

8. Bodily contact:
A controlled way of moving from initiating to building a
relationship
Appearances:
First impressions are geared to looks, not actions
Give a strong signal of social status, place in hierarchy and
ability

9. Body talk

10. Dominant:
Finger –pointing
Eyes steady / fixing / narrowed
Lounging back with hands behind head
Feet on desk
Steep ling
Stands with feet apart
Loud voice, harsh commanding tone
Protects own space, strongly territorial
Invades others space

11. Dominant
Seldom smiles
First thumping
Shakes head more often than he nods
Eyebrow raised in disbelief
Chin thrust forward
Exploding
Strides around impatiently

12. Supportive:
Leans forward, eyes sparkling
Touching
Smiles readily
Jaw relaxed
Nods appropriately
Moderate voice, empathetic tone
Respects others space
Hand gestures frequent
Palms/wrists usually visible

13. Negative:
Legs / arms crossed
Frown lines
Constipated gestures
Closed smile
Frequent pauses
No eye contact
Hunched shoulders
Hand covers mouth
Tortoise neck

14. Compliant:
Nods often
Brief eye contact
Moderate voice
Few gestures
Leans forward to listen

15. Helpful Behaviours
Lean forward, arms uncrossed
Look at the other person for 60% of the time
Make listening signals and noises
Smile
Use other person’s name early in transaction
Ask open questions
Summarize what you think they said

16. Factors that affect the message are...
Attitude
Verbal message
Non-verbal message
Appearance
Background of the communicators
Expectations of the communicators
Setting
Your words and body language must not contradict each
other

17. Non verbal messages
Actions speak louder than words
Tone of voice
Gestures
Facial expressions
Posture
Eye contact
Body movements