Body Language is a very powerful tool - both in professional life as well as in social life. Pictorial presentation may help a lot.

1. What Every Body is Saying.
Decode Nonverbal
Communication

2. What Is Nonverbal Communication
• Nonverbal communication, referred to as “Body
Language” is a means of transmitting information.
• It is achieved through facial expressions, gestures,
touching, physical movements, posture, tone, volume of
an individual’s voice.
• Nonverbal communication comprises about 60% - 65%
of all interpersonal communication.
• Nonverbal communication reveal a person’s thoughts,
feelings & intentions.
• They tell about the person’s true state of mind.
• Body language is more honest than an individual’s verbal
communication which are consciously crafted to
accomplish speaker’s objectives

3. Ten Commandments of Nonverbal Communication
Be a competent observer of your environment
Observing in context is a key to understanding
nonverbal communication
Learn to recognize & decode nonverbal behavior
that is universal
Certain nonverbal behaviors are relatively
unique to a particular individual
When you interact with others try to establish
their baseline behavior
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4. Ten Commandments of Nonverbal Communication
Always try to watch people for multiple tells –
behavior that occur in cluster or in succession
It is important to look for changes in a person’s
behavior that can signal changes in thoughts,
emotions, interest or intent
Learning to detect false or misleading nonverbal
signals is also critical
Ability to distinguish comfort & non comfort is
critical for decoding nonverbal communication
Observe people carefully & decode their
nonverbal behavior accurately
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5. Let us Study Few Body Language Signals

6. Note features of face when not stressed.
Eyes are relaxed & lips should be full
A stress face is tense and slightly contorted, eyebrows
are knitted, & forehead is furrowed

7. The “turtle effect” [shoulder rise towards ears] is
often seen when people are humbled or suddenly
loose confidence

8. People lean away from each other subconsciously when
they disagree or feel uncomfortable around each other

9. Eye blocking is a very powerful display of
concentration, disbelief, or disagreement

10. Rubbing of forehead is usually a good indicator
that a person is struggling with something or is
undergoing slight to severe discomfort

11. 1. Cheek or face touching is a way to pacify when
nervous, irritated, or concerned.
2. Exhaling with puffed out cheeks is a great way to
release stress & to pacify. Notice how often people do
this after a mishap

12. Person adjust tie to deal with insecurities or discomfort.

13. When stressed or nervous people will “cleanse” their palms
on laps in order to pacify themselves .
It is a very accurate indictor of discomfort or anxiety.

14. Ventilating of neck area relieves stress &
discomforts.

15. Where one foot points and turn away , this is a sign the
person has to leave, precisely in that direction.
This is an intention cue

16. When toes point upward, it usually mean the person is
in good mood or is thinking or hearing something positive

17. We normally cross legs when feeling comfortable.
Sudden presence of someone we do not like will
cause us to uncross legs

18. When two people are talking and both have crossed their
legs, this is an indication that they are comfortable
around each other

19. The man has placed his right leg in such a way that
the knee acts as a barrier

20. Man has positioned his legs so that knees is further away
Removing barriers between himself & the woman.

21. When a person talks to you with feet pointed away, it
indicates that person wants to be elsewhere.
Watch people who make formal declaration in this position.
This is a form of distancing

22. Sudden interlocking of legs may suggest discomfort or
insecurity. When comfortable they unlock their ankles

23. Sudden locking of ankles around legs of a chair is part of the
freeze response & is indicative of discomfort, anxiety, concern

24. People lean toward each other when
there is high comfort & agreement.

25. A sudden crossing of arms during conversation could
indicate discomfort

26. 1. In public people comfortably cross arms while waiting or
listening to a speaker. Around the house we rarely sit like this
unless something is bothering like waiting for a late ride.
2. Crossed arms with hands tightly gripping arms indicate
discomfort

27. Splaying out is a territorial display, which is ok at home
but not in the workplace, especially during interview.

28. Arms akimbo is a powerful territorial display that can be
used to establish dominance or to communicate that there
are issues

29. 1. Women tend to use arms akimbo less than man. Note position
of thumb in this photograph. This is “there are issues” position.
2. Arms are akimbo but thumbs are forward. This is more
inquisitive less authoritarian

30. Interlaced hands
behind head are
indicative of comfort &
Dominance.
Usually senior person
at a meeting will pose
Or “hood” this way

31. 1. Fingertips planted
spread apart on
a surface are
significant display of
confidence &
authority.
2. Arms spread out
over chairs tell the
world you are feeling
confident &
comfortable.

32. Nail biting is
Generally
perceived
as a sign of
Insecurity or
nervousness

33. Steepling
of hands,
fingertips to
Fingertip,
is powerful
display of
confidence

34. Hand-wringing
is a universal
way of showing
we are stressed
or concerned

35. Often seen with high
status individuals, the
thumb sticking out of
the pocket is a high
confidence display

36. 1. Thumps up
is usually a
good indication
of positive
thoughts.
This can be
very fluid during
a conversation
2. Thumb can
disappear when
there is less
emphasis or
emotions turn
negative

37. Thumbs in pocket
indicate low status
& confidence.
People in authority
should avoid this
display because it
sends wrong
message

38. Often used as a sign of
insecurity or social
discomfort, thumbs in pocket
transmit this message readily
and thus should be avoided

39. 1. We often pacify
anxiety or
nervousness by
stroking our
fingers across the
palm or rubbing
hands together.
2. When fingers
interlace to rub
up & down, brain
is asking for extra
hand contact to
pacify more serious
anxiety or concerns

40. Squinting,
furrowing of the
forehead, & facial
contortion are
indicative of
distress or
discomfort

41. 1.Eye blocking with hands
is an efficient way of
saying, “I do not
like what I just heard,
saw or learned.
2. A brief touch of eyes
during a conversation may
give a clue to a person’s
negative perception of
what is being discussed
3. Delay in opening of
eyelids on hearing
information is indicative
of negative emotions
4. When lids compressed tightly,
person is trying to block out
totally negative news or event.

42. 1. When we are
content, our eyes
are relaxed & show
Little tension.
2. Here eyebrows
are arched slightly,
defying gravity a sure
sign of positive feelings
3. Flashbulb eyes can be
seen when we are
excited to see someone
or are full of positive
emotions we cannot
hold back

43. We are askance at people when we are
distrustful or unconvinced

44. 1. A real
smile
forces
the
corners
of the
mouth up
towards
the eyes
2. This is a fake or “polite smile:” the corners of mouth move
toward ears & there is little emotions in eyes

45. When the lips disappear, there is usually stress or anxiety
driving this behavior

46. We crinkle our noses to indicate dislike or disgust

47. 1. When lips are
full usually person
is content
2. When there is
stress, lips will begin
to disappear / tighten
3. Lip compression,
reflecting stress or
anxiety, may
progress to point
where lips disappear
4. When lips disappear & corners of mouth turn down,
emotions & confidence are at a low point, while anxiety,
stress, concern are running high.

48. 1. When confidence is low or concerned for self , chin will
tuck in, forcing the nose down.
2. When feel positive, chin comes out & nose is high: both
signs of comfort & confidence

49. 1. Palms up position indicates the person wants to be believed
or to be accepted. Not a dominant, confident display.
2. Statements made palm down are more emphatic &
confident than with hands palm up in position.

50. Source:
What Every Body is Saying
An Ex-FBI Agent’s Guide
To Speed-Reading People
Book Written by:
Joe Navarro – FBI Special Agent Ret.
With
Marvin Karlines, Ph. D
www.jnforensics.com