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.

1. BODY
LANGUAGE
By
Aimen Matloob

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