This document discusses the importance of body language in the workplace. It provides advice to managers on how understanding body language can help in different work settings and across cultures. The authors have extensive experience in management consulting and training. The document outlines positive and negative body language signals and how body language is used in various work contexts like meetings, presentations, interviews and negotiations. It emphasizes that body language is a powerful communication tool that can often convey true meaning beyond words. Cultural differences in common gestures are also addressed.

1. BODY LANGUAGE

3. ABSTRACT
• This book explains the importance
of body language in the context of
the workplace and its role in
office life.
• It gives managers advice on how
an understanding of body
language can be helpful in a
number of different work settings
• It also addresses the question of
how body language can help
when working with people from
different cultures.

4. ABOUT THE AUTHORS
• GEOFF RIBBONS has over 30 years
experience in management education,
training and consultancy.
• For 21 years he has specialized in
organizational behaviour providing incompany management qualifications for
many large organizations.
• He has concentrated in recent years on
Performance
Management,
Team
Building, the Management of Change and
Coaching/Mentoring for senior managers
and directors, diagnosing business
leadership development and business
strategy needs

5. • Greg Whitear is the Managing Director of
Mind zone Consulting.
• He is an international consultant in
business performance and management
development.
• He has special skills in organizational
learning and the design and delivery of
programs
that
promote
change,
leadership, teamwork and employee
effectiveness.
• He is the author of 'The NVQ and GNVQ
Handbook' published in 1995 by Pitman
Publishing.

6. BODY LANGUAGE
Body language is a form of mental and physical ability of
human non-verbal communication

7. • It is body language that conveys meanings, feelings, attitudes
and emotions of the other person.
• It can often be more truthful of the “real situation” than the
selected words that people use.
• Most people cannot hide their true feelings, it leaks out
through their body language.

8. Body language is a
very powerful tool.
We had body
language before we
had speech, and
apparently, 80% of
what you
understand in a
conversation is read
through the body,
not the words.

9. EYE MOVEMENTS
When people process information, movement of their eyes
provides clues to internal body states they are accessing

10. BUILDING A RAPPORT

11. NEURO LINGUISTIC PROGRAMMING
• Neuro-Linguistic programme is a body language relating
to how people perceive their world and react to it.
• It involves taking in information through our senses of
sight, sound, touch, smell and taste, interpreting the
information and acting on it.

12. HHOW MANAGERS ACQUIRE AND USE
POWER
• Position Power: Their position in the organization
• Coercive Power: How tough they are, use of threats
• Reward Power: How supportive they are, rewards they give
their subordinates
• Expert Power: How informed they are, technically or
managerially
• Referent Power: How unique they are, personality and
charisma

13. BODY LANGUAGE AND LEADERSHIP

14. AGGRESSIVE BODY LANGUAGE

15. SUBMISSIVE
BODY LANGUAGE
ASSERTIVE
BODY LANGUAGE

16. AVOIDING OUTRIGHT LYING
•
•
•
•
•
Fail to answer the question asked
Pretend not to understand the question
Remain silent
Feign Emotion
Pretend they feel ill

17. BODY LANGUAGE OF DECEPTION
Eyebrows, forehead, face
Postures/Gestures
Eye
Smiles
Voice
Gestures

18. BODY LANGUAGE IN SECURITY AND
CONTROL

20. INTERVIEW
• FIRST IMPRESSION
• ESTABLISHING RAPPOT
• BREAKING THE ICE
• ACTIVE LISTENING

21. COUNSELLING
Body language gives us clues about “something is wrong”.
Characteristics of stressed individuals in terms of body
language.
• Hypersensitivity to mild situations
• Displaying tense posture
• Showing irritation
• Appearing restless
• Nervous laughter
• Tiredness, exhaustion and listlessness
• Tense muscles

22. FEEDBACK
Feedback is an interpersonal skill involving exchange of information,
a willingness to listen, to learn and to modify behavior to achieve the
outcome that is needed.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Readiness
Self-review
Own your feedback
Specific
Constructive
Achievable
Acceptable
Priorities
Time
Place

23. BODY LANGUAGE DURING MEETINGS
There are two areas that should be focused on during
meetings: Body language of chairpersons, Body
language of members.

24. BODY LANGUAGE DURING
PRESENTATION
• Body language of the presenter
• Power of hands gestures to make a
point
• Behaviors to avoid
• Keeping an eye contact with the
audience
• Signs of boredom
• Being distracted

25. SELLING

26. BODY LANGUAGE AND NEGOTIATION
PUSH
BEHAVIOUR
PULL
BEHAVIOUR
DEMANDING
BARGAINING
MEETING
YOUR
NEEDS
CONCEEDING
MEETING YOUR NEEDS

27. WORK PERSONALITIES
CONTROLLER
INFLUENCER
SUPPORTER
ANALYSER

28. GREETING OTHERS

29. APPEARANCE

30. CULTURAL DIVERSITY

31. • KOREA: IT MEANS APPROVAL OR
ACCEPTANCE
• USA: MEANS WELL DONE, THAT’S GREAT
• LATIN AMERICA, GREECE, SOUTH ITALY: IT
HAS AN OPPOSITE MEANING
• IRAQ: REGARDED AS OBSCENE GESTURE
• USA: CONSIDERED AS VICTORY OR PEACE OR LOVE
• JAPAN: USED WHILE POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS
• UK, AUSTRALIA, IRELAND: REGARDED AS SIGN OF
INSULT

32. USA/ UK
O.K
JAPAN
MONEY
RUSSIA
ZERO
BRAZIL
INSULTS

33. POSITIVES
• Gives a detailed description of positive and negative
body language
• The language used is simple, easy to understand
• Author makes use of pictures to demonstrate various
kinds of body language
• The exact body language needed at the work scenario is
explained

34. NEGATIVES
• The instances in the book do not represent the India
scenario.

35. YOU NEED NOT
ALWAYS SAY
WHAT YOU FEEL.
SOMETIMES
YOUR BODY
LANGUAGE CAN
EXPRESS IT !!!!
WHEN
SPEECHLESS, LET
BODY DO THE
TALK