Body language is a non-verbal communication wherein you convey a certain message through your gestures and movements. Your bodily actions can be misread hence it is important to have the correct posture while communicating. For more such innovative content on management studies, join WeSchool PGDM-DLP Program: http://bit.ly/DistanceLearningSldShr Join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/welearnindia Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeLearnIndia Read our latest blog at: http://welearnindia.wordpress.com Subscribe to our Slideshare Channel: http://www.slideshare.net/welingkarDLP

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CHAPTER-05
BODY LANGUAGE
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2. Welingkar’s Distance Learning Division
BODY LANGUAGE
Body language is non verbal communication conveyed by
expressions, movements, gestures and body positioning
It can convey thoughts and views as powerfully as a shout
It can reveal our feelings about others and the surroundings
Your body language can be misread if your posture is wrong.
Therefore its important to be conscious of posture.
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Do not let your hands/legs fidget as that indicates
nervousness or fear.
Face most telling part of body. Ensure that your expressions
are in sync with what you are saying
When you are confident, you will walk into a room with head
held high and a smile on your face. You will look into the eyes
of the other person
If you are nervous, you may fidget and shuffle. This occurs
when you are not being honest also.
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Body language is not limited to walking in or out of a
room with measured steps.
It conveys views and thoughts
It can suggest openness, friendliness or hostility.
It can reflect nervousness, lack of confidence or
absolute command of the situation
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If the others know that you are nervous then you are at
disadvantage
Always breathe deep, convince yourself that you are the best
Do not slouch. While seated, be erect with your shoulders
thrown back
Look at people in the eyes and smile
Even if you feel like cracking your knuckles you shouldn’t. this
would exude confidence and dependibility
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POSTURE
Posture is the way you hold yourself up.
It conveys the way you feel
It affects the first impression that people have of you.
You slouch when you are tired, lazy or not confident
The “centre has been identified as the most important parts of
a good posture
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The centre is the intersection created at the mid-chest front to
back
When a person is standing straight the centre is open to
everyone, communicating confidence and transparency
When one slouches, it indicates a lack of
confidence, enthusiasm or interest
That is why it is important to stand up straight with chest
thrown back and with stomach in
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A GOOD POSTURE
The stance would be erect with hands side by side
Legs should be straight but not rigid
Shoulders should be rolled back
Breathing should be even
Weight would be just forward of centre
Head would be held high
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POSTURE
Your posture conveys a tremendous message
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HOW TO READ A POSTURE
If you stand tall with back straight – self confidence
If you stand with a curved back and lower gaze – a feeling of
inferiority
If you lean towards someone during a conversation – interest
in the conversation or the person
If you lean away from the person in a conversation –
disinterest or un-involvement
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Relaxed posture-favorable attitude and status
When both the hands are folded across chest-protecting
yourself from an unfavorable situation
If you are face to face with another with your arms folded
across the chest – disagreement
If you cross legs and arms in a conversation – withdrawn from
the conversation. Indicates displeasure from partner
If you stand with legs and arms closed – defensive
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Legs are un crossed and feet are placed together – neutral
If your shoulders are pushed back with arms on hips and face
the person directly – authoritarian
If you are standing with hands behind your back and slightly
off centre from the speaker – submissive
If your arms and legs are uncrossed – open
If you are leading to one side – agreement
If your arms and legs are crossed - disagreement
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 To get across as confident and
approachable you should
appear relaxed and confident
without being sloppy or stiff
 This picture shows that the
person is transparent
 He has his arms open and
chest exposed suggesting that
he has nothing to hide
 He is defenseless
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These pictures show the difference what
mind has to say through body language
Relaxed – when a person has his
hands by his side and the weight
Is evenly distributed
Uncomfortable – He has his arms
Protecting his chest an is
defensive.
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These pictures are self-demonstrative
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 A confident person appears fully in
control. He has his hands in his
pockets, exposing his chest with head
held high and his legs are relaxed
 An insecure person has tied himself in
knots. His hands protect his chest, his
legs are knotted and he has a worried
look
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MOVEMENTS & STANCES
An assertive person takes long, slow strides.
A meek person either scurries or plods.
While sitting, one should sit squarely and neatly. One must
not slouch or sprawl
The back should be parallel to the back of the chair.
The arm should be on the lap and not folded against the
chest. The legs should be folded or crossed
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Doing any of the following will show lack of
confidence or anxiousness:
- Fiddling with objects
- Touching hair
- Constantly touching or rubbing your face
- Crossing or uncrossing legs
- Rubbing hands together
- Shifting from one side to side
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Lack of interest and boredom is assumed if:
- Foot and fingers are tapping
- Resting your head on your hand
- Crossing and uncrossing legs
- Folding and unfolding arms
- Shrugging
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It is important that….
 Movements and gestures do not annoy
others
 An overt display of friendliness by draping
hands over another may not be taken
positively
This may be reflected in the voice or the
position of the offended person
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Face and eye contact
 The face is the most telling part of the body and the eye is
the mirror of the soul
 Normal eye contact as opposed to false fixed stare put
people at their ease
 So does a warm and genuine smile
 Facial expression should be relaxed. The tense of muscles
reveals tension, anxiety and stress
 Eye contact is necessary to build trust, to encourage honesty
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Eye contact
There are three contacts that you can make
 Professional gaze: You look at the eyes at a point in the middle of the forehead.
You do this when you walk into a group or a room for the first time. This helps
when you are making a presentation
 Social gaze: You look at the eyes and around the face taking in the nose and the
mouth. This effective when you communicate on a one to one basis
 Personal gaze: After looking at the person your gaze falls to below the chin which
make the person comfortable. This is for personal relationship and not for
business.
In the west people usually place their hands below the chin and move it upwards to
the side giving a clear message that the gaze should not fall below the chin.
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Messages that actions send
The action The message
 Eyes Blinking Nervous
 Eye contact Fixed stare I am trying to intimidate you
 Smile Doesn’t show in the eyes I will not let you get away
 Face Smile after every sentence I do not believe what I am
Contraction on forehead talking
Twitches I am unsure of myself
Screwed up eyes I am worried
Tensed lips I do not understand
Frequent blinking/chewing I am confident
lips/biting I am stressed
I am nervous
Scared
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Keep in Mind
 It is not polite to stare
 If there is a problem or a person is handicapped its ok to look but don’t
stare out of curiosity.
 Looking at a person at length indicates that the person looking wants to
establish rapport with that person
 The face communicates 6 emotions
i.e., happiness, sadness, anger, disgust, surprise and fear
 Business gaze is at eye level. Maintain an eye to eye contact.
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Gestures
 Gestures communicate thoughts, feelings and ideas. They illustrate or
reinforce what we are saying
 Gestures can also get the action or reaction that you want from those
you are saying something to
 Gestures involve various parts of the body including the
head, arms, hands, face, parts of the face and legs.
 It can be with an interaction of two or three body parts
 Gestures are culture defined
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Gestures can either be:
Warm gestures
 Learning towards people when speaking
 Facing people directly
 Smiling
 Touching
Cold gestures
 Placing hands on hips
 Slumping
 Avoiding eye contact
 Not smiling
 Frowning
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Actions that interpret anxiousness
 Fiddling with objects
 Touching hair
 Constantly touching or rubbing your face
 Crossing or uncrossing legs
 Rubbing hands together
 Shifting from side to side
 Drumming fingers
 Looking at the watch
 Licking lips
 Scratching arms
 Tugging ears
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What gestures interpret
 Plams up – openness or acceptance of an idea
 Palms down – immediate authority
 Upturned fist – reinforce point
 Fist with index finger pointed – commands submission from person finger points to
 Rubbing hands together – excitement
 Fiddling with loose change – concern for money
 Clenched hands – hostility
 Gestures with thumb extended – superiority and authority
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What gestures interpret…
 Covering mouth with hand – lying or lack of confidence
 Nose touching – lying or lack of confidence
 Chin-touching – making a decision
 Rubbing back of neck – lying
 Hands and fingers entwined – deep in thought
 Tilting head – interested in what is being said
 Tilting head downward – disagreement
 Holding both hands behind head – confidence, control and superiority
 Thumbs in belt – evaluating person
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Points to remember
 Stand or sit erect
 While standing throw your shoulders high and hold your
head up
 Keep your chin up
 Always make eye contact
 Smile
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 Never walk in a hurried manner. A confident person walks
with measured steps
 Do not be in very close physical contact
 Do not appear restless
 Be relaxed or give the impression of being relaxed
 Keep your hands off your face and hair
 Do not fidget
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