Know How To Speak Through Body Language
Body language is a form of nonverbal communication wherein one can send or receive messages
through body movements, gestures, facial expression, and the like. There are general acts of
body language that almost everyone does in his or her daily life. However, do you know how
to speak this language? Can you understand other people by just reading their body language?
The importance of knowing how to speak through body language is that you can have the
ability to control any situation with anybody in any place and time.
Personal Space
Everyone of us has his own personal space. It is somewhat like a comfort zone. It is an
invisible region that surrounds you, and if someone tries to invade it, you will feel
uncomfortable or threatened. But one’s personal space is dependent on certain situations. A
person who grew up in the city with crowded streets has a smaller personal space compared to
one who lives in the rural area. Learning how to respect one’s personal space is one method
to make communication through body language more effective between two or more people. There
are body movements and gestures better appreciated and understood when there is an
appropriate distance.
Body Gestures And Movements
Various body parts are used in the body language – the hands, arms, legs, head, and body
posture. Hands can make several gestures, each with a difference in meaning; and you can
express well through them. If you want to let another person know you are interested in him
or in the conversation, the hands can emphasize it for you. Do not try to hide your hands
from him, like putting them into your pockets. This gesture means that you are hiding
something from him or you are already getting bored. Showing your palm upward or outward
shows that you are comfortable and interested in your situation. Leaning your body or
directing it towards that person is also a signal that you are indeed listening to him.
You can still give a good impression even in the most tense situations, like in a job
interview. You simply have to avoid gestures that are giving signals that you are nervous,
uncomfortable, or anxious. Never slouch, fidget, drum your fingers, shuffle your feet, or
tremble. These actions takes the word “confidence” away from you.
You can also speak through handshakes. A firm one with the palm pointing downwards and arm
slightly extended indicates confidence or power. Meanwhile, a weak handshake pointing upward
is an indication of tension or shyness.
You must also be aware of the message you are trying to convey whenever you cross your arms.
This is one of the actions that you must avoid. This will tell another person that you might
be hiding something, lying, or being impatient.
Make Your Eyes Talk
Your eyes can clearly express what you feel or desire. Eye contact is the most important eye
body language since it could mean interest, confidence, eagerness to listen, and sincerity.
The inability to hold long eye contact indicates dishonesty or discomfort.
Culture: A Very Important Consideration
In conversing with another person, it is a great advantage that you know their culture.
Prolonged eye contact, act of raising voice volume, and touching may be rude to other
countries, especially in Asia. Also, there are a number of gestures that mean differently in
other cultures.
Learn how to speak using your body. Body language is indeed much more convincing than words
and is very useful in giving impressions in certain situations. But the only trick in
learning how to speak and understand body language is that what books or research say may
not necessarily be the intentions or real message of one person.
