Body Language: 5 Skills and Their Application (Part II)

Five Body Language Skills

3. Uncovering Hidden Truths in Social Interactions

Sometimes, body language cues are very clear. For instance, when you ask someone how they're doing, and they say they're fine, their tired eyes and sluggish steps tell a different story.

But how can you read between the lines in trickier situations, like:

• Dealing with a boss who has a poker face.
• Receiving mixed signals from someone new.
• A salesperson assuring you they've given you the best deal possible.

In such cases, it’s tough to guess what's really going on. However, no matter how well someone tries to mask their true feelings or mislead you with vague or contradictory cues, a telltale sign will always slip through. Everyone, no matter how deceptive, reveals something.

You can apply body language analysis in every situation and with everyone. There are universal cues worldwide, regardless of culture or life circumstances.

Most people overlook these cues during interactions, even when they're blatantly obvious because they lack the knowledge and education to read body language effectively.

Mastering body language skills helps you catch these cues and guess others' thoughts and feelings. For example, you can spot anger through flared nostrils, pale cheeks, and the body leaning away from the other person.

4. Mastering Relationships, Negotiations, and Tough Work Situations

Body language skills are beneficial in:

4.1. Relationships

Understanding body language boosts confidence and comfort in social interactions. When you know how to convey acceptance, warmth, and interest, you can build strong, long-lasting relationships, encouraging others to connect with you.

4.2. Negotiations

Every interaction involves some form of negotiation—over power, money, or status. The outcome of these negotiations can significantly impact your life.

4.3. Work

Dealing with a difficult boss who dismisses different perspectives can be challenging. Using body language principles, you can catch their attention and get them to take your ideas seriously.

5. Exerting Authority Over Others

You can achieve what you want by leveraging body language principles. Many people feel powerless due to social or familial constraints. Being mindful of negative body language cues and replacing them with positive ones helps you project confidence and break free from these emotional chains.

Some might argue, “I don’t want just to appear confident; I want to be genuinely confident.” Many are unaware of how body language can affect their mental and emotional state. Harvard psychologist Amy J.C. Cuddy revealed the benefits of "power poses" in a study published in Psychological Science involving 42 participants.

Some participants adopted power poses like putting their feet up on a desk and clasping their hands behind their heads, while others assumed weak poses like sitting with their arms close together and hands clasped.

The results showed that power poses reduced cortisol levels by about 25% and increased testosterone by around 19% in just two minutes. Participants felt more powerful and exhibited bold, risk-taking behaviour.

This happens due to mirror neurons in the brain, which activate when performing a certain behaviour or observing others. The type of behaviour determines which neurons activate, allowing individuals to influence their mood by adopting certain behaviours.

You can stimulate these neurons instantly by adopting a power pose, such as leaning back in a chair with your hands behind your head, stretching your chest muscles while sitting, or standing with feet apart and hands on your hips like a superhero.

These poses have an immediate effect, but long-term results require consistent practice to instill a sense of power and confidence.

Record a video of yourself speaking in front of a mirror for 10 minutes on a favourite topic. Recording videos is crucial for assessing progress and recognising body language improvement over time. Reviewing and comparing these videos will reveal how much your confidence and fluency have improved, sometimes within minutes, by changing just one cue or pose.

Conclusion

Make the most of body language applications to succeed and enhance your personal and professional lives. Body language skills help you guess others' thoughts, influence their decisions, and exert authority over them. There's a growing interest in developing these skills due to their importance and effectiveness in improving our lives.