Body Language in Communication

Many of us hear the term “body language” on TV and on the internet, but how many of us really know what it is and how vital it can be at times?

Some people feel skeptical about the whole concept, but that’s because they never dug deep into it and really understood what it’s all about.

In today’s blog, we will talk about the importance of body language in communication and introduce you to those who have never heard of it. Let’s learn more about this topic and see how helpful it is and what advantages it can give you along your journey to success.

Let’s start by defining body language to have a better understanding of it.

What is Body Language?

While actions speak louder than words, your body posture, hand movements, and facial expressions, i.e., your body language says a lot about who you are, what you want, how you’re feeling, and even what you’re thinking about sometimes. The road to success requires high communication skills, which we have previously covered in another blog. Body language is one of the most important factors or tools in these skills. Mastering this art paves the way for you and makes it a lot easier to go a little bit faster.

Interacting with others involves giving and receiving wordless signals, whether you're aware of them or not. The way you move, how you speak, and how much eye contact you make send strong messages through your nonverbal behaviors. It can relax people, build trust, and attract people to you, or it can offend, confuse, and undermine your message. Even if you stop speaking, these messages continue to flow. Your nonverbal communication continues even when you are silent.

There are times when what you say may be different from what you mean with your body language. The other party will likely feel that you are dishonest if you say one thing but show another body language. Imagine saying "yes" but shaking your head "no." If you present mixed signals, the listener has to decide which one to believe: your verbal message or your nonverbal message. It is likely that they will choose the nonverbal message since body language is an unconscious, natural language that broadcasts true feelings and intentions.

How Does Body Language Help You Communicate Better?

There are a lot of advantages that you can gain from mastering body language. It provides you with many tools that prepare you to turn every communication you make into a successful one. Let’s list a few of these advantages for you!

1. It Turns You Into a Popular Likeable Person:

Body language is pretty much like reading minds. When you can read the language of your listener, it’s like you can see right through them, like an open book that you can easily read. Therefore, you can know what the listener is expecting from you and deliver it right to them, which consequently makes you appealing to them. There's no doubt that how you're perceived is influenced by your body language, which is often more significant than what you say or the tone of your voice. It is important to learn how to use positive body language to make people like and trust you more.

2. Keeps You Away From Unwanted Conflicts:

When we're angry or upset, we use a special type of body language. It is possible to detect when your partner gets upset before it escalates if you learn about defensive body language and nonverbal anger. Having the proper insight into body language would enable you to prevent or stop a lot of fights or negative comments in their tracks. Thus, you’ll have the superpower of professionally dodging bullets.

3. It Will Help You Have Better Connections With People:

According to some studies, body language accounts for 60-93% of our communication. It is common for us to think more about what to say than how to say it. As you learn body language, you'll be able to communicate with people better because you'll have a broader range of communication skills. Understanding the small gestures the other person makes can help you connect with them better, which leads to a stronger relationship.

4. It Will Expand Your Horizon:

It's surprising how much goes on in the casual conversations of daily life that we aren't aware of. It is estimated that people can send over 800 nonverbal signals in 30 minutes. When you learn body language, you can effectively tell your brain what to look for, and you'll be amazed at how much more you can see and how much you've been missing out on. It's like seeing the world in a higher resolution; everything suddenly appears to be more clear and more detailed.

Helpful Tips for Body Language Beginners:

Now, let’s list a few body language tips for beginners to help them start their journey.

1. Practice Your Facial Expressions:

You can start by practicing keeping a calm, welcoming facial expression. It is important to appear positive and interested, while also appearing relaxed and at ease. Make sure to practice speaking and introducing yourself in front of a mirror so that you are familiar with how your facial expressions will appear to other people. By doing this, you'll be able to recognize the things you need to improve and change. Whenever you're talking with someone, you should seem like you are enjoying your conversation with them. You can do this by smiling. When you're having an important conversation, it's okay to feel a bit nervous. It happens to everyone. Try to keep your jaw relaxed and avoid clenching, wrinkles, or tension in your face. People can sense a difference in your facial expressions immediately, which can alter the way they remember the interaction. Your facial expressions are the most readable thing and your first line of defense; improve them.

2. Fix Your Body Posture:

One way to improve your posture is to relax your shoulders, allowing them to fall to a comfortable level. You can look nervous if your shoulders are too high, but sad if they are slumped. Allow your shoulders to fall into a natural position by noticing where they are currently positioned. It is important to sit up straight when communicating with someone to demonstrate your interest in what they say. Remind yourself to keep your chin up to ensure that your neck is in the correct position.

3. Improve Your Eye Contact Abilities:

Making eye contact with the listener is very important. However, it's just as important to avoid too much of it. You can ensure you're maintaining appropriate eye contact by taking note of the color of the person's eyes before looking away. In this way, you are able to maintain eye contact for a period of time that feels natural and comfortable for both of you.

Bottom Line:

Body language is one of the most important factors in communication skills. Mastering it will make your life easier, make you more trustworthy and likeable, and pave your way to success.