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Business Communications - How does body language play into communication?

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What you actually say using words is only a part of the message you deliver. Your body language, attitude, and tone actually tell people more about what you�re saying than the words themselves. For example, most people have heard someone say, �fine� in the heat of an argument. But does the person really mean that everything�s OK when the word fine is said in conjunction with crossed arms, rolled eyes, a harsh tone, and defensive posture? Most likely not.

Body language serves as a way to make the person on the receiving end of our words understand how to interpret our words. Words often don�t tell the whole story; your body helps others read between the lines to understand what you�re really saying.

A few examples of body language include:

Posture:

People with an �open� posture show their openness to the person speaking or to the idea or situation presented by swinging arms loosely, facing the person directly instead of shying away, and basically making themselves vulnerable to others. This shows trust and an open attitude.

People show �closed� posture by folding their arms across their chest, holding a bag or book in front of them, making little eye contact, sagging their shoulders, and keeping their legs crossed or pulled in tight to their body. A person with closed posture is saying that he or she is uncomfortable, nervous, unwilling to accept your ideas, or is upset.

Body posture often reflects how we feel. When you�re happy and confident, you walk more upright and open; when you�re upset, nervous, or uncomfortable, you close others out and cling to yourself. Showing your palms to a listener may mean openness and honesty, while hiding your palms may indicate deceit, as does moving your hands close to your mouth or touching your nose.

Pointing a leg or knee toward a person often indicates interest or acceptance, while pointing your body away from a person means you�re uninterested.

To be more receptive to others, try keeping your arms unfolded, making eye contact, facing the person, and holding yourself up tall�even when you feel something quite the opposite. Such a simple change will enhance your interactions with others.

Personal space:

The distance you put between yourself and other people signifies several things: cultural norms, comfort, seriousness of the topic, the beginning and end of a conversation, closeness of a relationship, and many other factors. The distance we keep from others and the way we react to how other people approach us influence our discussions and relationships with people.

We feel uneasy if someone invades our personal space. We step backward to give ourselves more space�but the person might just take another step closer, if that�s his or her preference. Try to be sensitive to other people�s personal space. If they keep stepping back, then give them the room they need. Respecting this preference will make the other person more comfortable, and will likely enhance your conversation.

Movements:

You can often tell whether people are receiving your message well by checking out their actions while you�re speaking. For example, if during a meeting you notice that attendees are doodling, working on other projects, or talking to each other, it�s safe to assume that you�ve lost your audience. It�s time to inject some creativity into your speech or grant them a break. Also, kicking legs, chewing fingernails, twirling hair, rolling eyes, or otherwise fidgeting are signs that your audience may be bored, irritated, or uncomfortable with your message.

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