Getting your meaning across in the business world is vital to your success. Within the first few minutes of meeting someone, they’re already forming an opinion. Communication is the way you relate to people and it’s not always in words. Good communication skills can take you a long way and increase business, but a few wrong gestures could turn a good business relationship into a nonexistent one. We need all the help we can get when it comes to increasing our customer base and profits, but what you may not realize is that non-verbal communicating is just as powerful, if not more powerful, than verbal communication.

1.    Smile. Your smile says everything about you. If you’re not smiling, people will be put off, not wanting to approach you. A smile means you’re open to what someone’s saying and you’re happy they walked into your office. Have you ever been in a store and looked around for a salesperson to help, and when you finally find someone, they looked as if you interrupted something very important? Made you want to walk right out the door, didn’t it? Make your customer feel welcome, like they just walked into your home. Keep smiling. Even when you’re on the phone…they may not be able to see it, but they’ll hear the smile in your voice.

2.    Eye Contact. There’s nothing worse than talking to someone as they’re looking all over the place, but not at you. Looking someone in the eye while their talking conveys interest. It also conveys credibility and confidence. It gives you insight into what a person’s thinking. Are they’re bored or unhappy with what you’ve said? Hear what isn’t said. How can you have a meaningful conversation without eye contact? For instance, if you’re interviewing for a job, you must make direct eye contact. Don’t look at the floor, past the person’s shoulder, or out the window. It sounds simple, but some people don’t realize they’re even doing it. So, before you go out on that interview or into the boardroom, practice your eye contact skills.

3.    The position of your head. That’s right, your head. What you do with your head is equally as important as good eye contact. Head nodding indicates you’re in agreement and obviously, shaking your head means you’re in disagreement. These are the two most common gestures, but what about resting your head in your hand. Are you bored, tired, distracted?  And please don’t yawn! A yawn sometimes happens when we’re stressed. But it still conveys boredom or uncertainty.

4.    Gestures. Hand gestures are probably the easiest to read. It’s obvious when someone shakes your hand; it’s a gesture that makes you feel welcome, accepted, part of the group. A thumbs up is a sign of approval, that everything is great. Making a circle with your forefinger and thumb means everything’s ok. Hands on your hips can be conveyed as challenging or coming from a position of strength. Arms crossed is considered to be a sign of holding back, that you’re closed off to what someone’s suggesting. So be aware of what you’re hands are doing. Think about the message you’re sending.

5.    The position of your legs. You’re legs and the position they’re in can tell a lot about what a person’s thinking. If your legs are crossed at the knee, it means you’re relaxed. And ankle over the knee, which is something men do more than women, is a more assertive gesture. Locking the foot behind the other while standing may look like you’re nervous.

It’s worth the effort to study your facial expressions and gestures. It could make a world of difference. Look in the mirror and practice that speech. The next time you have an important meeting, be conscious of what youre body’s saying and you just might get that big contract or raise!

Resources:

Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink: The Power of Thinking without Thinking
Blink

Six Ways to Improve Your Nonverbal Skills by Vicki Ritts and James R. Stein
Non-Verbal