Body language is a key aspect in communication. Knowing how to read your own body language, as well as that of others is an invaluable skill that will help increase your income-earning opportunities.

How can body language make this possible? For one thing, using positive and confident body language will help you gain a favorable first impression from customers. Additionally, being able to read non-verbal cues from the person you are talking to can help you get a better understanding of their feelings and avoid possible misinterpretations and misunderstandings. By having the appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication skills, a person can have more effective interactions with others, which will permanently be advantageous to him.

Common Body Language

There are common patterns that are evident in our body language, which will be discussed here. But before anything else, here are some general gestures and their corresponding meanings. When a person is leaning forward, it means he is interested in what you have to say.

If he crosses his arms in the chest, it means he does not agree with you, does not want to listen to you, or is threatened by you. When he fidgets or talks too quick, it means he is nervous, worried, or keeping something from you.

Face- The eyes can very visibly show a person’s emotions. If the eyes are twinkling, it means the person is amused and excited; if the eyes are wide open and dilated, it indicates nervousness and dread. The eyebrow movements also have meaning; if they are raised, it means that the person doubts what you said; if it’s lowered, it means the person is frustrated, upset, or mad. Blinking also conveys a message; frequent blinking of the eye indicates nervousness.

Arms- As mentioned above, when the arms are folded in front of a person’s chest, this indicates negativity. There are other arm signals as well, such as placing the arms on the sides, which means that the person is open and will listen to you. On the more emotional aspect, one arm gesture, self-hug, means that the person is insecure and needs to be comforted.

Neck and Chest- When the neck seems stiff, this means the person is nervous, worried, or not in agreement with you. When a person’s chest is pinched out similar to how “huge people” do it, then it shows confidence. But, withdrawn chest would mean the person is shy, defeated, or sad.

Legs- When a person is sitting down, and his feet are placed behind the knees, it means that he is interested in you, your thoughts, and thoughts. Crossed legs indicate a closed mind, whereas legs that are wide open would mean the person is overly confident and is trying to dominate the conversation.

Improving Your Body Language

The objective here is to use only body language that will give others the impression that you are a confident and positive person. Start with a smile, a firm handshake, and keep your head up to let others know that you are at ease and sure of yourself in their incidence. When listening to them, lean forward and keep your eyes focused on them to show that you care and are interested in what they have to say. If you are not entirely a self-assured person, this can be hard at the onset, but with practice, you can learn and become natural at using body language to your own benefit.

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