Body Language | 29 Powerful Tips For Personality Development

Body language is an important factor in communication than we often think. According to various studies, it is so important that about 93% of what we transmit in a conversation is non-verbal communication. Body language tips and skills can be the most powerful tool if used correctly and wisely in all types of conversation, especially virtual communication.

What is Body Language?

Body language is actually the non-verbal communication we speak through our body parts by using different postures and gestures. This body language includes conscious and unconscious gestures. This type of communication has a great influence on our conversation, personality, and social relationships, and is the perfect mirror of our emotions. The Importance of Body Language in effective communication can never be ignored.

In our daily lives, when a person meets another person, and he can’t convey his message clearly, there’s a stronger possibility of a lack of communication power and confidence. This is generally because there is a contradiction between what that person is communicating verbally and what their body language is saying.

Body Language:

It is a form of non-verbal communication that is based on the gestures, postures, and movements of the body and face to convey a message and transmit information. It is usually done unconsciously, so it is a clear indicator of the emotional state of the person.

However, the opposite may happen when we meet someone who has coordinated body language and verbal communication and gives us pleasure by conveying a message clearly.

In the business world, there are many occasions when you have to speak on public platforms, and maybe sometimes under pressure, so you must have good control over non-verbal language and body language skills. The more you are confident the more you will be closer to achieving your business goal. For example Presentations, Talks, and networks. Here are The Advantages and Disadvantages of Nonverbal Communication.

Of course, you must bear in mind that non-verbal language can be influenced by environmental factors, and, therefore, it is not an absolute truth. To be able to do an analysis and be sure of it, you must find several signals.

Below you will see different non-verbal language signals (Body Language tips) and what their meanings may be:

Meaning of Facial Gestures in Non-verbal Language:

When we speak most of the time we see the person in front of us, so eye contact with the other person’s face is almost compulsory and continuous. There are many elements such as eyes, smiles, or for example hands that are brought to the face that have much more meaning than we think. Here are the Secret Body Language Signals in a Romantic Relationship.

1. Pupil Size:

Do you know that pupil size increases and decreases with situations?

An increase and decrease in pupil size are some of the greatest known changes in body language. The decrease may mean dislike for what is being seen, while the increase means pleasure. This effect is often unnoticeable because the pupils also adapt to changes in the environment.

2. Eye Contact:

Eye contact as you know another effective factor in communication. To a large extent, this factor depends on the person who receives it, and therefore within non-verbal language, it can have a positive or negative reading. It depends on the feelings that the reaction provokes in the person.

i. Prolonged Eye Contact:

Looking into a person’s eyes for a long period of time can mean that the person is being lied to. In this way, he maintains his gaze, sometimes without blinking, to avoid being discovered in the deception.

ii. Look Sideways:

Looking sideways in communication expresses your dislikes. It is an action that can have a negative meaning, since in non-verbal language it means boredom and that you are looking for escape routes to distract yourself.

3. Touch your Nose:

It is another of the great acquaintances in body language. It means that the person making the gesture of lying, but it can sometimes mean that the person is angry or upset.

4. Voice tone and volume:

Voice tone and volume are some of the most important elements in non-verbal language. As a clarification, it can be considered that the tone is the resonance of the voice, while the volume is the intensity of it.

Thanks to the union of these two (Voice tone and volume) elements, within non-verbal language we can easily find numerous meanings:

• Sadness: It occurs when there is a low volume and a solemn tone in the voice.
• Joy: It occurs when there is a high volume and a harsh tone in the voice.
• Nervousness: It occurs when there is a medium-high volume and you speak quickly.
• Confidence: It occurs when there is a high volume, a determined tone and you speak at a medium speed.
• Disinterest: It occurs when there is a low volume and tone in the voice.
• Surprise: Occurs when there is a high pitch, fast speed, and accentuated pronunciation in the voice.

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5. Take care of the Mouth:

It is an unconscious action and the person performs it because he feels insecure or needs to calm down. This gesture of occupying the mouth is because it seeks to return to the safety of the mother.

6. Fake Smiles:

Fake smiles are other great acquaintances of body language that consists of detecting when someone is forcing a smile. A fake smile tends to fraud and disinterest. A true smile is one in which wrinkles appear in the areas near the eyes. For this reason, fake smiles are those that do not have those wrinkles.

7. Laugh with you:

When you are in a conversation with a person and a joint laugh occurs, it means that the person is interested in the conversation. Also, if it occurs in a group it also has the same meaning. When you are in a conversation with a person and you observe a hurried laugh in response it means that the person isn’t in the conversation and needs an escape.

8. Rest your chin on your Hands:

It is a gesture that within a non-verbal language can have several readings depending on the position of the palm of the hand:

• Open Palm: Open palm in a conversation may have a meaning of boredom or lack of interest.
• Closed Palm: Closed palm in a conversation may mean that the person is evaluating what is said or done.
• Head high and chin Forward: When a person performs this gesture, it is read in non-verbal communication as a sign that expresses aggressiveness and strength.

9. Touch your Ear:

In non-verbal body language communication, this gesture means the desire to block or not listen to the words that are being said. But if the context is a conversation between two people, it may mean that the person believes that you are hiding something. Touching the ear shows the desire to block out what is being heard.

10. Nod your Head:

It is a contagious gesture, which in most cases shows a positive affirmation since it communicates interest and agreement. There are times when the gesture is made several times and at high speed, which means that you no longer want to listen to that person.

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11. Rubbing the Neck:

When a person performs this gesture while talking to you, it means that he is not sure what he is saying.

However, if a person reflects on;

Closed jaw + frown + tense neck

It is a set of gestures that occur when there is a situation with which you are dissatisfied.

Pie Diagram on Body Language in Nonverbal Communication:

Meaning of the Gestures of the Arms and Hands in Non-verbal Language:

Arms can be very important in non-verbal language since they are great partners when it comes to communicating with someone. Arms must also be used gently in a conversation. Sometimes, they hurt when communicating if we do not control their movements and they distract the public or give contradictory signals to the message. Arms in a conversation can be used more effectively if you have some knowledge of their body language signals.

12. Shrug your Shoulders:

It is a universal movement in non-verbal language and it means not knowing what is happening around you or not knowing the exact answer to something. Generally, this movement of the shoulders is accompanied by having the palms spread, a slight hunch of the back, and a raised eyebrow.

13. Crossed Arms:

It is a well-known defensive body language stance that indicates rejection or disagreement. But you have to be careful with this gesture because it can also mean that the person is cold, so you must take the context into account.

14. Arms Crossed with Thumbs-up:

It has a similar meaning to crossing the arms, but the position of the thumbs-up indicates that the person wants to convey pride.

15. Hands behind your back:

It is a position that demonstrates confidence and shows that the person speaking is bold. In addition, this posture can help you gain confidence in times of insecurity. Most of the time you can see people standing with hands behind the back with an upright posture which increases a person’s confidence and self-belief.

16. Join Fingertips:

Although it seems amazing, it has a totally opposite meaning to intertwining your fingers. In non-verbal language, this position of the hands signifies confidence and security, but can sometimes be mistaken for arrogance.

17. Point with one finger and closed hand:

It is an aggressive gesture that transmits negative feelings to other people. For the person who performs it, it has a meaning of victory over the rest. On the other hand, if it is not used aggressively and sharply, it can also be used, if someone is trying to think about something, and fails to remember at that time. However, facial expressions can further illuminate this gesture.

18. Open palms:

Performing this move in non-verbal language signifies honesty and loyalty. It is generally done as a sign that nothing is hidden from the people who do it, so it provides credibility in the communication. Showing the palms of the hands while speaking gives greater credibility.

19. Interlock the fingers of the hands:

Normally this position of the hands is negative and conveys an anxious or repressed behavior.

Meaning of the gestures of the legs and feet in non-verbal language:

Gestures of the legs and feet in non-verbal language can never be underestimated in body language communication. No doubt, it may be the part of the body that is least visible, but it can say a lot about the person who is speaking. In conferences or conversations in which you have to speak it is essential that you control the movement of your legs and feet so as not to give the viewers feel that are contradictory to your message.

20. Trembling Legs:

When a person has tremors in the legs it can mean that they are in anxiety, irritation, or both. You might also like: After Breakup Depression: Symptoms, Causes, and What to Do!

21. Forward Foot:

Generally, when you put your foot forward, you do so in the direction you want to go. This can take multiple readings, depending on where your foot is pointing.

• Exit: If your feet are pointed towards the exit door, that means you want to leave and finish as soon as possible. The same thing happens if the person you are talking to has their feet facing the exit, which means he wants to leave.
• Person: If your feet are pointing towards a person, it means you are interested in conversation and are paying full attention to them.

22. Sitting with one leg raised and supported on the other:

It is a more common non-verbal language posture of men. It reveals a competitive attitude or in preparation for an argument. Also, depending on the situation, people commonly use this posture to relax one leg after a longer sitting.

23. Crossed Legs:

It is about a defensive and closed attitude. In a social context, when a person adopts this posture with arms and legs crossed, it means that he is not engrossed in the conversation. In a business context, it means that the person is closed mentally, emotionally, and physically.

24. Crossed Ankles:

This sign is still within defensive body language, just like when we cross our legs. This gesture is done with the aim of maintaining control.

Meaning of Postures in Non-verbal Language:

Postures in non-verbal language are very important, both personally and professionally, when doing a job interview, for example.

It is a factor that gives a lot of support to what you want to convey and in many cases the type of gestures that are used in non-verbal communication.

25. Hiding behind someone or something:

When a person is speaking, whether standing or sitting, and puts an object between himself and the person or persons to whom he is speaking, he seeks to protect himself. This shows that the person is not totally sure what he is saying and is afraid of failure in conveying his message.

26. Expansive Stance:

It occurs when we speak, our feet are separated (at shoulder height) and the arms are slightly open showing the palms. In this way, there is a position of honesty and of not hiding anything with which you gain trust among the public.

27. Imitate Language:

When you’re talking to someone you like, the postures and movements of body parts are similar. This way you can tell if the talks or negotiations are going as planned. If the person you are talking to imitates your movements and postures, the conversation goes very well.

28. Jug Pose:

It is a posture that provides greater presence and authority. It occurs when your feet are at shoulder height and your hands are on your hips. In this position, the position of the chest also intervenes, the more outside it is, the more aggressive it will communicate.

29. Stick out Breast:

This posture occurs when a person feels he has the power and control. This is very important as it means that a person has achieved some accomplishment of which he is proud. In postures to increase superiority, it can also communicate aggressiveness. As you can see, there are many examples of non-verbal language that can affect communication and greatly influence your message. But you have to remember that to read non-verbal language correctly you must take into account several signs that indicate the same thing. If you only analyze a gesture, you may fail.

I hope you have learned something new from the above-discussed Body Language Tips and Techniques!

What do you think about non-verbal language? Do you know any more?

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