More body language indicators are already picked up on than you're aware of.
Anything that can provide you an advantage is powerful and will help you when you're working hard and doing everything you can to reach your goals.
Watch for these indicators the next time you're in a meeting (or even out on a date or playing with your kids):
1. Crossed arms and legs express resistance to your ideas. Physical obstacles like crossed arms and legs indicate that the listener is not receptive to your message. Even when they are grinning and conversing in a friendly manner, their body language conveys a lot. For a book they produced on interpreting body language, Gerard I. Nierenberg and Henry H. Calero videotaped more than 2,000 discussions. When one of the participants had their legs crossed during the negotiation, not a single one resulted in an agreement. Crossed legs or arms psychologically indicate that a person is physically, mentally, and emotionally cut off from what is in front of them. It is so revealing because it is not deliberate.
3. It's wise to have people mimic your body language. Have you ever observed someone doing the same thing whenever you cross or uncross your legs during a meeting? Or possibly when they listen to you speak, they lean their heads in the same direction? That is actually encouraging. When we experience a connection with another individual, we automatically mirror their body language. It indicates that the exchange is going well and that the other person is paying attention to what you are saying. Knowing what the other party is truly thinking about the transaction can be very helpful while you are negotiating.
4. Posture conveys meaning. Have you ever seen someone enter a room and recognized they were in command before they even spoke? Body language plays a significant role in creating that effect and frequently involves an upright posture, movements made with the palms down, and wide and expansive gestures in general. The brain is programmed to connect strength with how much room people occupy. Standing up straight with your shoulders back is a power position; it appears to maximize the amount of space you fill. Conversely, slouching causes your form to collapse; it gives the impression of taking up less room and projecting less force. Whether you're a leader or not, maintaining proper posture commands respect and encourages engagement.
5. Lies-telling eyes. The majority of us probably heard the phrase "Look me in the eye when you talk to me" growing up. In some ways, our parents were correct when they said that it's difficult to keep someone's attention while you're lying to them. But because everyone is aware of that, many people purposefully maintain eye contact in an effort to conceal their deception. The issue is that the majority of them overcompensate by keeping uncomfortable eye contact. Americans often maintain eye contact for seven to ten seconds, which is longer when listening than when speaking. Someone may be lying to you if their gaze causes you to flinch while they are speaking, especially if they are completely steady and unblinking.
6. High brows indicate pain. Your eyebrows are most likely to rise when you are surprised, worried, or afraid. When you're having a friendly, casual conversation with a pal, try lifting your eyebrows. Isn't that challenging? If a conversation partner raises their eyebrows when discussing something that shouldn't logically surprise, concern, or frighten them, something else is going on.
7. Excessive nodding reveals concern about acceptance. When you're explaining something to someone and they nod a lot, it's a sign that they're worried about your opinion of them or that you don't trust them to do as you've asked.
8. A clenched jaw indicates anxiety. Stress symptoms include clenched teeth, a stiff neck, and wrinkled brows. Regardless matter what they are saying, these are really uncomfortable indications. The subject of their anxiety may come up in conversation, or perhaps their attention is elsewhere and they are concentrating on the source of their anxiety. It's important to keep an eye out for any discrepancy between what someone says and what their tense body language is trying to convey to you.
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