Speak and read body language. How to convince your audience!

Body language

If you want to present yourself and your message convincingly, body language is essential. Learn to use and read body language. Then you can even recognize lies and avoid misunderstandings.

Overview

Definition of body language

Body language is non-verbal communication through signs or signals, elements of behavior, the appearance perceived by the sensory organs of another person. It includes all communication signals that have nothing to do with our verbal expressions. This includes facial expressions, gestures, posture, and all movements of our body with which we communicate with our environment.

But the real meaning of body language goes far beyond the description in the encyclopedia.

Why is body language important?

Personal influence on other people is crucial for progress. At the beginning of a career, relationships are still very direct. You are still in personal contact with the surrounding people. This changes with increasing career advancement, we are no longer so close to the public.

The more you climb the career ladder, the more you will be observed by other people from a distance and the importance of body language and appearance will increase. Even small things can affect the stock price when a board member does something.

Presence is everything in business. Body language, posture, and facial expressions affect the way others perceive you. Remember that a bad posture can make you appear less self-confident. A positive, self-confident self-image helps to increase your impact and leads you to success in competitive situations.

Practice a good body language, it’s worth it, not only before you enter evaluation situations such as a pitch or interview. Start your training. The knowledge of body language helps you to better understand other people.

Attention

Anyone who tries to consciously change body language is in danger of interfering in normally unconscious, automatic, processes and thus feeling uncomfortable and contrived. Professional trainers ensure that all this becomes unconscious competence and then happens by itself.

Body language and public speaking

A strategic approach, convincing language, and clever arguments are the basis for success. The effect of a statement, however, is determined by the overall impression of the speaker. The personal impression is largely based on body language, including voice.

The details, which have a large effect, are often underestimated: a reasonable eye contact, a natural gesture, an upright posture. Such elements support the message. Calm and harmonious movements make you appear credible. Jerky, hectic gestures make you suspicious. The audience decides on the meaning of a message. Make it easy for your audience to accept your offer.

Here are some examples:

• To get the audience to like you, make eye contact.
  People tend to pay more attention to and like those who look them in the eye.
• To boost your confidence, open your upper body and your arms, and keep your back straight.
• To demonstrate authority, be calm and use small, clear gestures.
• To draw the audience’s attention to something, point directly at it and look at it yourself. The audience will follow your lead.
• To convince the audience of something, use positive gestures throughout the presentation. How about smiling, nodding, open movements, etc.?

My clients and body language

The exercises have really inspired me. The time was well spent.

Sandra Fletcher
Berlin, Germany

I am impressed. It’s somewhat surprising how many body language cues we miss in our everyday interactions with people. Now I know what to look out for.

Lauren
Berlin, Germany

Just ask me personally

Please post any questions that may be of interest to other readers in the comments. Looking for professional help?

If you are interested in coaching, training or consulting, if you have organizational questions, or if you want to make an appointment, you can reach me best via this contact form (you can choose if you want to enter your personal data) or via e-mail (mail@karstennoack.com). You can also reach me by phone at +49(0)30 864 213 68 or by cell phone at +49(0)1577 704 53 56 from Monday to Thursday from 9:00 to 18:00. Most of the time I am in sessions, so please leave a message with your phone number in Germany. Please remember to be very specific about the reason for your call. I will get back to you as soon as possible. The privacy policy can be found here.

Transparency is important. That is why you will find answers to frequently asked questions already here, for example about me (profile), the services, the fees and getting to know me. If you like what you see, I look forward to working with you.

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Published: June 21, 2001
Author: Karsten Noack
Revision: August 20th, 2023
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German version: https://www.karstennoack.de/koerpersprache/
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