Body language: how it is used, how it is read. How to convince your audience!

Body language

Interesting articles about 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.

We call body language all communication signals that have nothing to do with our verbal expressions. This includes facial expressions, gestures, postures and all movements of our body with which we communicate with our environment.

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 environment. This changes as you ascend and distance increases.

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 view of yourself helps to increase these benefits and will lead you to success in competitive situations.

Practice good posture before you enter into evaluative situations like pitches and interviews. Start practicing early and do not wait until the date is too close.

The knowledge of body language helps us to better understand our interlocutors. So we get immediate feedback. This is often more interesting than official statements.

Attention

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

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. Personal impact 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 attitude. 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 be convinced.

Here are some examples:

1. 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.
2. To boost your confidence, open your upper body and your arms, and keep your back straight.
3. To demonstrate authority, be calm and use small, clear gestures.
4. To draw the audience’s attention to something, point directly at it and look at it yourself. The audience will follow your lead.
5. 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

Just ask me personally

Remarks:

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New articles

This article is a short excerpt from the more comprehensive course materials my clients receive in a group or individual training or coaching.

Published: June 21, 2001
Author: Karsten Noack
Revision: August 10, 2019
Translation: August 10, 2019
German version: https://www.karstennoack.de/koerpersprache/
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