How To Improve the Body Language You Use in the Workplace?

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Overview
Proper body language is important to ensure the verbal messages you're expressing are received
correctly. Using body language appropriately can also help you appear more confident and at ease in
your interactions with others. Reviewing strategies for developing effective body language can help you
understand areas you can improve.
In this article, we discuss what body language is, why body language is important in the workplace and
how to improve the body language yourself to present yourself as confident and at ease in your
surroundings.
Why is body language important in the workplace?
Body language is a strong factor that impacts how people perceive you in the workplace. It helps to
reinforce and emphasize the messages you relay and create additional meaning. However, body language
can negate certain assumptions if the nonverbal cues you're conveying don't align with your verbal
message. Becoming aware of the body language you use when communicating with colleagues and
managers can help you ensure your message is being delivered effectively and avoid the possibility of
negative body language creating a mixed message or even delivering an underlying message you didn't
intend to send. By learning how to use body language to your advantage you can,
• Create better communication within your team
• Better understand how others truly feel when they're speaking with you
• Create a more positive impact on your customers and clients
• Project a professional image within your own organization
How to improve the body language
Make Eye Contact
spoken to. It’s both commanding and polite. If it
makes you too nervous to look directly in the eyes,
try looking at the nose or ears—just make sure
your focus is on their face.
Practice self-awareness
to gain a deeper sense of self-awareness. When
you're talking to people or discussing certain topics,
take note of your behaviors and the nonverbal
messages you could be sending. By practicing self-
awareness, you will know which behaviors to watch
for and which you need to focus on practicing the
most.
someone, take one moment just to look at them
and consider them for a second, then—and only
then—give them your biggest, warmest smile.
Even a delay smaller than one second can give an
air of sincerity to your post-assessment.
Count Blinks
respect for that person by focusing your attention,
but you can also ensure that you’re making good
eye contact!
makes you look commanding and powerful, so go
ahead and incorporate your natural gestures into
your speech.
your brain into feeling more positive and powerful.
And sends a strong signal.
Don’t Fidget
and re-crossing your legs. Minimizing your
movement will often maximize your credibility and
make people feel more comfortable in your
presence.
your fingertips together. This is a strangely powerful
gesture that communicates confidence, listening
skills, and competence almost effortlessly. Extra
points if you lean back while doing it.
Relax your shoulders
high can make you look nervous, while slumped
shoulders can give the impression that you're sad. Be
cognizant of where your shoulders are currently
sitting and allow them to drop to a natural position.
Straighten your back
it's important to sit tall and maintain a straight spine.
A good way to ensure your neck is in the proper
position is to remind yourself to keep your chin up.
Lean in slightly
One way you can show the other party that you're
interested in the conversation is to learn in slightly
when they're talking. However, it's important to be
cognizant of how far you're leaning in, since leaning
in too far can make the other party uncomfortable
or give the wrong impression. Likewise, leaning too
far away can make you appear distant.
Uncross your arms
with that you're confident and at ease, it's
important to uncross your arms. Depending on
whether you're sitting or standing, you may want
to keep them folded in your lap or down at your
sides. You could also hold your hands behind your
back with your hands clasped, which can convey
confidence.
feels comfortable when engaged in conversation
with you is to mirror their body language and other
nonverbal cues. For example, you could match the
tone they're using and mirror their body position.
Even subtle mirroring can help put the other party
more at ease.
Walking and moving more slowly can help you
appear confident and calm.
Nodding is a good way to show the person you're
speaking with that you're listening and engaged in
what they're saying. It's a nonverbal way to
encourage them to continue what they're saying
and convey to them that you agree with or are
interested in the message they're sharing, which
can help to boost their confidence.
Lower your drink
or anything else in front of your heart makes you
appear distant and guarded. Lower your drink and
hold it to the side, next to your leg.
Exude energy
it's important to increase the level of energy you
are exuding. People often believe they are
displaying higher levels of energy than they actually
are. By being intentional about increasing the level
of energy that you exude when engaging another
person in conversation, you can feel confident that
you're displaying the high energy levels you want.
Use a matching handshake
handshake or match the handshake of the person
you're meeting. This helps you present yourself in a
professional manner and puts the person you're
meeting more at ease.
When you're engaged in conversation, it's important
to face the person with whom you're speaking
directly. Facing away from them can convey the
impression that you're disinterested in what they're
saying or distracted. Also take note of the way your
feet are pointing and point them in the direction of
the position with whom you're speaking.
Maintain a proper distance
in to hear you better or moving away from you.
Use these cues to get a better understanding of
what an appropriate distance is.
Study the body language of others
Finally, study the body language that other people
are using, especially that of people you admire. Take
note of how they hold themselves, their tone of
voice and the mannerisms they use. Practice
mimicking those nonverbal cues yourself.
Conclusion
Body language can be surprisingly important. If you’re just starting out, or you’re a new manager, or even if
you’ve been a boss for decades, there are a few tricks you should make sure to keep in your arsenal to
appear more powerful and assert yourself in your career.