TOPIC : BODY LANGUAGE

"Words tell a story but the body tells the whole story"

WHAT IS BODY LANGUAGE?
Body language signs are non verbal cues that we give others, sometimes unwittingly, while communicating. When people use body language they express their feelings by looks, movements and posture. Understanding BL is very important, for, looking past the words, what we express non verbally in a conversation is often more revealing than the words we say. A single handshake can reveal your character. Body language is indeed a powerful indicator of what we are, how we behave, and how we handle ourselves.

TYPICAL INTERPRETATIONS
Browse the chart below and see if you can find BL signs you are concerned with. Are they negative or positive?
SIGNS FOR CONFIDENCE
à decided look , smiling , leaning forward in chair, chin up, firm handshake, putting tips of fingers of one hand against the tips of fingers of other hand in "praying" or "steepling" position , hands joined behind back when standing
SIGNS FOR OPENNESS AND WARMTH
à open-lipped smiling, open hands with palms visible, unbuttoning coat upon being seated,firm handshake
SIGNS FOR UNTRUSTWORTHINESS OR DEFENSIVENESS
àfrowning, squinting eyes, tight-lipped grin, chin down, darting eyes, looking down when speaking, arms crossed in front of chest, clenched hands, touching nose or face, gestures with fist, pointing with fingers, chopping one hand into the open palm of the other, rubbing back of neck, clasping hands behind head while leaning back in the chair, soft handshake
SIGNS FOR NERVOUSNESS
àSmoking, whistling, pinching skin, fidgeting, jiggling pocket contents, running tongue along front of teeth, clearing throat, running fingers through hair, wringing hands, biting on pens or other objects, twiddling thumbs, biting fingernails (action itself or evidence of), tongue clicking
SIGNS FOR INTEREST
àeye contact, tilting the head shows that you are attentive and "processing information" interested.
SIGNS FOR SHYNESS AND LACK OF CONFIDENCE

à too little eye contact, legs crossed, arms folded and head bowed, tilt head too much forward
SIGNS FOR MADNESS
too much eye contact
SIGNS FOR ARROGANCE
à tilting head backward

Of course there are many other BL signs, and not every sign is an indicator of character. They can also be a sort of common code which people use and share in particular situations,varied and numerous. In a professional context,for example, a good way to get perceived in the right expected role is to use mirroring techniques. Reproduce what others do, and you are among the tribe. Do anything taboo and you run the risk of becoming outcast.
DO'S AND TABOOS OF BODY LANGUAGE
Body language has its do's and taboos but respecting the border separating permitted body language (do's) from the gestures that should be avoided (taboos) is no easy task,for even if you know a lot of body language,the signs and gestures you are using do not necesarily mean the same everywhere. A good example of such a discrepancy of meaning in signs and gestures is the OK sign. In Brazil,the casual and harmless American "OK sign" does not belong to the gallery of permitted Body language. For a Brazillian, uniting thumb and index in order to form the letter "o" has a totally obcene meaning (*screw you). The fact that in the States it simply means approval and contentment about something does not prevent Americans from being misunderstood when they travel to Brazil and they produce the Ok sign unawares and without any awareness of the Brazillian BL lore.