Is body language really important in our personal and professional life?

Importance of body language

2,506 Views Updated: 29 Jun 2018
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Body language by definition is a kind of communication without the use of words. It may be any action or expression of the body which a person gives meaning to. These cues are not always delivered intentionally and more often than not, not seen or misinterpreted. Essentially, non-verbal cues are elusive, complex and comes with several channels. Knowledge of deciphering body language can be applied in many ways – like when determining what your teacher thinks of your report or whether your boss approves of your presentation. There are many instances where body language can play a huge role. In some cases, the sender of the cues may not be totally aware of the message, so as the receivers. For instance, a person may not be aware that his pupil dilates when feeling thrilled. On the other hand, a receiver may not also be cognizant that the pupils dilate along with the feeling of excitement. That is how body language works in almost all cases.

Decoding body language

Now, would it be cool to learn some body language decoding skills? Yes, there is really a way to learn these unspoken cues. As you learn, you will notice that you are communicating a lot better and expressing your feelings and thoughts in the same way. It is a mighty tool, which can be more powerful than speech since what you convey to people and vice versa is not all about the words. Successful communication is just one of the major benefits of learning body language. Effective communication is not only about absorbing the words and its meaning, but also translating the actions into words and meaning. For example, your child comes home from school and you asked how his try outs went then, he answers “ok”. When you look into his face what you see is that sad look as if the world tore apart on him. Would you interpret that your child really did well in the try outs? Thus, learning to decode non-verbal cues could actually turn you into a smarter parent. You could ask what seems to be the problem instantly and take action. Learning body language is just one of the many things that could help you survive each day in countless ways.

Interpreting body language

Decoding non-verbal cues. Taking notice of the cues that people deliver through body language can lead to smoother and more effective communication. Remember that body language accounts for more than 50% of how every person communicates. In this chapter, you will learn how to read and interpret body language, so you can accurately figure out what the other party is saying in almost any situation. Here are some of the things you should watch out:

Basic body language

Generally, there are two kinds of emotions: positive and negative. Now, your goal is to identify whether the person you are conversing is comfortable or not. Here are some you should check out: Positive Cues: - Leaning towards you - Limbs uncrossed and relaxed - Established eye contact - Authentic, warm smile - Looking away due to shyness. Negative Cues: - Leaning away from your direction - Crossed legs/arms - Rubbing body parts like the eyes, nose etc. - Feet in the direction away from you - Looking from side to side.

The Face. The face could tell so much – a single expression can mean a thing and so much more. So, you should be observed facial expressions and the emotions behind it carefully. Spotting emotions like joy, sadness, anger and fear are quite easy as there seems to be a universal form of expression to express such from all over the world. Other common emotions to observe through the face include the following: confusion, desire, thrill, disdain and surprise among others.

The eyes could reveal so much on how a person thinks and feel. So, you should practice looking at the person’s eyes when in a conversation and notice a few things like the following: Manner of Blinking: Well, blinking is innate. But you should pay attention to the way a person blinks. For instance, people with rapid blinking may be feeling bumpy or in pain. If a person blinks less than the ordinary, he may be concentrating or trying to conceal something like feelings of excitement or anything else. The Gaze: A person who constantly look away or breaks eye contact may be uncomfortable or hiding something. On the other hand, a person that stares for too long can make you feel threatened. A person that looks direct in the eyes may mean he is focusing his attention or is interested.

Pupil Dilation: The pupil size has something to do with the way a person feels. Dilated pupil means the person is excited or interested.