Saturday, October 26, 2002


HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR BODY LANGUAGE?

Eye Contact
Looking frankly and openly is preferred to sly, shifty, side glances. Try to maintain eye contact as mush as possible, but make sure you don't do it in a threatening way. Give people as much as you think they can take.

Facial Expression
Be lively, friendly, alert. A dour expression turns people off and you come across as unapproachable, eve if you are not. Smile often, in a warm, friendly manner. Let your face register interest. Use double and single head nods to encourage others to speak and to show your attention. Use head cocks. Men find them particularly endearing. Keep your chin up, literally.

Gestures
Be expressive without being manic and overdoing it. Keep your hands out of your pockets and avoid crossing your arms across your chest and other barrier gestures. Use open hand movements.

Posture
When standing, be reasonably erect. People woh slouch come across as losers. When seated, adopt a backwards leaning asymmetrical posture for informality. Use a forward leaning, symmetrical posture to indicate interest. Don't huddle, twist your legs around each other and appear taciturn.

Proximity
Approach as closely as you can, without embarrasing others and encroaching on their space. The closer you are, the more intimate the situation. Touch as often as you can without causing offence or giving the wrong impression. Keep gestures informal and light - pat on the back, tap on the arm, handshakes, hand on shoulder. Encourage others to be tactile. Of course in the nicest possible way!

Non Verbal speech
Don't talk too much, too fast, too loud. You disorient people. Talk and listen in roughly the same proportions but bear in mind - research indicates people whom others find attractive, talk more so find a balance. Control volume, pitch and tone. Aim for a reasonably standard accent and avoid extremes.

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