Have you ever felt unheard, overlooked, or misunderstood at work or in social settings?

You give instructions, but nothing gets done.

You try to capture attention and make a point, but no one listens.

 You were not exactly the most likeable person in the workplace. 

Has it occurred to you that the issue isn't your words—it’s the way your body speaks.

Body Language – the Window to a Person’s Mind

Body language is the silent window into a person’s mind. It conveys feelings, attitudes, and emotions, often more powerfully than words. In just a few minutes of interaction, how you look, sound, and move can shape the outcome of conversations and relationships—positively or negatively.

To build stronger connections and achieve better outcomes, you must first become aware of the signals you send and sharpen your ability to read the signals of others.

If you wish to improve the positive outcomes through body language, begin with paying attention to the signals you are sending out to others and learn to read others’ signals to react appropriately.

5 Tips for Reading Body Language 

1. Context. Always consider the situation. A colleague looking down at their laptop during a meeting may not be bored—they could be handling urgent matters.
2. Congruence. Notice when words and body language don’t match. Positive words paired with negative gestures create confusion.
3. Cluster. Look for patterns of gestures rather than single movements. A cluster of defensive or anxious signals reveals more than one isolated action.
4. Accuracy. Interpret body language carefully, considering context, congruence, and clusters before responding.
5. Emotion. Be mindful of your own emotions when assessing others, so your judgment stays balanced.

5 Tips when sending signals of body language

Self awareness and self-regulation of your body postures, gestures and movement.  Be cautious of your gestures that may provoke negative reciprocal gestures from the others, such as gestures that reinforce your message such as a thumbs-up, which have to be relevant in the culture of the context to avoid being misunderstood.

1. Ensure your body language is congruent with your message.When communicating, make sure the behaviours you display do not contrast with the spoken words which will cause confusion to the listeners.
2. Use open rather than close body language such as smiling eyes, palms up and open, open arms and legs that makes others feel more welcomed, comfortable and relaxed.
3. Silent Language.Be careful with silent language that transmits positive or negative messages. This includes dress, space, time, and touch. For example, increasing your physical territory by invading into the personal space could be read as dominating.
4. Empathy. Learn to empathize with a person’s true feelings by their gestures, facial expressions, and vocal cues and respond appropriately for a positive outcome.

“The average person looks without seeing, listens without hearing…touches without feeling…moves without physical awareness…and talks without thinking…”, Leonardo da Vinci.

With the power of body language, you can improve your professional image you present to others. More importantly, it helps you to establish rapport, trust and increase you likability to influence others – be it workplace or social settings – for better outcomes in most situations.

So start with self-awareness and regulation of your body talk, sharpen your observation skills to read body cues of others and respond with a positive reciprocal gesture that improves your interaction with others.

What would you do with body language so that it is being read as more favourable and hence make interaction at the workplace or social settings more enjoyable and productive?