{"id":860,"date":"2017-09-10T03:03:42","date_gmt":"2017-09-09T19:03:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hiredchina.com\/articles\/2017\/09\/10\/15-body-language-secrets-of-successful-people\/"},"modified":"2025-01-06T21:17:06","modified_gmt":"2025-01-06T13:17:06","slug":"15-body-language-secrets-of-successful-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hiredchina.com\/articles\/15-body-language-secrets-of-successful-people\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Body Language Secrets of Successful People"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our bodies have a language of their own, and their words aren\u2019t always kind. Your body language has likely become an integral part of who you are, to the point where you might not even think about it. If that\u2019s the case, it\u2019s time to start, because you.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Our bodies have a language of their own, and their words aren\u2019t always kind. Your body language has likely become an integral part of who you are, to the point where you might not even think about it.\u00a0If that\u2019s the case, it\u2019s time to start, because you could be sabotaging your career.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Photo: beijing<\/a>liuxue<\/h5>\n
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TalentSmart has tested more than a million people and found that the upper echelons of top performance are filled with people who are high in emotional intelligence (90% of top performers, to be exact). These people know the power that unspoken signals have in communication<\/a> and they monitor their body language accordingly.<\/p>\n

What follows are the 15 most common body language blunders that people make, and emotionally intelligent people are careful to avoid.<\/p>\n

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1.\u00a0 Slouching<\/strong>\u00a0is a sign of disrespect. It communicates that you\u2019re bored and have no desire to be where you are. You would never tell your boss, \u201cI don\u2019t understand why I have to listen to you,\u201d but if you slouch, you don\u2019t have to\u2014your body says it for you, loud and clear.<\/p>\n

The brain is hardwired to equate power with the amount of space people take up. Standing up straight with your shoulders back is a power position. It maximizes the amount of space you fill. Slouching, on the other hand, is the result of collapsing your form\u2014it takes up less space and projects less power.<\/p>\n

Maintaining good posture commands respect and promotes engagement from both ends of the conversation.<\/p>\n

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2.\u00a0 Exaggerated gestures\u00a0<\/strong>can imply that you\u2019re stretching the truth. Aim for small, controlled gestures to indicate leadership and confidence<\/a>, and open gestures\u2014like spreading your arms apart or showing the palms of your hands\u2014to communicate that you have nothing to hide.<\/p>\n

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3.\u00a0 Watching the clock\u00a0<\/strong>while talking to someone is a clear sign of disrespect, impatience, and inflated ego. It sends the message that you have better things to do than talk to the person you\u2019re with, and that you\u2019re anxious to leave them.<\/p>\n

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4.\u00a0 Turning yourself away from others,<\/strong>\u00a0or not leaning into your conversation, portrays that you are unengaged, uninterested, uncomfortable, and perhaps even distrustful of the person speaking.<\/p>\n

Try leaning in towards the person who is speaking and tilt your head slightly as you listen to them speak. This shows the person speaking that they have your complete focus and attention.<\/p>\n

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5. Crossed arms<\/strong>\u2014and crossed legs, to some degree\u2014are physical barriers that suggest you\u2019re not open to what the other person is saying. Even if you\u2019re smiling or engaged in a pleasant conversation, the other person may get a nagging sense that you\u2019re shutting him or her out.<\/p>\n

Even if folding your arms feels comfortable, resist the urge to do so if you want people to see you as open-minded and interested in what they have to say.<\/p>\n

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6. Inconsistency<\/strong>\u00a0between your words and your facial expression causes people to sense that something isn\u2019t right and they begin to suspect that you\u2019re trying to deceive them, even if they don\u2019t know exactly why or how.<\/p>\n

For example, a nervous smile while rejecting an offer during a negotiation won\u2019t help you get what you want; it will just make the other person feel uneasy about working with you because they\u2019ll assume that you\u2019re up to something.<\/p>\n

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7. Exaggerated nodding\u00a0<\/strong>signals anxiety about approval. People may perceive your heavy nods as an attempt to show you agree with or understand something that you actually don\u2019t.<\/p>\n

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8.\u00a0 Fidgeting\u00a0<\/strong>with or fixing your hair signals that you\u2019re anxious, over-energized, self-conscious, and distracted. People will perceive you as overly concerned with your physical appearance and not concerned enough with your career.<\/p>\n

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9.\u00a0 Avoiding eye contact\u00a0<\/strong>makes it look like you have something to hide, and that arouses suspicion. Lack of eye contact can also indicate a lack of confidence and interest, which you never want to communicate in a business<\/a> setting.<\/p>\n

Looking down as you talk makes it seem like you lack confidence or are self-conscious, causing your words to lose their effect. It\u2019s especially important to keep your eyes level if you\u2019re making complicated or important points.<\/p>\n

Sustained eye contact, on the other hand, communicates confidence, leadership, strength, and intelligence. While it is possible to be engaged without direct, constant eye contact, complete negligence will clearly have negative effects on your professional relationships.<\/p>\n

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10.\u00a0 Eye contact that\u2019s too intense<\/strong>\u00a0may be perceived as aggressive, or an attempt to dominate. On average, Americans hold eye contact for seven to ten seconds, longer when we\u2019re listening than when we\u2019re talking. The way we break contact sends a message, too. Glancing down communicates submission, while looking to the side projects confidence.<\/p>\n

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11. Rolling your eyes<\/strong>\u00a0is a fail-proof way to communicate lack of respect. Fortunately, while it may be a habit, it\u2019s voluntary. You can control it, and it\u2019s worth the effort.<\/p>\n

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12.\u00a0 Scowling\u00a0<\/strong>or having a generally unhappy expression sends the message that you\u2019re upset by those around you, even if they have nothing to do with your mood. Scowls turn people away, as they feel judged.<\/p>\n

Smiling, however, suggests that you\u2019re open, trustworthy, confident, and friendly. MRI studies have shown that the human brain responds favorably to a person who\u2019s smiling, and this leaves a lasting positive impression.<\/p>\n

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13. Weak handshakes<\/strong>\u00a0signal that you lack authority and confidence, while a handshake that is too strong could be perceived as an aggressive attempt at domination, which is just as bad. Adapt your handshake to each person and situation, but make sure it\u2019s always firm.<\/p>\n

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14.\u00a0 Clenched fists,<\/strong>\u00a0much like crossed arms and legs, can signal that you\u2019re not open to other people\u2019s points. It can also make you look argumentative and defensive, which will make people nervous about interacting with you.<\/p>\n

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15.\u00a0 Getting too close.\u00a0<\/strong>If you stand too close to someone (nearer than one and a half feet), it signals that you have no respect for or understanding of personal space. This will make people very uncomfortable when they\u2019re around you.<\/p>\n

Our bodies have a language of their own, and their words aren\u2019t always kind. Your body language has likely become an integral part of who you are, to the point where you might not even think about it.\u00a0<\/span>If that\u2019s the case, it\u2019s time to start, because you could be sabotaging your career.<\/span><\/p>\n

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