Here's how you can use body language to boost your networking success.

For any networking event, understanding your audience is important, keep a welcoming posture, a genuine smile and good eye contact are key factors to start.

Keep your arms uncrossed and your body turned towards the person you’re speaking with. This signals that you’re approachable and engaged. Maintain eye contact for about 60% of the conversation to show confidence and interest without being too intense. A warm, authentic smile can make you appear friendly and put others at ease. Use open-handed gestures to emphasize points and convey honesty, but keep them controlled to avoid distraction.

When going into a networking function, I usually have done my research so I know who may be there and/or is going to be there. I make sure when I go into the room, I display a positive attitude (e.g., smile not only with my mouth - also my eyes, open stance). Convey a message of welcoming that people want to know you are and want to know about you. Maintaining eye contact when you are in conversation with someone (which can be challenging at a networking function). Active listening is always important which can be done with positive gestures, eye contact, nodding, etc. Also be mindful that if you are networking in a different country than your own, be aware and respectful of their culture and habits when networking.

Do maintain eye contact when speaking to them as it illustrates that you are listening to them. I hate it when the person I’m talking to is looking over my shoulder to see who’s in the room, it’s rude!

To boost your networking skills, maintain confident eye contact, offer a firm handshake, and adopt an open, relaxed posture. Use a genuine smile to appear approachable, a nod to show engagement, and subtly mirror the other person's body language to build rapport. I believe keeping your gesture natural and respecting personal space is more important to ensure a comfortable and positive interaction, increasing your chance of building a strong connection.

Keeping your focus on the person helps also contextual reference to the content & context of the conversation. Sometimes I do 2-3 network events in a day so I also write on the business card the event & a personal observation to aid memory. Like ‘bright blue tie’.

Una sonrisa auténtica y natural puede complementar el contacto visual y hacer que te perciban como una persona accesible y amigable. Sonreír no solo mejora tu apariencia, sino que también puede poner a los demás a gusto, facilitando una comunicación más abierta y efectiva.

Your body language plays a crucial role. Face the person to show you're interested in what they're saying. Maintain steady eye contact and offer a genuine, confident smile to build trust and professionalism.

Nodding is a great way to show agreement and engagement with the conversation and person. Some cultures nod more than others and that's ok. You'll just have to have culture intelligence to realize that. Nodding actually is another conversational tip to get other to agree with what you are saying as well. Same something truthful and with confidence then add a nod. Pay attention and you'll see others doing this too. Do it genuinely though of course.

Inclinar la cabeza ligeramente mientras escuchas puede complementar el asentimiento y mostrar empatía. Con este gesto estarás demostrando interés y compromiso con la conversación, lo cual puede ayudar a crear una conexión más profunda y significativa con la otra persona.

Nodding shows your agree with someone, but don't over do it. too much nodding can make it look you're pretending to listen instead of really paying attention. if you're networking in a different culture, its a good idea to learn about their customs regarding nodding and communication.

Desde mi punto de vista, asentir con la cabeza es una se?al poderosa de atención y acuerdo durante una conversación. Este gesto no verbal indica que estoy escuchando y valorando lo que se dice. Sin embargo, es crucial usarlo con moderación; asentir en exceso puede parecer poco sincero o impaciente. En mi experiencia, el asentimiento debe emplearse para confirmar los puntos clave y alentar al hablante a continuar compartiendo. Mantener este equilibrio asegura una comunicación más efectiva y demuestra un interés genuino en la conversación.

Nodding is a simple, nonverbal way to show you’re listening and that you value what the other person is saying. It’s a subtle cue that can affirm your understanding and agreement. But, like anything, moderation is key—too much nodding can seem insincere. Use it sparingly to reinforce important points and keep the conversation flowing naturally.

Una.sonrisa siempre es bien acogida refleja el espíritu del ser, compartir una sonrisa es valioso para alguien que quizás no ha tenido un buen día una sonrisa en una expresión de empatía una opinión bien personal

La sonrisa forzada es fácil de detectar, entonces para que tu sonrisa se vea y se sienta auténtica, intenta practicarla en situaciones cotidianas, como al saludar a un vecino o cuando agradeces a alguien. Eso te ayudará a desarrollar una sonrisa natural que se refleje en tus ojos y mejillas, lo que es un indicador de sinceridad. Además, puedes pensar en algo que realmente te haga feliz antes de sonreír; esto puede ayudar a que tu sonrisa sea más genuina y contagiosa.

A genuine smile in communication helps build trust, ease tension, and foster a positive connection. It shows sincerity and warmth, making the other person feel valued and comfortable. Unlike a forced smile, a genuine one is often reflected in the eyes and can create a more engaging and authentic interaction.

a genuine smile while networking shows that you're interested in what the other person is saying and that you're engaged in the conversation. it's best to smile when it feels natural, not just randomly, as this can make you seem less involved in the discussion.

The universal signal for friend is a smile using all your mouth, AND your eyes, no eyes = snarl! And holding that for 3 seconds, maybe including an eyebrow raise. Use it all the time and listen.

People’s eyes and attention are taken by the most animated part. If your hands are moving then their attention will be taking to wherever your hands are pointing to. They will not be listening or taking in anything you say. Use hand gestures rarely

Using hand gestures can make your communication more engaging and help emphasize key points. Open-handed gestures, in particular, convey honesty and enthusiasm, while keeping your hands visible shows you’re confident and transparent. Just remember to keep your movements controlled—too much can be distracting or even seem aggressive.

Hand gestures play a crucial role in networking by enhancing communication, building rapport, and conveying confidence. They make interactions more engaging, help emphasize key points, and demonstrate openness, making it easier to connect with others and leave a lasting, positive impression. The best way to practice it is in the mirror from personal experience.

Hand gestures are a powerful aspect of nonverbal communication. They can emphasize key points, convey emotions, and make your message more engaging. Open and expressive gestures often indicate confidence and honesty, while closed or minimal gestures can suggest discomfort or hesitation. Properly timed and aligned with your verbal message, hand gestures can enhance understanding and help establish a connection with your audience.

Un movimiento corporal de las manos sin excesos y con elegancia, evitando que sea vea sobreactuado o qué no esté acorde a tu cuerpo o personalidad, realmente podría marcar una gran diferencia. El expresar y afirmar con la manos, además de mantenerlas visibles es sinónimo de confianza. La respiración consiente mantiene a nuestro cuerpo lejos de la ansiedad, el pasado y la aceleración con la que aveces se vive la vida, las cuales causan que movamos más de lo que debería ser movido nuestro cuerpo en una conversación. El ser eres todo tú de pies a cabeza, por consiguiente, déjalo libre y tranquilo, para que se pueda expresar con toda su nobleza, delicadez y sobre todo amor.

In my experience being authentic with open stance, good eye contact and a warm polite smile can lead to boosting your networking with others, I personally attended many business development events, job fairs and events and in all those events I personally liked to get connected to those whom are open, kind, maintains eye contact and have smile on their face.

**Mirroring movement in communication** is a nonverbal technique where one person subtly mimics the gestures, posture, or expressions of another. This practice can build rapport, create a sense of connection, and foster trust between individuals. By reflecting the other person's body language, mirroring can signal empathy and understanding, making the conversation flow more smoothly and increasing the likelihood of positive outcomes.

From my experience, mirroring movements in business networking creates an immediate sense of connection. It subtly signals empathy and understanding, making conversations flow more naturally. This technique has helped me build stronger, trust-based relationships, as it makes others feel more comfortable and valued.

El lenguaje corporal está dentro de tu propio control, y utilizarlo de manera asertiva te ayuda a destacar en eventos de networking, si intentas imitar de manera sutil y casi natural los gestos de tu interlocutor generaras empatía, aunque hay que respetar la distancia fisica para no generar sensación de invadir el espacio del otro