What Your Body Language Says About You as a Leader

As a leader, you communicate all the time—even when you’re not speaking. Your nonverbal cues—your facial expressions, posture, eye contact, and even the way you stand—can be just as important as the words you choose. When I first learned this in my NLP Trainer’s Training, it was a bit of a lightbulb moment. The realization that communication is so much more than what you say was both humbling and empowering.

Why is this important? Nonverbal communication often speaks louder than words, and it can have a huge impact on how you’re perceived as a leader. Especially for women and emerging leaders, when your body language matches your words, people trust you more, which makes it easier to lead and inspire your team.

So, how do you use it to your advantage? Let's break it down.

What Is Nonverbal Communication in Leadership?

Nonverbal communication is simply the act of conveying messages without words. This includes things like:

• Body language: How you carry yourself.
• Facial expressions: Your smile, frown, or neutral expressions.
• Gestures: Your hand movements and how you use them.
• Eye contact: How often, and with whom, you make eye contact.
• Posture: How you stand or sit when talking to others.

In leadership, these signals can either support or undermine what you're trying to communicate. Let’s be real here—your team is always watching how you handle yourself. If you say one thing but your body is communicating something else, guess which message they’ll believe?

Why do new leaders need to care? Nonverbal communication plays a critical role in how your team perceives your confidence, competence, and approachability. As an emerging leader, understanding these cues gives you a leg up, ensuring your message aligns with your actions.

Who Needs to Hear This?

This is important for new and emerging leaders, especially women. Women in leadership face unique challenges, and mastering nonverbal communication can help navigate them more effectively.

Think of someone like Michelle Obama—her calm, collected demeanor often spoke volumes without her needing to say a word. She led with grace, and her nonverbal communication amplified her message.

If you're managing a team for the first time, nonverbal communication can help you establish authority without being overbearing. Your team looks to you for cues about how to behave, what to prioritize, and how to handle challenges. If your verbal and nonverbal messages don’t align, they’ll sense it immediately.

How to Incorporate Nonverbal Communication into Your Leadership

Okay, so how do you actually use nonverbal communication to become a more effective leader? Here are some practical tips you can apply immediately:

1. Master Your Posture Your posture speaks before you even open your mouth. Stand tall, keep your shoulders back, and walk into the room with purpose. This shows confidence and helps you command respect.
2. Make Intentional Eye Contact Eye contact can convey confidence, interest, and engagement. But it’s a balancing act—too much eye contact can feel intimidating, while too little may come across as disinterest. Aim to make eye contact about 60% of the time during conversations.
3. Pay Attention to Facial Expressions Even when you're not speaking, your face is sending messages. A calm, focused expression can build trust and openness, while an unintended frown might make you appear unapproachable.
4. Use Hand Gestures Thoughtfully Hand gestures can help you emphasize points and engage your audience, but they should be used sparingly. Over-gesticulating can come across as frantic or unsure. Practice using subtle gestures to punctuate your words and demonstrate confidence.
5. Mirror the Energy You Want to See People tend to mirror the energy of their leader. If you project calm, focus, and optimism through your nonverbal cues, your team will pick up on it and reflect the same. Similarly, if you’re tense or anxious, that energy will spread. Be the mirror of the behavior you want in your team.

What’s Next? Take Charge of Your Nonverbal Cues Now

Here’s your challenge: Over the next 48 hours, start paying attention to your nonverbal communication. Be mindful of your posture, your facial expressions, and how you use eye contact when you're interacting with others.

To go the extra mile, ask a trusted colleague or mentor for feedback on your nonverbal cues—do your actions match your intentions? You’ll be amazed at what you learn about yourself.

To get even more strategic with your communication, I invite you to explore my Impact-Leadership Principles and how they can help you communicate with clarity and confidence. Head over to DebbiePetersonSpeaks.com for more resources on how to craft and develop your leadership presence and become the leader you’re meant to be.