Why Does Body Language Matter?

Why is body language important??

During the pandemic with so many people wearing masks, how do you know when someone is smiling? How can you tell when someone is mad? If you pay close attention, you can find the answers by reading body language.?

Notice their eyes.?

Notice their posture.

Notice how they are leaning into or away from you.?

There are many different ways we communicate with one another. I have friends who do not speak, and I have friends who are hard of hearing. When you lose one of those senses, you end up stronger in other abilities. The body can take what you have and compensate for the things you do not have. For example, if you can’t hear, your eyesight becomes even stronger — and communicating with body language becomes even more vital.?

Your body language speaks for you.

I was in a meeting recently with a brilliant colleague whose talent and expertise are undeniable. During the meeting, I noticed this person slouch into their seat and swivel back and forth in their chair. Their body language communicated they were nervous and perhaps even lacked confidence among the group. When we took a break, I offered this person some advice.?

I said, “You are so good at what you do, and you’re confident in what you do. When you’re doing what you do well, your posture — your body language — is incredibly strong. When you’re not doing that, though, your body language is saying for you, ‘I’m not confident. I’m insecure. I don’t want to be here.’ You’re sitting at a meeting with me, and you’re going back and forth in your chair. This is saying to me, ‘I’m uncomfortable. I’m nervous.’ I know that’s not who you are. I know that you’re so strong at what you do!”

When the meeting reconvened, my colleague presented awareness of what their body language communicated. The shift in response in the room was palpable - I saw the rest of the team recognize what I already knew: That this colleague was a talent whose perspective was worth heeding.

Use body language as positive reinforcement.

Body language can also be very positive. I can make someone feel good by leaning in and using eye contact. I can convey that I think you are a wonderful person just by how I look at you.?

It’s all very intentional. Can my body language encourage somebody to try something they’ve never done before because they see me leaning in and believing in them?

What do you want to say? In every meeting you attend and with every person that you're with (at home or out in the world), think about what you want them to hear you say without speaking a word.?

Often what comes out of our mouth is the opposite of what our body is saying. Before any meeting, script out “What do I want to say to that person?” and then think about how you want your body to convey that information.?

Practice that act of reading body language.

Once you increase your awareness and understand body language better, you can begin to have fun with it. Try to figure out what this person in front of you is saying with their body language.

1. Pay attention.
2. Be intentional.

Is this person confident or insecure? Is this person happy or sad? Is this person upset or content? Most people don’t analyze this way. They see body language, but they are not interpreting it. Treat reading body language as an essential skill in your arsenal for effective communication.

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