You can't not communicate, Paul Watzlawick once said. And it is probably the most frequently quoted sentence when someone wants to express that communication does not necessarily mean talking: Our counterpart also receives numerous clues via nonverbal communication. Even if we just look at him or her silently, we are communicating.
Body language is an important part of interpersonal communication. It often says more than the words we speak - sometimes the exact opposite of what is said. That's because the body is a poor liar. This important way of communicating is one of the first things people will notice when they meet you. Being able to read and use body language well can get you ahead personally and in business.
5 rules to help you come across better through body language:
1. The handshake
The handshake is at the beginning of every encounter and is usually the first physical contact between two people. A handshake is worth a thousand words. The optimal form: Squeeze firmly, not too short, not too long, not too forceful. Grasp the whole hand, not just the front part with the fingers. Shake no more than three times, not moving up and down too much.
2. Sitting correctly
When two people meet for a conversation, it has a more positive effect on the conversation if they are not sitting directly opposite each other. Instead, an angle of between 30 and 60 degrees to each other is ideal. This allows the distance between the two people to vary somewhat as the conversation progresses. Both people feel less confronted with each other head-on, therefore relax more and appear more authentic and convincing.
3. Eye contact
One of the most important rules of nonverbal communication is to maintain eye contact with the other person and to remain relaxed. Only those who maintain firm eye contact with their counterpart have a convincing effect. If you don't, the effect is fatal: If you can't even manage to look someone in the eye, you are either anxious or not interested in the other person.
4. Smile sincerely
The best way to use smiling at a meeting, presentation or other business gathering: First position yourself in the room and set up, then smile in a relaxed manner to the group. If you enter the room with a compulsive grin, you will not be convincing. And another tip: You should not smile to please, but to show that you are satisfied.
5. Straight posture
The basic rule applies: Make yourself straight! A bit like hanging on a rope. A straight posture signals steadiness, self-confidence and that no wind, no matter how rough, can blow you over. This, combined with calm movements, looks professional and convincing. So it's always better to avoid any kind of excited, frantic gestures.
