Mastering Communication: The Power of Body Language

Mastering Communication: The Power of Body Language

by- Deepa Singh

“What I hide by language, my body utters.”

John Barthes

Being an emotional, introvert, shy and over regarding individual, usually, my words swept away by my feelings during formal and informal conversations, leaving my message unclear to the listener.

I practiced and tried a lot to convey myself verbally, but pathetically failed.

Consequently, I decided to convey my message in writing.

Alas!

Do you think anybody, in this busy world, has time to read patiently to responses, requests, suggestions, messages?

No...

This was the picture... until I read books on body language. My interest in the subject grew, and I delved deeper into it.

As a result, I realized the importance of learning to balance both verbal and non-verbal communication.

If you have ever faced similar challenge and want to explore the root cause and solution, consider the following questions, while recalling any important conversation.

· Do you often, miss the message you want to convey?

· Do you feel that your desire to be in your comfort zone hampers your communication?

· Do you feel your verbal language and body language are not aligned?

· Do you often find an unexpected response from your listener?

If you answer ‘yes’ to any of these questions, it is essential to learn and improve your body language.

Read to understand...

How Body Language, much like in a story, sets the stage for any

conversation to let the words play their role upon it.

History of Body Language

You know that communication is as essential as air and water for survival.

Non-verbal or Body language is a form of communication that humans have used long before the advent of verbal language. Despite its significance, many people remain unaware of its power.

In 1872, Charles Darwin published ‘The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals’, where he explored how emotions are expressed through facial expressions and body language.

Later in mid- twentieth century (1952), anthropologist Ray L. Birdwhistell coined the term ‘body language’ to describe non-verbal communication.

Subsequently, Paul Ekman and W.V. Friesen developed Facial Action Coding System (FACS).

Albert Mehrabian researched 7 % of a message comes through spoken words, while 38% is conveyed through voice tone, and a huge 55% is attributed to body language.

Isn’t it an amazing fact?

We often rely on body language to convey messages more effectively than spoken words.

In the 21st century, we’ve come to appreciate the significance of body language once more.

Its trustworthy, lasting, honest, and compassionate characteristics make it a powerful tool for effective communication.

Body Language

Body language is a medium to convey the purity of thought, ease, and comfort through your eyes, posture, using facial expression to regard others, and ensuring your personal zone without encroaching on others.

It is the best medium to connect someone with integrity.

Types of Body Language
Appearance	Facial Expression	Eye Movement	Gesture	Posture	Voice/Sounds	Space

You must follow the three basic principles to maintain impressive body language.

Discipline:

Maintain a disciplined posture.
It conveys confidence and attentiveness.
It shows that you’re present and engaged.

Honesty:

Be honest with yourself and others.
Authenticity shines through body language.
Your actions aligned with true feelings and intentions fosters trust.

Respect:

Treat others with respect.
It is reflected in your non-verbal cues.
Respect acknowledges the dignity of those around you.

Self-reflection and understanding your own emotions and intentions allows you to adjust your body language.

Body language YODA System

Another system to improve body language is YODA system. This system highlights the importance of understanding and utilizing body language effectively.

• Y- You, consider your posture, gestures, facial expressions, and eye contact. Are they aligned to your intended message. It impacts you as well as others.

• O- Observe, others body language and practice to read between the lines.

• D- Decode, identify others physical behavior, and choose your best response.

• A- Adapt, your own body language based on observation and decoding.

Difference between Verbal Language and Body Language

Verbal Language tells facts and information with the use of words.

Body Language conveys feelings, attitude, and emotion using facial expression, eye movement, gesture, posture, personal appearance, tone of voice and by maintaining space.

Many non-verbal signals are inborn, some are learned, others are genetically transferred, or acquired in different ways. A person may stand in a particular style which could be genetic or inborn.

· Magic of Body Language

Imagin you are feeling broken inside, mere words fail to convey the depth of your emotions...

You pour out your heart, yet the listener remains unresponsive and lack the empathy or sympathy you long for.

But then..., as a tear escapes your eye, the listener’s body language shifts, perhaps a comforting touch, a gentle nod, or a compassionate look.

In that moment, you can realize the magic of nonverbal communication or body language.

“An eye can threaten like a loaded and levelled gun,

Or it can insult like hissing or kicking; or,

In its altered mood, by beams of kindness,

It can make the heart dance for joy.”

Ralf Waldo Emerson

Factors affecting Body Language

Value
Beliefs
Attitudes
Mood
Emotions
Feelings
Behavior
Work overload
Hunger
Illness/fatigue
Feeling excluded

Body Language: Interesting Facts

We are always communicating with non-verbal language or body language. Even if you are quiet, you communicate that you are calm.
Body language can be fake, but it will be short-lived.
Face is most expressive of all body parts.
There are six universal facial expressions happiness, sadness, surprise, fear, anger, distrust.
Our face contains 43 different muscles that can make over 10,000 combinations and dozens of facial expressions.
Open palm denotes truth, openness, faithfulness, and compliance.
Upward open palm denotes begging.
Downward open palm denotes trying to hold down or constrain something.
Handshake conveys three basic attitudes dominance, submission, and equality.
Rubbing palm shows something positive.
Hands clenched together denotes frustration, negativity.
Steeping hands shows confident attitude.
Body language is best interpreted in clusters and in context.
Gestures should be studied as per context.
Gestures represent power and position also.

Body Language or Non- Verbal signals

1.Smile

2. Laugh

3. Cry

4. Frown

5. Glare

6. Nodding

7. Head shaking side to side

8. Shoulder shrug

9. Hunched shoulders

10. Raised brows

11. Thumb-up

12. The V sign

13. Ring gesture

14. Scratching the head (Cluster of gesture-mean forgetfulness, uncertainty, lying, dandruff, sweating, or fleas depending on the other gesture accompanying it)

15. Open palm

16. Blushing

17. Rubbing palm together

18. Hands clenched together

19. Steeping hands

20. Eye contact

21. Tone of voice

22. Pursed lips

23. Flared nostrils

24. Tossing head and sky shot

25. Forced laughter

26. Fake smile

27. Shifting in one’s seat

28. Jiggling feet

29. Widening or narrowing eyes

30. Fiddling fingers

31. Clenched fists

32. Crossed arms

33. Trembling lip

34. Bowed head

35.Moist eyes

36. Neck rubbing

37. Strangled sound

38. Loud/ Soft voice

39. Yawning

40. Slouched or slumped bodies

Negative signals

· Sweating, flushed skin,

· Chewing object/ lips/ fingers

· Jiggling feet

· Shallow breathing

· Frowning

· Tense lips

· Short, quick breath

· Contracted pupils

Positive signals

· Cool skin

· Open gesture

· Calm demeanor

· Genuine smile

· Easy eye contact

· Deep breathing

Keeping the value and significance of Body Language online or offline in 21st century you must work upon it.

As someone who appreciates the impact of body language and values the role of good communicator in surroundings and society, you are already on the right track because you have shown interest in reading this article.

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Resource Books:

https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Nonverbal_Communication/8NWRSQ32S8QC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=body%20language&pg=PP1&printsec=frontcover

https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Body_Language/jMtQDAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=body%20language&pg=PP1&printsec=frontcover

https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Body_Language_by_VIJAYA_KUMAR/CehPwc8pZysC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=body%20language&pg=PA1&printsec=frontcover

https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/The_Power_of_Body_Language/N0r70nRyuNsC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=body%20language&pg=PA21&printsec=frontcover