Body talk What it says?

About 93 per cent of our communication is nonverbal, making body language and facial expressions the majority of our communication. Learn how to master yours!

Do you fidget when you talk to your boss or cross your arms when meeting new people? Or perhaps you greet everyone with a smile and open arms. We’ve all heard that body language often does the talking for us at work, at social events, and even in our romantic lives. So what does it take to become fluent in it?

Body language is important

Often too subtle to be fully aware of, about 93 percent of our communication is nonverbal, making body language and facial expressions the majority of our communication. We read and pick up on others’ body language to make sense of even the most obvious of positive and negative emotions, such as winning and losing at sports.

With the right kind of body language, we can convey openness, honesty, and confidence, which can build trust and co-operation in all parts of our lives. On the other hand, the wrong type can foster mistrust, misunderstanding, or even aggression.

“Body language is so important because it is a not-so-secret language that provides information to others about our feelings about ourselves, those around us, our work, and our environment. It’s important to be aware of the messages we are conveying because those messages are telling our story to others,” says Kim Cochrane, a Toronto-based psychotherapist.

Subtle signs

While we often focus on what we say, we very rarely are aware of what we communicate with our bodies. For example, if you had your hand on your neck while talking to your boss in a meeting this morning, she may think that you feel talking to her is a pain.

Maybe you covered your mouth with your hand while having lunch with your colleagues today. Based on that one subtle move, they may think you are lying, not being open, or that you are insecure. Nervous tics and seemingly benign habits such as fiddling with your pen, jewellery, or hair may tell someone that you are impatient or even bored.

On the other hand, smiling, nodding in agreement, and keeping your chin up suggest confidence and openness. Researchers think that simple behaviours such as a head nod or a smile might also cause physiological changes that activate an entire trajectory of body, mind, and behavioural shifts—essentially altering the course of a person’s day.

Fake it till you make it

While some people look like naturals at exuding confidence, building trust, and putting others at ease, others don’t know where to start. There is good news, however: body language can be learned. Research has shown that holding simple power poses makes us feel more powerful and confident, even if we start off not feeling that way.

Assuming a high power pose, such as hands above head, shoulders back, and keeping the limbs open for two minutes increases our testosterone, which is linked to power and self-esteem, and decreases our cortisol, which is linked to stress.

That same research showed in a trial that job candidates who assumed a high power pose before their interviews were 80 percent more likely to be hired than those who maintained low power positions, such as hunched shoulders and keeping their chin tucked down.

Power and confidence in our daily lives goes beyond just landing the job; they also affect how well we do in our jobs. People who feel a lack of power perform worse in planning, goal achieving, and even memory.

Researchers showed that people have the ability to “fake it till they make it,” and over time, these minimal changes could improve a person’s general health and well-being. This is particularly important for people who feel powerless because of lack of resources, low rank in an organization, or being part of a low-power social group.