When working with other people, verbal communication is
only one way that you show others emotion, approval,
disappointment and confidence. How you walk, how you
position yourself when talking and how you use your facial
expression are all cues that other people rely on when
making assessments about your abilities and current state
of mind.
Using Body Language in the Workplace
The more you understand body language and its affect on
others, the better you will be in communicating with
co-workers, bosses, clients, vendors and others you
encounter during the day. By making simple adjustments to
your posture, facial expressions and mannerisms, you can
improve the way others view you. Assessing how people view
you is necessary in order to make changes.
Ask those around you whose opinion you can trust to
determine where improvements need to be made.
Adjustments can include the following:
* Maintaining a relaxed posture while walking or during a
meeting. Relaxed posture indicates you're comfortable in
your surroundings and not under stress. Even if you
experience stress while working on a project, when you
reduce the appearance of stress, those around you will feel
more comfortable and will have more faith in your abilities
to lead, delegate responsibility and manage the project.
* Mannerisms such as fidgeting, moving around a room while
talking, breaking eye contact with others frequently and
other bodily quirks you have can be seen as a distraction
to those around you. These mannerisms can make you appear
anxious, unprepared, unorganized, and stressed even if
you're not. Learn how to control these mannerisms by taking
note of when they occur, how often they occur, and consider
ways to alter them. Many times, mannerisms are just old
habits that need to be broken.
* Learning how to control your facial expressions can help
you become more successful in the workplace. If people
often ask if you're upset or angry, it may be because
you're constantly frowning or you appear sad. Change your
facial expressions by practicing in the mirror. Find an
expression that is relaxed and calm and make an attempt to
wear it as often as possible around others. Once you're
learned how to use your body language to communicate more
effectively in the workplace, you will notice a change in
how others react to you.
Assessing the Body Language of Others
If you're always the last person in the office to know when
something is wrong, then maybe you need to pay closer
attention the signals others are sending through their body
language.
Noticing how people walk, how they carry themselves and how
their faces appear during the day can provide you with many
clues. Even though they may be sending the wrong signals,
you should still take note of them so you can assess
situations more confidently instead of relying on the
perceptions of others. Becoming more observant of body
language when hiring new employees can also help you choose
the right candidates for positions available. Take notice
of how they present their resume to you, how they sit and
how their facial expressions change as they talk about
prior job experiences. Use your observations in conjunction
with their resume and references to determine if they are
right for the company you work for.
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Sharon Alexander is the author of the ebook Claim that
Job.com - The Ultimate Job-Hunting and Career Management
ebook that teaches the skills and techniques needed to
succeed in a competitive job-market.
http://www.claimthatjob.com .
http://www.claimthatjob.com/blog .
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