THE IMPORTANCE OF BODY LANGUAGE IN COMMUNICATION (PART B)

Article by Michalis Markos, MBA*
Executive – Business Consultant
& Professor of Business Administration/Marketing

 

 


Stop & Head movement

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The head moves when we speak and when we listen and the most frequent movement is when we move our head.

we do is the nod. The nod indicates agreement, confirmation,

endorsement. The speed of nodding can reveal patience

or the listener’s lack of patience.

A slow nod shows that the listener is interested in what the speaker is saying, while a fast nod shows the person you are talking to that you have heard enough or that you want to finish a conversation or that you are asking for a chance to speak too. Head nodding is a wonderful tool to create a friendly atmosphere and to reach an agreement and cooperation.

 

There are three basic head postures. In the first (neutral posture), the person does not tilt his head to the right or left and keeps a steady eye contact to the front. Tilting the head to the right or left demonstrates an exposed and often vulnerable neck and makes the person look smaller and more submissive.

 

When someone has their head up with a slight backward movement, this indicates arrogance or an aggressive attitude. When the head is lowered, it means obedience, humility, disapproval or rejection. It can also mean shame or keeping his distance because of his distrust. When someone smiles and at the same time tilts their head slightly towards us, it indicates interest. Moreover, when a person raises his head quickly, he immediately shows his interest, especially if it is accompanied by a raise of the eyebrows, except of course in cases where he simply looks at the ceiling, which means boredom or indifference.

 

The shrugging of the shoulders and the crinkling of the head between them allows one to protect one’s vulnerable throat and larynx from injury. When used on a personal or professional level, it implies a request for forgiveness, which diminishes the person using it in any meeting in which they are trying to show confidence.

 

In addition, touching the head can mean a self-punishment, such as touching the forehead with the palm of the hand, while if combined with touching the head (at the back) and with the 2 hands in the catapult position, it shows arrogance or insolence and this gesture is considered as the number one gesture that women dislike in men. This gesture is intended to intimidate others or imply a relaxed attitude, so that you are lulled into a false sense of security. It’s a trademark of those who want to make you think they know everything (know-it-alls).

 


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I nterviews & Movements of the Hands/Foot

Their legs and limbs are an important source of information about someone’s mood, because most people don’t realize what they are doing and would never think to fake certain movements, as they do with their facial expressions. The way a person uses their feet and legs reveals where they want to go, i.e. it shows how much they want to continue or leave a conversation. Legs open and not crossed reveal a receptive or authoritarian attitude, while closed and crossed legs reveal caution or uncertainty.

 

A person may appear composed and calm, while at the same time one end of the foot may be nervously tapping the floor or throwing small, sharp kicks in the air, revealing their frustration at not being able to escape. A quick movement of the foot indicates an impatient, frightened and nervous person. When someone slowly changes his feet to cross-legged, perhaps, he is bored with the conversation. Of course, when one foot touches the other during a date, it shows enthusiasm. Also, the direction of the feet determines the direction of our interest. So, if the other person’s legs are pointing towards us, then they definitely care about us, whereas when someone is standing with their legs together, they are showing anxiety, as their posture indicates that they need protection. The same happens when one sits in the chair, squeezing one’s knees.

 

In general, there are 4 basic standing postures, which are:

  • the attitude of attention,
  • the posture with the legs open,
  • the stance with one foot in front and
  • the cross-legged pose.

 

In the attention posture, the person shows a neutral mood, with no desire to stay or leave. In the open-legged stance – used predominantly by men – the legs are firmly rooted to the ground and is usually accompanied by the display of the thumbs of the person using it. It is a signal of dominance and self-confidence. In the one-foot-forward position, the person using it shifts all of his or her weight to the hip, leaving the front foot facing forward. Attitude has two meanings. If there is interest, the foot turns towards the person we are talking to, otherwise it looks towards the nearest exit. Finally, in the cross-legged pose, it means that there may be a negative or defensive mood. The purpose of crossing the legs is an unconscious attempt to protect the genetic area. There are two basic cross-legged postures, the standard posture and the crossing in the form of the number four, which indicates that there is a competitive or fighting mood.

 

As far as the hands are concerned, because we usually hold our hands in front of our body, these signals are easily visible and most of us have specific positions for our hands that we use all the time. Clenched hands indicate a reserved, anxious or negative attitude. Research shows that clenched hands indicate that the person is trying to hold back a negative or stressful situation. On the contrary, stretching the hands forward with the palms down indicates certainty in the answers you will give as a speaker to the audience or to your interlocutor, while hands with the palms up indicates sincerity. In particular, the sincere ones will hold one or both palms open towards the other.

 

The crossing of the hands means barrier, defence, need for self-protection, counterattack, indifference, uncertainty, nervousness, blocking the words of the interlocutor, habit and together with lowering of the head indicates categoricalness. With our arms crossed at chest level we effectively close any channel of communication with our interlocutor and block or protect our heart from indirect beats. A good way to change the balance in a conversation is to ask some questions. He will be forced to change his attitude and come towards you.

 

read “THE IMPORTANCE OF BODY LANGUAGE IN COMMUNICATION (PART A)”

H ΣΗΜΑΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΓΛΩΣΣΑΣ ΤΟΥ ΣΩΜΑΤΟΣ ΣΤΗΝ ΕΠΙΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΑ (Α’ μέρος)