“You can speak well if your tongue can deliver the message of your heart.”

While successful individuals possess numerous characteristics, there is one that they intentionally focus on in order to obtain the next sought position in their professional or personal lives, and that is body language. Ask any successful person, and they will quickly agree that learning to manipulate your body language to send positive messages will put you one step closer to reaching the sort of success you have always desired.

Much has been said and written about appropriate body language in many cultures and contexts, and how positive body language can establish bridges and inspire amicable connections, not to mention its relevance in the business world.

Our bodies have their own language, which is presented through diverse facial expressions, gestures, and stances that can transmit good or negative signals. Our body language gets so ingrained in who we are that we don’t even think about it. Body language is extensively depended upon, often more than verbal language, to determine a person’s genuine personality and character since it is a succession of subconscious behaviours.

Ask any successful person, and they will all agree that it is critical to master your body language in order to communicate effectively and project a charming and forceful personality, all of which are critical components in the route to success.

Since the recognition of the importance of body language, numerous popular books and websites have popped up to educate individuals how to use good body language. Motivational speakers are frequently employed to teach business personnel the value of nonverbal communication in their careers.

If you are constantly giving off an unfavourable image as a result of unintended body language problems, you may potentially destroy your career. So, if you want to be successful in your job, company, or relationship, you must capitalise on this tsunami of nonverbal communication.

The 10 body language secrets used by successful people in their daily lives are listed below.

1. Firm Handshakes

Handshakes are common in the business sector since they are a formal means of greeting your bosses, coworkers, clients, and other stakeholders. A poor handshake indicates a lack of authority and confidence. On the other side, a forceful handshake indicates an aggressive attempt at dominance.

If you want to be successful, both are viewed as undesirable attributes. Be it a job or promotion interview, a commercial endeavour, or meeting new partners, your handshake should be forceful, exuding a nice and pleasant mood while subtly displaying control.

2. Good Eye Contact

Making eye contact is a very crucial aspect of body language in both business and personal relationships. Improper eye contact reveals a lot about the individual. Avoiding eye contact instantly conveys a negative message that the individual is hiding something, is insecure, or is uninterested. These are the kinds of things you never want to say in a professional situation. Intense eye contact, on the other hand, might make the individual appear invasive, confrontational, or domineering.

You should strive for sustained eye contact, which indicates confidence, strength, and leadership characteristics. When you create appropriate eye contact with someone, you make them feel valued, which increases their trust and confidence in you.

3. Do Not Look Overly Agreeable

While it is important to agree with coworkers and superiors, going beyond will make you appear needy for acceptance. In a business setting, desperation does not bode well. Exaggerated nodding indicates that you are trying to satisfy everyone and get their praise. Also, if you don’t comprehend anything but nod a lot, it will be interpreted as an attempt to indicate you agree with or understand it when you don’t.

A successful individual can disagree and do so confidently and professionally, as well as back up their position with logical reasons.

4. Uncross Arms And Legs

Crossing your arms and legs when conversing with someone indicates that you have created a physical barrier. This shows that you are not interested in what the other person is saying. Crossing one’s arms or legs conveys a nonverbal indication that one is resistive and unreceptive to what the other person has to say.

If you want to be successful, this type of signal is a no-no. Another speaking tips isdo not cross or uncross your legs.  Instead, uncross your arms and legs and maintain an open stance. This will establish the tone for a pleasant conversation, assisting you in closing the deal on your raise or promotion.

5. Lean Into The Conversation

Never glance away or turn away from the other person during a conversation. With that one body language, the person transmits a plethora of negative messages. When you turn away or look someplace else during a conversation with someone, it suggests that you are unengaged, indifferent, uneasy, untrusting, and full of disdain. If you exhibit any of these qualities in your work or personal life, the success you desire will remain a fantasy.

When communicating with people, lean in. This demonstrates that you are interested in and receptive to what the other person has to say, which will endear you to others. Success is always the result of a collaborative effort. So, if you have an army of people surrounding you who have been turned off by your bad body language, the only way to go is down.

6. Always Maintain A Good Posture

Nothing says sloppy and stupid like someone who can’t physically handle themselves. Slouching while standing, sitting, or strolling conveys insecurity and lack of control. Poor posture is not only harmful for your health, but it is also awful for your looks. When you slouch, it makes it harder for people to regard you as an equal or superior, resulting in less respect from coworkers and superiors.

Our minds are hard-wired to associate power with how much space a person occupies. Slouching causes your shape to collapse, taking up less space and transmitting less force. People in positions of authority and success always maintain a straight stance with their shoulders backwards, maximising the amount of space they occupy and signalling their position of power.

7. Keep Your Palms Up And Open

Hiding your palms on your lap or keeping them locked like clenched fists indicates that you have something to hide or are argumentative and defensive. If the other person suspects you have anything to hide, it will be difficult for them to trust you. The first step in having an open and productive conversation is to build and acquire the other person’s trust.

As a result, while talking, make sure to include a palms-up stance. By doing so, you are unconsciously inviting the other person to invest their faith and confidence in you. This positive body language is useful in sales and marketing, as well as while trying to persuade someone of something.

8. Keep Your Chin Up

Walking around with your head down does not offer a good message, and it is not a body language you should adopt if you want to be successful. When you lower your head, you indicate surrender and lack of confidence in dealing with people. You cannot expect to be successful or powerful if you have a subservient or defeated mentality.

Maintaining your chin at all times demonstrates pride, authority, and confidence. It demonstrates that you are confident in who you are and pleased with yourself. When presenting a presentation, giving a speech, interviewing for a desired employment, speaking to a group of people, or dealing with coworkers and managers, keep your chin up.

9. Mind The Exaggerated Gestures And Fidgeting

Many individuals become sidetracked when talking and end up fidgeting with their fingers, toying with their hair, or massaging their hands or cheeks. Fidgeting indicates that you are nervous, agitated, too energetic, self-conscious, and easily distracted.

You are misguided if you believe that using exaggerated motions would make you appear confident. In a corporate atmosphere, being flamboyant might be excessive, making it difficult for people to take you seriously.

These are not the behaviours you want to display in a professional setting if you want people to take you seriously and respect you. Successful people exhibit maturity and authority via restraint and controlled gestures.

10. Smile Is The Best Accessory To Wear

Nothing beats a charming grin for creating a favourable impression of a person. Frowning, scowling, grimacing, and rolling the eyes are all unfavourable facial expressions that can make others uncomfortable. It communicates to others that you are unapproachable and that their presence is not welcome, which can entirely exclude the possibility of pleasant and honest conversation.

There have been several studies that illustrate the benefits of smiling. When you grin, people smile back, which decreases tension and promotes good cheer. While a nice grin is contagious, it may also be interpreted as submissive, therefore your smile should reflect those around you. Successful leaders understand the value of a grin in fostering goodwill and projecting confidence.

Individuals who are successful are not usually the brightest or best educated. They are often the ones that have perfected the art of using subtle, yet strong body language to lure people to them as they radiate trust and confidence. These nonverbal gestures and postures appear easy and benign on the surface, yet they individually send a plethora of signals even before you say a single word. They all have a significant impact on how you think, feel, and perform, as well as how you are seen by others.

To be successful, you must learn how to demonstrate power and assurance via nonverbal communication, even when the odds are stacked against you. Corporates might hire motivational speakers who are trained in the art of manipulating body language in order to pave the road for a better you and be an inspirational success story.

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