Human beings are said to have acquired the capacity for speech approximately 200,000 years ago. Before that, they relied on facial expressions, posture, gestures and emotionally-charged vocalizations to communicate. These non-verbal exchanges still exist today as a part of our communication landscape in the form of body language. When you shrug your shoulders, purse your lips or offer a high five, you are communicating without uttering a word.
Exude Confidence
Take command in the boardroom or an interview by assuming postures and utilizing gestures that suggest confidence. Walk into the room with your head erect and your shoulders squared, while making eye contact with others. Offer a firm handshake, if appropriate. Speak in a clear, lowered tone and lean forward in your chair while doing so. Use your hands to gesture with your palms facing downward as this signifies conviction. Refrain from using overly aggressive body language, however, like pointing, eyebrow lowering or staring.
Public Speaking
If you have to give a speech, step out from behind the lectern and use your body to keep your audience engaged. Toastmasters.org suggests that you establish trust with your audience by making eye contact with several individual listeners. Keep your body loose, but avoid fidgeting, shifting your weight too frequently or hiding your hands in your pockets or behind your back as these movements conveys nervousness. Illustrate your points with actionable body language. For example, if you are speaking about fly-fishing, you might mimic casting your fishing line. Always remember to smile.
Create Affinity
Build rapport with a new friend by using gestures that signify warmth and receptiveness. Stand with your body directly facing the other person to indicate liking and loyalty rather than angling yourself away from someone, which demonstrates mistrust or dislike. Gestures with your palms facing upward are non-threatening and convey congeniality. Nod your head while the other person is talking and make eye contact. Flash a zygomatic smile, which is inspired by true feelings of happiness rather than an attempt to be polite. This smile is discernible by the accompanying creases that form at the corners of the eyes.
Body Language of Love
Convey your interest to the object of your affection with body language that signals romantic intent. Stand facing him or her with your arms open, not crossed and with your feet pointed slightly inward. This pigeon-toed stance demonstrates a lack of harmful intent. Tilting your head to the side indicates friendliness or coyness. Rapid eye blinking or fluttering signals interest as does an occasional downward gaze. If the other person is interested, he or she should return your gaze.
Lost In Translation
While much of non-verbal communication is universal, some is a product of culture. For example, comfort levels for closeness during a conversation vary from culture to culture. Latin Americans generally require less distance between persons than Europeans do. Also, certain gestures can have more than one meaning. An eyebrow raise, for example, can mean surprise or disbelief, but when combined with a lip pout, it is a flirtatious expression. Therefore, like words, body language must be interpreted in context.
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