Having strong non-verbal communication skills can enhance your career. Your gestures, facial expressions, and mannerisms often convey a message to those you’re speaking with during a conversation. Similarly, their non-verbal cues can reveal significant information, providing clues about their emotional state, intentions, and more.
By improving your non-verbal communication skills, you can ensure that your message non-verbally aligns with what you’re saying. Additionally, you can enhance your ability to understand what’s being shared by others. If you want to boost your non-verbal communication skills, here are some tips that can help.
Maintain Appropriate Eye Contact
Meeting someone’s gaze regularly – but not as intensely as it comes across as staring – is critical when conversing. When the other party speaks, eye contact shows you’re engaged in the discussion. Essentially, it’s a sign that you’re paying attention; some people may even interpret it as a sign of respect.
When you’re the one talking, eye contact at a comfortable interval can be viewed as a sign of honesty or transparency. It also shows that you’re engaging with that person, ensuring they know you view them as part of the conversation.
Keep Your Body Position Open
How you position your body during a discussion can convey unspoken messages. For example, crossing your arms in front of you is considered a defensive or closed-off stance, as it functionally creates a barrier between you and the other person. That may cause participants in the conversation to assume you’re disinterested, object to what they’re saying, or aren’t fully listening.
If you want to improve your non-verbal communication, work toward maintaining an open body position during discussions. Make sure your arms remain uncrossed and keep them relaxed. Adjust the angle of your upper body to ensure it faces the person speaking, as turning away can seem closed off or might be interpreted as disinterest.
Resist the Urge to Fidget
Fidgeting is classically viewed as a sign of nervousness, boredom, discomfort, or a lack of interest. Plus, it can be distracting to other people engaged in the conversation. As a result, it’s best to avoid fidgeting when engaging with others.
For some people, fidgeting is an unconscious habit they’ve acquired. Fortunately, it’s also something that can be overcome. Folding your hands without crossing your arms can work well, allowing you to maintain a reasonably open body position. Honing your active listening skills can make a difference, as being more focused and engaged during the conversation may lessen fidgeting. Relaxation and mindfulness techniques can also be effective.
Those prone to fidgeting may also benefit from reducing their caffeine or sugar intake. Exercise and quality sleep may make a difference, too. For those who must find a way to move, try using a discreet fidget device that makes your actions less obvious.
Ultimately, the tips above can help you improve your non-verbal communication skills. Premier Staffing Inc. wants to hear from you if you’d like to find out more or seek new job opportunities. Contact us to check out our open positions today.