BODY LANGUAGE: What Do You Mean?

We spend a third of our day in the office or sometimes even more than that. So we spend a lot of time with our colleagues. We need to communicate with each other in the office – which is more than just talk! In this context it is important to check on ourselves. Do we communicate well? Do we properly understand each other?

According to researchers, the majority of our communication is nonverbal. Between 60% and 93% of communication comes through our body language, voice tone, and facial expressions. Let’s check out some signals we can notice easily:

MIMICRY

It is when you subtly mimic or copy the body language of your conversational partner. Whenever you want something to go more smoothly you can use a subtle nuance of mimicry to build rapport. It is worth a try!

ROLLING EYES

Rolling eyes is a big NO-GO. This gesture is simply rude.

INVADING PERSONAL SPACE

According to research, 100 to 240 cm is the perfect amount of distance to have between you and your co-workers.

SLOUCHING IN YOUR SEAT

Conveys the feeling that you are not working or bored and it’s also not good for your back, you know?

CROSSING YOUR ARMS OR LEGS

This is a signal of a physical barrier. This nonverbal behaviour can deliver negative vibes. In turn, others may not properly engage with you because they feel like you’re being rejecting, hard-headed, or distant towards them.