Moves That Communicate
Body language is the unwritten and unspoken way that we communicate with each other. It comprises the body movements, facial expressions, and gestures we all make.
These reveal, sometimes much more than words, the emotions and feelings of a person. Reading them, therefore, is an important skill for am manager. Observe and learn the language of the body
WATCH AND YOU WILL KNOW
Look. You will see the body position and facial expression of the people that you work with. Words are only one way to communicate. Emotions and feelings can also be expressed by body language. The point is that we often do not see what we need to see. Start looking.
MEETINGS
When you go to meetings, watch the other people attending the meeting.Take in their different body positions, hand movements and facial expressions. Pay particular attention when a controversial issue is discussed. Who is angry, very interested, bored?
ONE ON ONE
The person is seated in front of you. Perhaps he/she is a candidate for an important position in your department. It may be an employee giving you some information. Or it could be someone trying to sell something. If you are listening just to the words, you are missing a lot. What are the hands doing? Are the arms crossed? Is the person sitting rigidly? Is the body leaning forward listening with total attention to what you are saying?
PRESENTATIONS
You are the presenter. Look at the audience. Are they looking back, sitting straight, silent, nodding in agreement, fully attending the wonderful words you are speaking?
Or are they slumped down, no one looking your way, fiddling with their cell phones, some even asleep?
As the presenter, this is valuable information. When things are going good, you want to keep doing the same thing. When things are going bad, you need to make some changes.
Either way, body language is supplying you with valuable information.
Points to Remember
⦁ HELPS UNDERSTAND THE FEELINGS OF YOUR STAFF.
⦁ READING BODY LANGUAGE WILL HELP YOU COMMUNICATE BETTER
⦁ BECOME AWARE OF THE SIGNALS YOU GIVE TO OTHERS
Managing in English 