Body Language - Gestures And Movement
When communicating, your body language (facial expressions, gestures, movement, eye contact and voice) should match your message. If there is a disconnect between what you say and your non-verbal communications, your audience will believe your non-verbals.
Movement and gestures are key components of body language.
Here are some tips to help you use gestures and movement effectively:
How to Stand
• Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees relaxed. Your weight should be evenly distributed on both feet. Avoid nervous pacing or shifting from one foot to the other.
• Stand up straight - you do not need to stand like a soldier at attention, but your shoulders should be back and your head held high so you can make eye contact. This posture conveys confidence and helps you breathe more fully.
• Don't “hide” behind a desk, podium or flip chart.
What to Do With Your Hands
• Begin with your hands in the "neutral position," hanging loosely at your sides, so they will be available for natural gestures
• Avoid hands in pockets since it can lead to a sloppier posture and slouching.
• Empty your hands. If you must hold something (your notes or the PowerPoint remote), be aware of what you are doing. I've seen speakers unconsciously fold their notes into little squares - how's that for distracting?
• Be aware of what your empty hands are doing – "washing" each other, grasping each other tightly, playing with your watch, etc.
• Don't point at the audience. Yes, your mother was right – it's not polite to point. Try an open-handed gesture instead.
How to Use Gestures
Whether they come naturally to you or you have to work at them, gestures can help communicate your ideas and a little goes a long way.
• Use a variety of smooth, deliberate and natural gestures that support and visually illustrate your message.
• Use the "fisherman gesture." Remember the fisherman telling the story "I caught a fish THIS big" with his arms open wide? That gesture is a visual clue to what his words are telling you.
• Use the "on the one hand… , on the other hand" gesture to show both sides of the issue.
Nonverbal Gestures: 3 Body Language Gestures You Can Easily Recognize
Nonverbal gestures are just as important as spoken words. Why? Because body language has the power to give away a person’s true intentions. Whether you’re the one making them or the person observing, it’s still important to know the meaning behind some of the most common nonverbal gestures. Your success might depend on it.
Below are some examples:
Nonverbal Gestures # 1: Eye-to-Eye
You could know what a person is thinking or feeling through the movement of their eyes. When a person looks pointedly at a specific space and then looks back at you, it usually means that they want you to notice something about that corner.
It also usually means that you shouldn’t exactly let other people know about it. The lack of eye contact also says a lot about a person. Either they’re guilty about something or intimidated by your presence.
Nonverbal Gestures # 2: A Handshake or a High Five
A handshake or a high five denotes you have done something great or worth recognizing. Handshakes were first used to denote peace in a relationship; but times have passed and now, it is commonly used to say, “job well done.”
High fives, on the other hand, are achieved when a person connects their palm to another’s. This gesture has developed considerably over the years. There are also “high tens” and “low fives” to consider now. All three are used to denote success.
Nonverbal Gestures # 3: Bowing Low
Bowing has always been part of the Japanese and Chinese culture. It is used to show respect to elders, teachers, parents and even business associates.
According to oriental culture, the lower you bow your head, the deeper the respect you have for the other person. You don’t have to be of Japanese or Chinese blood to use this form of respect. It’s a nonverbal gesture known to almost everybody in the world.
It’s highly important that you learn to recognize body language movements. Wouldn’t you want another way to show your boss how much you respect them? Or how about learning how to use your eyes and hands correctly? Give the right signals. Learn these nonverbal gestures now.
http://www.selfgrowth.com/bodyl_articles.html
PRACTICAL EXERCISE: Look at the following cartoons and describe the situation according to the gestures and the body language of the characters. Write the story in Spanish.
When communicating, your body language (facial expressions, gestures, movement, eye contact and voice) should match your message. If there is a disconnect between what you say and your non-verbal communications, your audience will believe your non-verbals.
Movement and gestures are key components of body language.
Here are some tips to help you use gestures and movement effectively:
How to Stand
• Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees relaxed. Your weight should be evenly distributed on both feet. Avoid nervous pacing or shifting from one foot to the other.
• Stand up straight - you do not need to stand like a soldier at attention, but your shoulders should be back and your head held high so you can make eye contact. This posture conveys confidence and helps you breathe more fully.
• Don't “hide” behind a desk, podium or flip chart.
What to Do With Your Hands
• Begin with your hands in the "neutral position," hanging loosely at your sides, so they will be available for natural gestures
• Avoid hands in pockets since it can lead to a sloppier posture and slouching.
• Empty your hands. If you must hold something (your notes or the PowerPoint remote), be aware of what you are doing. I've seen speakers unconsciously fold their notes into little squares - how's that for distracting?
• Be aware of what your empty hands are doing – "washing" each other, grasping each other tightly, playing with your watch, etc.
• Don't point at the audience. Yes, your mother was right – it's not polite to point. Try an open-handed gesture instead.
How to Use Gestures
Whether they come naturally to you or you have to work at them, gestures can help communicate your ideas and a little goes a long way.
• Use a variety of smooth, deliberate and natural gestures that support and visually illustrate your message.
• Use the "fisherman gesture." Remember the fisherman telling the story "I caught a fish THIS big" with his arms open wide? That gesture is a visual clue to what his words are telling you.
• Use the "on the one hand… , on the other hand" gesture to show both sides of the issue.
Nonverbal Gestures: 3 Body Language Gestures You Can Easily Recognize
Nonverbal gestures are just as important as spoken words. Why? Because body language has the power to give away a person’s true intentions. Whether you’re the one making them or the person observing, it’s still important to know the meaning behind some of the most common nonverbal gestures. Your success might depend on it.
Below are some examples:
Nonverbal Gestures # 1: Eye-to-Eye
You could know what a person is thinking or feeling through the movement of their eyes. When a person looks pointedly at a specific space and then looks back at you, it usually means that they want you to notice something about that corner.
It also usually means that you shouldn’t exactly let other people know about it. The lack of eye contact also says a lot about a person. Either they’re guilty about something or intimidated by your presence.
Nonverbal Gestures # 2: A Handshake or a High Five
A handshake or a high five denotes you have done something great or worth recognizing. Handshakes were first used to denote peace in a relationship; but times have passed and now, it is commonly used to say, “job well done.”
High fives, on the other hand, are achieved when a person connects their palm to another’s. This gesture has developed considerably over the years. There are also “high tens” and “low fives” to consider now. All three are used to denote success.
Nonverbal Gestures # 3: Bowing Low
Bowing has always been part of the Japanese and Chinese culture. It is used to show respect to elders, teachers, parents and even business associates.
According to oriental culture, the lower you bow your head, the deeper the respect you have for the other person. You don’t have to be of Japanese or Chinese blood to use this form of respect. It’s a nonverbal gesture known to almost everybody in the world.
It’s highly important that you learn to recognize body language movements. Wouldn’t you want another way to show your boss how much you respect them? Or how about learning how to use your eyes and hands correctly? Give the right signals. Learn these nonverbal gestures now.
http://www.selfgrowth.com/bodyl_articles.html
PRACTICAL EXERCISE: Look at the following cartoons and describe the situation according to the gestures and the body language of the characters. Write the story in Spanish.
