What you don’t say matters as much as what you do say—sometimes more.
Don’t let poor body language undermine your good message. Pull your shoulders back, put your head up, and get ready to make your point heard!
Nonverbal Signals
You may not even be aware of it, but your body is having a conversation with the person, or people, that you’re talking to. Keep your chin parallel to the floor, push your shoulders back and down, straighten your spine, and, whether standing or seated, distribute your body weight evenly. Lean slightly—but don’t hunch—forward. Leaning forward shows interest, but hunching indicates stress. Similarly, keep your hands relaxed and open; resist the temptation to rub them together, lay them firmly on top of each other, or fidget. When talking, keep the hand gestures to a minimum, as they can distract from what you’re saying….