How to Improve Body Language Skills
- 1). Maintain eye contact. To come across as a genuine, trustworthy and confident person, it is important to engage in steady and direct eye contact when speaking with another person. Avoid staring, however, as you do not want to make someone feel uncomfortable or somehow judged. Steady eye contact indicates poise and self-assurance, both of which are traits that you want to convey.
- 2). Practice good posture. If a person slouches and doesn't stand up straight, it can give other people the impression that he doesn't have very high self-confidence. Improper posture can conjure up all sorts of unfavorable ideas, from insecurity to submissiveness. Stand up straight at all times, and do not sell yourself short to other people.
- 3). Keep an open demeanor. When communicating with other people, it can be helpful to project a persona that is approachable, friendly and open. To portray this demeanor, avoid crossing your arms and your legs. These actions can make you appear rigid and uptight. Allow your arms to remain at your sides, and keep your feet a small distance apart.
- 4). Smile a lot. Whether we admit it or not, a simple smile from another person can greatly improve our moods. Make other people feel similarly positive, and smile at them. The more you smile in communication, the more likely it is that another person will develop a level of trust in you.
- 5). Keep your palms open. Although the gesture is subtle, open palms can relax people and give off the notion of innocence and sincerity. When meeting people for the first person, keep your palms open to make a good first impression.
- 6). Display strong listening skills. When you are listening to someone speak, ensure that she can see that you are listening by partaking in small gestures such as nodding your head in agreement and smiling occasionally. Avoid appearing to be distracted and making a person think that you are uninterested in her and not listening to what she is saying.
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