Body Language Mistakes: Ones You Don’t Want To Make

The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said. Peter Drucker knew a great deal about body language, yes? Let me repeat Peter Drucker’s position on communication … the most important thing is hearing what isn’t being said.

On the flip side, you can significantly damage your verbal messages through body language mistakes. In this regard, body language is a form of mental and physical ability of human non-verbal communication, which consists of body posture, gestures, facial expressions, and eye movements.

Check out our thoughts on team leverage.

Humans send and interpret such signals almost entirely subconsciously, but it shouldn’t be this way.

Related: 10 Extraordinary Ways for Learning to Learn

Feelings and emotion have a critical role in your marketing messages, don’t they? And body language communication will contribute significantly to those feelings and emotion, for good or bad.

Before we continue, let me ask you a question. 

What works best for marketing message design in your business? We would love to hear what it was. Would you do us a favor and post it in the comments section below? Be the one who starts a conversation.

With the advent of the Internet, the number of marketing options available to both budding and experienced entrepreneurs has become staggering.

What does your body language say? Shouldn’t it say you’re confident, smart, and enthusiastic—and not quiet or insecure? Many people read your body language to decide whether you’re likable, trustworthy, and competent, among other things, within one second of meeting you. That needs to be your goal.

Here is an interesting fact to keep in mind. Only a small percentage of communication involves actual words: 7%, to be exact.1 In fact, 55% of communication is visual (body language, eye contact) and 38% is vocal (pitch, speed, volume, the tone of voice).

The world’s best business communicators have strong body language: a commanding presence that reflects confidence, competence, and charisma.

You may have heard that you only have a few seconds to make a first impression, but the truth is, the other person’s brain has made up its mind (so to speak) about you much faster than that.

Until we get to know someone, our brain relies on snap judgments to try to categorize the person, predict what they will do, and anticipate how we should react.

One way to hack this split-second judgment is to be aware of your body language and use them to complement your messages. Whether you’re applying for a job, asking for a raise, or meeting with a new client, altering or being mindful of your body language can influence the other person’s perception of you, and may change the outcome of the situation.

Here are nineteen common body language mistakes you’ll want to avoid so as to not convey the wrong impressions:

Body language … crossing your arms

This gesture makes you look defensive, especially when you’re answering questions. Try to keep your arms at your sides.

No smile

Lacking a genuine smile sends an intense message you rarely want.

Body language mistakes … change head position quickly

If you suddenly make a head movement when you are asked a direct question, you will send a message you may be trying to deceive.

Not something you usually want, is it?

Body language signs … limited eye contact

When you limit your eye contact you are sending the message of little self-confidence. When engaging people always maintain good eye contact.

Holding your hands behind your back

This gesture can make you look rigid and stiff.  Always aim for a relaxed, a natural, hands-at-your-sides posture.

Little participation

When you don’t use open gestures you signal your tendencies to be a loner. Always use a walk around style with a group.

Standing with hands on hips

Standing with hands on your hips signals aggressiveness, like a dog puffing themselves up to look bigger.

Usually, a bad signal to make.

Don’t remain calm

When you get excited and lose your calmness, you lose trust. To demonstrate authority, remain calm with little to no emotion.

Show your desire to create trust.

Leaning forward

Leaning forward makes you appear aggressive. Always try and maintain for a neutral posture.

 Forget to engage

When you don’t show engagement, you limit the buy-in with your audience.

Use positive gestures such as nodding, smiles, a quick laugh, and open gestures.

Stepping back when asked for a decision

When someone asks for a decision and you step back, you are conveying fear or uncertainty.

Stand your ground, or even take a slight step forward to show conviction

No variation

When you show little to no variation with gestures or emotion, you can quickly lose attention. Vary your gestures and emotion to keep strong attention.

Just changing your body language very slightly can have an amazing impact on the people around you. Using body language communications can make you much more efficient in getting your messages delivered effectively.

Rushing it

When you are stuck with a tough question, don’t rush to answer.

Breathe slowly and pause.  Occasionally just pause for effect.

Nodding too much

When you nod too much, you convey an artificial look. Even if you agree with what’s being said, nod once and then try to remain still.

Watch breathing changes

When someone is lying to you, they may begin to breathe heavily. It’s a reflex action.

When their breathing changes, their shoulders will rise and their voice may get shallow. In essence, they are out of breath because of their heart rate and blood flow change.

Your body experiences these types of changes when you’re nervous and feeling tense.

 Quickly breaking eye contact

Quickly breaking eye contact can make you seem untrustworthy or overly nervous.

Hold eye contact a hair longer, especially during a handshake.

Being motionless

It’s common knowledge that people fidget when they get nervous, but you must also avoid not moving at all.

This may create a sign of the primitive  ‘fight,’ rather than the ‘flight,’ response, as the body positions and readies itself for a possible confrontation.

Speak and engage in normal conversation and move your body around in subtle and relaxed unconscious movements.

Cover the mouth

Frequently putting your hands over the mouth, is sending a message you don’t want to deal with an issue or answer a question.

Try and keep your hands for gestures or by your side.

Shuffle feet

When you shuffle your feet you send a message of discomfort and nervousness.

It demonstrates that you want to leave the situation. It shows you are being deceitful.

Practice it daily … like anything you need to be good at, it takes lots of practice.

  Need some help in capturing more improvements in your staff’s leadership, teamwork, and collaboration? Creative ideas in running or facilitating a team or leadership workshop?

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Call Mike at 607-725-8240.

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Are you devoting enough energy continually improving your continuous learning?

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Mike Schoultz is the founder of Digital Spark Marketing, a digital marketing and customer service agency. With 40 years of business experience, he blogs on topics that relate to improving the performance of a business. Find him on G+, Twitter, and LinkedIn.  

Digital Spark Marketing will stretch your thinking and your ability to adapt to change.  We also provide some fun and inspiration along the way. Call us for a free quote today. You will be amazed at how reasonable we will be.

More reading on continuous learning from Digital Spark Marketing’s Library:

The Nine Most Valuable Secrets of Writing Effective Copy

How Good Is your Learning from Failure?

10 Extraordinary Ways for Learning to Learn

Continuous Learning Holds the Keys to Your Future Success

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