Simple Tips on How to Read Body Language

Reading Body Language Can be Quite a Challenge

It’s your job to excel at communicating with your company’s employees.  You may be a fantastic listener, and while you’re trained to communicate, those you work with daily probably haven’t had the same training.  So how do you understand an employee who has a hard time expressing themselves?  And how do you decipher what’s really going on when it’s your turn to mediate a tricky situation?  Reading body language is more than just a parlor trick – it’s an art, one that can give you an edge in not only your personal life, but your work life as well.  Here are a few signs to look for.

Guilt:  People who are feeling guilty will often gaze off to the side.  Someone feeling shame will often look down.

Interest:  When someone is interested in what you have to say, their pupils will often dilate.  If you’re both standing, check the position of their feet.  If their feet are pointing towards you and they’re facing you while looking directly at you during conversation, they’re interested in the conversation.  Feet and head aiming in another direction and eyes not maintaining contact often mean their thoughts are elsewhere.  When someone is comfortable with you and the situation, they’ll often involuntarily mimic your stance or the way you’re seated.

Confidence:  A confident person often stands with their feet shoulder-length apart.  When the feet are even wider apart, they’re not only confident but prepared to show you they’re in control.  Standing with legs crossed can mean they’re shy.

Lying:  If you suspect someone is lying to you,  look directly into their eyes.  Liars will often be unable to keep your gaze and will look at you and away several times.  Some liars overcompensate, however, and hold your gaze too long in an attempt to convince the listener they’re telling the truth.

Remember, some people simply do things out of habit.  Perhaps they’re standing with their legs farther apart because it’s more comfortable after sitting so long, or maybe they blink too much because they have a dry contact lens.  And in some cultures, it’s considered disrespectful to look someone directly in the eyes.  It’s important to take a good overall look at the situation, the surroundings, and the individual before relying on body language reading.  But with some practice, it can be a helpful tool in understanding the people around you.

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