Displaying positive body language can help establish trust and strengthen bonds in relationships. After all, most people pay more attention to nonverbal cues during conversations. Smiling, having a firm handshake, and maintaining eye contact will help you make an excellent first impression. However, most people don’t consider how their body language impacts others.
Many people operate on autopilot and never stop to consider how others receive their energy. For instance, slouching, looking at your phone during conversations, or averting your gaze could seem rude. It can make you appear uncomfortable or disinterested in the conversation.
Counselors Reveal Seven Ways to Show Positive Body Language
Since nonverbal cues play a crucial role in communication, learning these skills can improve your conversational skills. Positive body language can make you appear more confident, even if you’re not particularly outgoing or talkative. Below, we’ll discuss a few ways to master the art of nonverbal communication.
1. Maintain Non-Aggressive Eye Contact to Appear More Positive.
If you want to seem welcoming, look into others’ eyes when speaking to them. Of course, you shouldn’t stare at them for prolonged periods, but periodically making eye contact can help build rapport.
It shows the other person you don’t have anything to hide and that they can trust you. Too little eye contact can make you seem submissive, while overdoing eye contact may appear aggressive.
According to studies, maintaining the right amount of eye contact can make you more credible.
Other benefits to a mutual gaze in conversations include:
People will find it easier to remember your face following a discussion. Eye contact can help people recall more of a conversation, even if it happened days prior. People will perceive you as more intelligent and self-assured. Direct eye gazing can enhance people’s ability to read and mirror other nonverbal cues.
2. Smile to Display Your Positive Message.
People usually gravitate towards others who have positive, magnetic personalities. After all, they say happiness is contagious, so people naturally want to surround themselves with those who uplift them. Not only does smiling send joyful energy into the world, but it also makes you more approachable.
Most people perceive body language by reading someone’s facial expressions. So, those who smile will seem more genuine and content, making others feel comfortable around them. Studies show that the most sincere smiles reach your eyes and create wrinkles around them, known as a Duchenne smile. Many consider it the most authentic expression of happiness.
Of course, you don’t have to go around with an ear-to-ear grin to win people over. Even a small, polite smile shared with strangers can light up the room. Another study found that people naturally want to mimic others’ expressions and behaviors.
Seeing someone smile activates a brain reward center called the orbitofrontal cortex. So, looking at a smiling face can make people feel more satisfied. Positive body language with a smile encourages others to reciprocate the gesture, helping elevate their mood.
3. Stand Your Ground.
When you’re comfortable taking up space, it exudes confidence and assertiveness. To show people you feel at ease in your skin, stand or sit with your feet shoulder-width apart. Keep your feet rooted firmly to the ground with your head held high. By changing your posture and stance, you will project positivity that draws people to you like a magnet.
Of course, you don’t …
Click here to read this complete article.
