BUSINESS INSIGHT

VENKATESH DAMODHARANI-YEAR MBA

SRI KRISHNA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

BODY LANGUAGE

AND ETIQUETTE

BODY LANGUAGE

 BODY LANGUAGE

The conscious and unconscious movements and postures by which attitudes and feelings are communicated.

ETIQUETTE

The customary code of polite behavior in society or among members of a particular profession or group.

IMPORTANCE OF BODY LANGUAGE AND ETIQUETTE

It helps in identifying the truth To express the feelings of discussion Helps to determine how one feels about what

they are saying. One’s body language can indicate that someone

is paying attention or doesn’t really care about what the other person is saying

Body language may be the determining factor in a job interview. 

BODY LANGUAGE POSTURES

STANDING

When a person stands, he should keep his back straight, middle section in alignment with his back, shoulders back, and head up.

Slouching, sticking the belly out, stuffing the hands in the pockets, and folding the arms defensively all suggest aggressive unease.

SITTING A person should take care in the way he sits, for

no other position connotes so much on its own.

Sitting with a straight back and with the legs together in front of his or crossed, either at the knee or at the ankle. Normally, women don't cross their legs, but men are allowed. Jiggling of knees, should be avoided which is a sign of nervousness.

HANDS Some people talk with their hands; others stand

with their hands glued to their sides. Most people haven't the foggiest notion what their hands are doing when they talk.

Using their hands can be effective sometimes, aggressive sometimes, and irrelevant most of the time. Controlling the hands takes effort and willpower

HEAD MOVEMENTS Head movements communicate important

information.

Nodding in agreement can be immensely helpful to others, but too much nodding makes a person look like a bobble-head doll.

Shaking the head can signal disagreement or disapproval, but avoid shaking the head too much.

FACIAL EXPRESSIONS

Facial expressions are crucial in one’s repertoire of body language. No other part of the body can convey the immense richness of nonverbal communication that the face does. For example:

Smiles are important signals of generosity and nonaggression. But forced smiles signal the toleration of the other person.

Likewise, frowns signal disagreement, disapproval, and sometimes anger. But they can also suggest hard thinking and focused concentration.

These facial expressions are the most obvious ones, but hundreds of others exist: an arched eyebrow, flared nostrils, a bitten lip, a grimace . . . and on and on. Every one of them has a culturally agreed-on set of meanings.

EYES Maintain eye contact when talking with others.

Do not study the hands or clean the fingernails while others are talking.

When talking in a group, make eye contact with everyone; don't focus on only one person.

 UNDERSTANDING SPATIAL DISTANCE

In western cultures there are spatial norms. These are called proxemics. Proxemics is the way we interact with the space around us. In Western cultures the typical appropriate spatial distances are listed here:

Intimate relationships – 0 to18” apart Personal relationships – 18” to 4’ apart Social relationships – 4’ to 12’ apart Public – 12’ plus from others

AVOID POINTING AND HAND TALKING

People who visibly express their emotions with hand gestures can quickly overwhelm others. In situations where one wants to maximize his authority, he should minimize his movements and should keep the gestures about his waist high. 

DON’T USE DISTRACTING GESTURES

This includes: picking lint off your clothing, checking the time, inspecting the fingernails, playing with the jewelry or twirling the hair. Small movements parlay nervousness, insecurity, boredom and uneasy feelings.

STOP RESTING HANDS BEHIND YOUR HEAD OR PLACING ON

THE HIPS

This is mistaken as a sign of superiority and bigheadedness

THIS IS MISTAKEN AS A SIGN OF SUPERIORITY AND BIGHEADEDNESS

If one puts his hands in his pockets or cross them in front of his chest, he will be viewed as closed off.

STEER CLEAR OF TOO MUCH HEAD TILTING AND NODDING

Only use head tilts and nodding when one want to show concern, interest or want to encourage people to expand on what they are saying.

When one want to project power and authority, one should keep the head straight, still and in a more neutral position.

USE A FIRM HANDSHAKE People with a weak handshake are judged to be

passive and less confident.

To effectively give a proper handshake, face the other person directly, extend your arm and make sure you have palm-to-palm contact with the other person.

Use the “v” between your forefinger and thumb to go directly into the web of the others person’s. Look your partner in the eyes, smile, pump your hands two or three times and release.

AVERT FROM HOLDING OBJECTS IN FRONT OF YOUR BODY

Examples can include a notebook, coffee cup, handbag, etc.  Holding objects in front of the body indicates shyness and resistance