Body language can send subtle signals of our personality, our mood, and our job abilities, according to Dana Mattioli of CareerJournal.com.
Learning how your body language may be perceived can prevent you from committing body language blunders that can sabotage your career, said Mattioli.
1. Maintain the right amount of eye contact.
Using too little or too much eye contact can impact someone’s perception of you. Avoiding eye contact or looking down may suggest dishonesty. Looking to the right or left of the person you are talking to may indicate disinterest or lack of confidence. Instead, alternate looking at their eyes, mouth, and shoulders.
2. Don’t fidget.
Fidgeting is a telltale sign of nerves, and executives will be expected to handle pressure. Aside from displaying your nervousness, fidgeting is annoying and distracting to others.
3. Be conscious of posture while standing and sitting.
Slouching, whether you are standing or sitting down, suggests a lack of self esteem. Executives should appear confident and engaged in the conversation and poor posture can send a message that you are indifferent or too casual. Remember to keep your shoulders back.
4. Avoid closed body language.
Body language such as crossed arms and clenched fists show defensiveness and tension. Crossing your ankle over your knee with hands locked behind your head will cause you to look unruly or difficult to work with. Instead, sit with your ankles crossed or feet flat on the floor and use open hand gestures, which suggest friendliness.
