Body Language at Workplace –

The Top 15 Mistakes One should Avoid

Dr.V.S.R.Krishnaiah
Adjunct Faculty, ABV-IIITM
 Outline
• What is body language?
• Why is body language important?
• Four main aspects of body language
• Body language - the top 15 mistakes
• Some tips for avoiding negative language

Dr.V.S.R.Krishnaiah 2
 What is Body Language?
• Body Language is a kind of conscious and non
unconscious non verbal communication ,
where thoughts, intentions, or feelings are
expressed by physical behaviors, such as facial
expressions, body posture, gestures, eye
movement, touch and use of space.

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How does body talk?
Like any spoken language,
body language has words,
sentences and
punctuation.

Each gesture is like a

single word and one word
may have several
different meanings.

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WHY IS BODY LANGUAGE IMPORTANT?

Body language plays a big role in intuition as it

gives us messages about the other person, that we
can interpret at an intuitive level.

(Refer to the chart to

the right for a graphical
representation of the
influence of body
language)

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Body language can be the determining
factor in a job interview.
Body language may be the
determining factor in a job
interview. If the applicant’s
body language conveys that he
is at ease with the subject
matter and conveys confidence,
he has a higher probability of
getting the job, especially in
this tough job market.

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 BODY LANGUAGE
Non-Verbal Communication

• Body language comes in clusters of signals and

postures, depending on the internal emotions
and mental states.
• Non-verbal communication includes facial
expressions, eye contact, tone of voice, body
posture and motions, and positioning within
groups.
• It may also include the way we wear our
clothes or the silence we keep.

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FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE LAST
IMPRESSIONS

Understanding body language is beneficial

in the workplace as up to 93% of our
communication is nonverbal.

Your body language impacts first impressions

before you’ve even introduced yourself.

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THERE ARE SIX MAIN ASPECTS OF BODY LANGUAGE THAT
YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF:

1
EYE
CONTACT

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 2 SMILING

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3
BODY
POSITION

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 4 GESTURES/
MOVEMENTS

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5 VOICE

6 SPACE, SILENCE,
SMELL, TOUCH

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 EYE Contact
• Talking to an individual
• Listening to someone

• Talking to a group
• Arguing
• Attracting someone
• Loving someone

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EYES
“Eyes are so transparent that through them one sees the soul”
“Look a person in the Eye when you Talk to him”
PURPOSE FOR EYE CONTACT

• SPEAKING INFORMATION
• SHOWING ATTENTION AND INTEREST
• INVITING AND CONTROLLING INTERACTION
• DOMINEERING, THREATENING, INFLUENCING
OTHERS
• PROVIDING FEEDBACK DURING SPEECH
• REVEALING ATTITUDES
 A facial expression
• Face is the index of Mind
• The eyes, the lips and the muscles express
many feelings
• A facial expression results from one or more
motions or positions of the muscles of the
face. Seven universally recognized emotions
shown through facial expressions: fear, anger,
surprise, contempt, disgust, happiness, and
sadness

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 Smile & Laugh

Smile is a good facial expression to establish contact with others

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 Posture
• Look your Audience in the Eye
• Broken Zipper position
• Scissors Position

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 Posture
One of the first things people notice is
how you present and carry yourself.

• Head Up
• Shoulders back
• Chest out
• Stomach In
• Breathe Normal
• Use your hands more confidently (Arms
spread, hands open or relaxed are all
positive signals)
• Keep a good attitude
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 GESTURES OR KINESICS
• “Let Your Body Talk On Your Behalf”
• There are 23 types found according to the
Management studies.

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SOME COMMON GESTURES

• SHOULDER SHRUG : I don’t know

• PUFFED CHEST : pride or achievement

• SUCKED STOMACH : I am not as fat as I look

• FINGER CROSSING : protection

• EYELID PULLING : be alert

• NOSE TAPPING : mind your own business

• THUMB UPPING : best luck , victory

• RUBBING PALM TOGETHER : positive expectation

Some more common gestures:
• clenched teeth : anger, lying

• boredom gestures:

• evaluating gestures :
 Handshake

• It is commonly done in meeting, greeting, parting,

offering congratulations, expressing gratitude, or
completing an agreement.

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 Handshaking : Remember
•Stand up
•Step or Lean
Forward
•Make Eye Contact

•Have a pleasant or
animated face
•Shake hands
•Greet the other
person and repeat
his or her name
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 5.Voice
• Pitch: It is how thick and how thin your voice
is.
• Rate: It is the number of words you speak in
one minute.
• Volume: It is how loud and quiet you speak.
• Tone: It is the intonation of where you rise and
where you drop your voice.
• Vocal Quality: It is the natural quality of the
voice one has.
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 6. Space, Silence, Smell, Touch
• Space: At least 4 Ft Public speaking, At least 1 Ft
in Formal speaking, and 0-12 Inches in Intimate
speaking
• Silence: It may carry negative or positive or
neutral response depending on cultural
differences.
• Smell: Fragrance, air freshener and body perfume
carry various messages.
• Touch: It carry kindness, sympathy, motivation
and other meaning depending on the culture
varieties.
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The 15 Biggest
Body
Language
Blunders One Should Avoid
No: 1
Leaning Back too much — you come
off lazy or arrogant

Dr.V.S.R.Krishnaiah
No: 2
Leaning forward — can seem aggressive.
Aim for a neutral posture

Dr.V.S.R.Krishnaiah
No: 3
Breaking eye contact too soon — can make you
seem untrustworthy or overly nervous. Hold eye
contact a hair longer, especially during a
handshake

Dr.V.S.R.Krishnaiah
No: 4
Nodding too much — can make you look like a
bobble head doll! Even if you agree with what’s
being said, nod once and then try to remain
still

Dr.V.S.R.Krishnaiah
No: 5
Chopping or pointing with your hands
— feels aggressive
No: 6
Crossing your arms — makes you look
defensive, especially when you’re answering
questions. Try to keep your arms at your sides

Dr.V.S.R.Krishnaiah
No: 7
Fidgeting — instantly telegraphs how
nervous you are. Avoid it at all costs

Dr.V.S.R.Krishnaiah
No: 8
Holding your hands behind your back (or
firmly in your pockets) — can look rigid and
stiff. Aim for a natural, hands at your sides
posture

Dr.V.S.R.Krishnaiah
No: 9
Looking up or looking around — is a natural
cue that someone is lying or not being
themselves. Try to hold steady eye contact

Dr.V.S.R.Krishnaiah
No: 10
Staring — can be interpreted as aggressive.
There’s a fine line between holding someone’s
gaze and staring them down
No: 11
Failing to smile — can make people
uncomfortable, and wonder if you really want to
be there. Go for a genuine smile especially when
meeting someone for the first time

Dr.V.S.R.Krishnaiah
No: 12
Stepping back when you’re asking for a
decision — conveys fear or uncertainty. Stand
your ground, or even take a slight step forward
with conviction

Dr.V.S.R.Krishnaiah
No: 13
Steepling your fingers or holding palms up
— looks like a begging position and conveys
weakness

Dr.V.S.R.Krishnaiah
No: 14
Standing with hands on hips — is an aggressive
posture, like a bird or a dog puffing themselves
up to look bigger

Dr.V.S.R.Krishnaiah
No: 15
Checking your phone or watch — says you
want to be somewhere else. Plus, it’s just bad
manners

Dr.V.S.R.Krishnaiah
So, what should you do?
•Aim for good posture in a neutral position,
whether sitting or standing.
•Stand with your arms at
your sides, and sit with
them at your sides or
with your hands in your
lap. Pay attention so that
you naturally hold eye
contact, smile, and be
yourself.
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 Avoiding Negative Language: BL
• Avoid lack of eye contact. Force yourself to look
others in the eye when greeting, talking, and
especially when listening.
• Avoid mumbling. Speak a bit slower and get it right.
You will attract more people you like being around.
• Don’t be afraid to take up some space.
• Don’t slouch; sit up straight .
• Lean, but not too much.
• Don’t stand too close.
• Avoid extraneous body movements.
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 Avoiding Negative Language: BL
• Finger drumming, scratching, twitching, and darting eyes
around room.
• Avoid hiding your hands and palms. Evasive people with
secrets don't show their hands.
• Avoid closed body postures, like arms folded across chest. Do
keep your posture open, except your legs.
• Avoid touching face when speaking. Rubbing nose, eyes,
ears, head, or neck shows doubt in what you are saying or
hearing.
• Avoid an unblinking stare and the same facial expression.
Blink normally and nod your head to show agreement, and
that you are still alive and not bored to death.
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THANK YOU

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