While understanding body language is not as straightforward as some television shows, it is still a useful and necessary skill when interacting with clients and business partners. This article explores the universal nature of body language, why much of it is universal, and how this can assist in communication even if two people do not share the same language.
People exhibit both positive and negative body language at different times. Not every physical action a person makes is necessarily an example of body language, however. While having your arms crossed is an example of negative body language, it could also just be a sign of feeling cold. Additionally, don’t rely on certain actions as indicators of body language; it is more helpful to also have an idea of the person’s general behavior. The more you know about the person ahead of time, the easier it tends to be to read their body language.
The best indication of body language is the amount of personal space between you and the other person. If the person keeps their distance, that is normally an indication of negative body language. However, if the person leans in when talking to you and makes a lot of eye contact, these can be taken as examples of positive body language.
The reason that people want to understand body language is not to gain information about someone, but rather to understand their emotions and how they feel. By understanding the other person’s emotions, you can get a better sense of who they are and have more control over the conversation as a result.
Both positive and negative body language is generally universal. With the exception of hand gestures and some facial expressions, physical indications of body language all tend to indicate a person’s emotions, including physical distance between two people, whether or not a person’s hands are in their pockets, their arms are crossed, or they have slumped shoulders.
Because body language is universal in many ways, this is often helpful when two people don’t share the same language. They are able to communicate with one another in simple ways (by nods, smiles, and pointing, for example).
How have you used body language in situations when you don’t speak the language? We would love to read about your experiences in the comments!
