Interpreting body language
Experts say that 95 percent of human communication happens in the brain first and is then expressed - some of it through words and the other, the major portion, through body language. If managers can understand verbal as well as non-verbal messages, they will be able to grasp the real meaning of the words spoken by their team members.
One advantage is that body language is a give-away every time. It cannot be suppressed or controlled, according to experts.
Many can read the other person’s body language, but the problem is they do nothing about it.
For example, a colleague comes in unusually late and behaves abnormally by slamming doors and being rude with others.
People definitely notice the change and try to find out the reason. And if that colleague says ‘everything is all right’, a majority of people tend to take it at face value and leave it at that.
They totally ignore the body language which clearly contradicts the spoken word.
Be it a simple nod, frown or body posture, researchers have decoded body language to the minute gesture and defined it in terms of the spoken word.
Let’s look at the meanings of some gestures at work that will go a long way in improving the understanding of workplace behaviour of managers.
Body language at work
Facial feelings:
1. A smile without corresponding eye response can be fake
2. Pursed lips indicate suppression of feeling of dislike
3. Biting of lips is a sign of worry
4. Tight jaws indicate the person is stressed, unhappy about something
5. Red face denotes embarrassment, anger
Head movement:
1.. Nodding conveys ‘got the message’. Excessive nodding is a bid to please speaker
2. Bowed head translates to embarrassment, shame, respect
3. Side to side movement speaks of disapproval
4. Twirling hair shows nervousness or it could be a habit
5. Touching hair betrays self-consciousness or flirting with the other person
Eye response:
1. Avoiding eye contact may indicate lying but in some cultures it may be out of respect
2. Gazing left, up means someone is recalling from memory, left, down gaze could mean something is being cooked up
3. Pupil dilation indicates a pleasing sight
Body movement:
1. Leaning forward is a clear sign of interest or else a more comfortable position
2. Crossing arms or legs means the person is being defensive and is not prepared to see or listen. He could also be feeling cold
3. A crushing handshake could be a sign of dominance and a limp one could mean weakness. Something in between is considered a confident handshake
4. Foot-tapping indicates that the person is either bored or in a hurry
5. A high-pitched voice indicates emotional disturbance or child-like behaviour.
6. A very low voice, on the other hand, indicates insecurity
7. Tone of the voice can also be a person’s mood indicator – pessimistic or optimistic
The utility of body language interpretation skills at work place can’t be undermined.
However, some caution is required in interpretation as the definitions are not absolute, but relative to contexts like culture, tradition and even weather conditions like heat and cold and the roles and responsibilities of the people involved.
Non-verbal communication should be treated as complementary to verbal communication, but in cases where they contradict each other, body language is more likely to mirror the truth.
Source: The Hindu,September 5, 2012
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