I stumbled upon this material created by Jinxi Caddel. To learn more about her and her work, please click here.
Art by Laetitia
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As we all know, communication is essential in society. Advancements in technology have transformed the way that we with others in the modern world. Because of the constant buzz in our technological world, it’s easy to forget how important communicating face-to-face is. When conversing old-school style, it’s not only speech we verbalize that matters, but what our nonverbal gestures articulate as well.
Body language is truly a language of its own. We all have quirks and habits that are uniquely our own. What does your body language say about you? And what can you learn about others by becoming aware of what some of the signs mean?
I thought it would be fun to list some of the well-known signs that body language experts study and recognize. It is said that when talking to a person the information that we receive can be broken down as:
o Only 10% from what the person actually says
o 40% from the tone and speed of voice
o 50% is from their body language.
For example, your lower body:
o Putting your hands on your hips can show eagerness and readiness (also, at times, aggression).
o Hips pushed forward, while leaning back can show that one feels powerful (also can be a suggestive gesture).
o A wide stance – where one’s feet are positioned far apart – signifies more power and dominance.
o When one sits with legs open and part, they might feel secure in their surroundings.
o Crossed legs can mean several things: relaxed/comfortable, or defensive – depending on how tense the leg muscles are.
o When you cross your legs towards another person, you are showing more interest in them than when they are crossed away in the other direction.
o A confident and powerful position is the “Figure of Four Cross” when one’s ankle is atop the other leg’s knee and the top leg is pointed sideways.
o Bouncing on your foot or feet if your legs are crossed can show that you are bored or losing patience.
To repeat: It is said that when talking to a person the information that we receive can be broken down as:
o Only 10% from what the person actually says
o 40% from the tone and speed of voice
o 50% is from their body language.