First Lieutenant Zebulon Hanley crosses the finish line and wins a marathon. You can read his sense of celebration simply from his facial expressions and hand gestures.
Body language is a broad term for the many cues people use to communicate ideas or emotions. Sometimes body language is used in conjunction with speech to underscore what is being said. An example of this is when people move their hands and arms while talking. Body language can also be used by itself to send a message, like when people shrug their shoulders or wag their fingers.

Body language encompasses a wide range of physical movements. These movements include facial expressions, posture, gestures, touches and how close someone is standing to another person. More than half of what we communicate to others is through body language alone. Furthermore, people tend to trust nonverbal cues more than spoken words.

Most of us have probably asked people how they are doing and had them reply, "I'm fine," but their slumped shoulders and lack of eye contact suggested otherwise. Most people consider a verbal response to be a cover for a deeper truth revealed by that person's behavior.

Each person's body language is unique and develops over many years to become second nature, which means it can be difficult for someone to change his or her body language. Body language can be either intentional or unintentional and we can use it to our advantage by adding emphasis to what we say or reinforcing our ideas. However, we can also send mixed messages or even contradict our spoken words. Imagine a man nodding his head in agreement while at the same time saying, "No."

Different Types Of Body Language

Facial expressions are the most easily recognized form of body language. Smiling, for example, says a lot about your mood before any words are spoken. Movement of the eyes, eyebrows, eyelids and lips also send signals. Facial expressions usually emphasize or amend what is being said, such as a wink might indicate that you are not being as serious as you sound, for example. Eye contact, or lack thereof, also sends signals about confidence and attentiveness, both on the part of the speaker and the listener.

Public speaking often involves hand and arm gestures.
Gestures, mainly of the arms and hands, are another way in which people communicate nonverbally, such as waving goodbye or giving the thumbs-up sign.

Body posture also sends strong nonverbal signals. Standing upright with your shoulders back and head held high conveys confidence, while slumped shoulders and not making eye contact suggests the opposite.

What Messages Are Communicated Through Body Language?

People's body language often betrays their true feelings because it is automatic and there is usually a direct connection between what we feel and how we act. Eating sour food might make us pucker, while hearing a sudden noise can make us jump in surprise. We do not usually plan these behaviors in advance. Therefore, body language is a visible sign of how we are reacting to our environment.

Couple in the metro, showing similar postures.
Our body language says a lot about who we are, what we are thinking, and how we feel. A confident person often exhibits body confidence by standing with upright posture, shaking hands firmly, touching people when appropriate and leaning in close to talk. A shy person, in contrast, might face slightly away from other people, refrain from touching others and avoid eye contact. These personal traits are revealed more through body language than when someone is speaking.

Techniques For Using Body Language Effectively

After making note of your own body language, ask yourself what messages you are sending with it. If you view yourself as a happy person but do not smile much, will other people believe you to be happy? It is helpful to understand that your true self is not always accurately reflected in your physical conduct.

The process of self-awareness can be distracting and time-consuming, so it is best to change small things at first. When you stand, what do you do with your hands? Are they in your pockets, at your sides, or perhaps clasped behind your back? Do you make firm eye contact or avoid someone else's gaze? Once you make a habit of noticing these things, it becomes easier to maintain constant awareness and this will help you decide which new body habits you want to adopt.

The Relationship Between Body Language And Emotion

Body language is important in both informal and formal settings, such as job meetings.
An underlying connection often exists between how we feel and how we behave. We shrink back in fear or smile when we are happy not because we plan to but because our bodies instinctively react in certain ways.

It might seem to be a given that what people think or feel is revealed through their behavior, and for the most part, this is true. Consider the body language of people in victorious circumstances, such as a football player who has just scored a touchdown, a runner who is first across the finish line, or a politician who has won an election. These victors typically raise their hands high over their heads in celebration. It is an almost universal reaction to winning.

It might be possible that certain poses create feelings. For example, a confident body posture can lead to feelings of confidence. The next time you are about to do something important, stand with your arms raised and head held high, like an athlete who has just won a race, for two minutes. Just standing in this winning pose might help to create feelings of success.

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