| Your body language can be a useful instrument to appear confident. Don’t let slumped shoulders or a nervous habit derail the message you’re trying to convey. Use these tips to straighten up and project confidence.If first impressions are everything, let’s hope that when you walk into a room, you immediately exude a confident, trustworthy air that positively draws people in. So how exactly can you appear this way? Initially, a lot of it comes down to your appearance—from the way you dress to how you wear your hair—but more than anything else, body language is how you communicate with someone you just meet. And if you’re not careful, your body language may be projecting a very different image than what you intend. The following five tips can help you alter your body language and give off a more confident vibe. 1. Maintain an assertive posture.Want to know how to appear more confident? It’s all in your posture. To stand confidently, keep your legs aligned with your shoulders and your feet approximately four to six inches apart. Distribute your weight equally on both legs, keep your shoulders back – but not way back – and turn your body towards others. When standing, imagine a string pulling your head up toward the sky. Picture a straight line existing from your earlobes through your shoulders, hip and the middle of your ankles. Avoid standing in a “submissive position” with your legs crossed, hands folded in front of you, or weight pressed down on one hip. Instead, when standing, you can keep your feet planted firmly on the ground, shoulder width apart from one another. In the stance, you may appear more balanced and grounded. When you’re thinking about how to appear more confident, also keep in mind that you should angle your feet outward and in the direction of the person you are speaking to, to signal that you are receptive and open. If your work requires you to sit in a chair the majority of the day, consider practicing good posture while sitting. When you sit, do so with your back straight with your rear toward the back of the chair, and your feet planted firmly on the floor. In this position, you should be able to stand straight up without having to lean forward first. This kind of sitting position puts the least amount of strain on supporting muscles, keeps you from back and neck pains and helps you develop a strong core – all essential for good standing posture. 2. Consider using power poses.In a Ted Talk on body language, the social psychologist revealed that just two minutes of various power poses can greatly help make someone feel and appear more confident. In these poses, much of which involves open body positions that takes up space, your body signals to the brain that you’re feeling confident, and in turn, the brain produces more testosterone and lowers your cortisol levels, also known as the stress hormone. In the talk, they said their research had broad implications for people who suffer from feelings of powerlessness and low self-esteem due to their hierarchical rank or lack of resources. 3. Watch your hands.An important part of mastering body language is knowing what your hands are saying. The last thing you want to do is offend someone by jabbing a finger in his or her face. Pointing can seem aggressive, but many people do it without understanding how intimidating it may be to others. Instead, when you’re explaining an idea, point with an open palm, and keep your fingers together. Universally, gesturing with an open hand, palm facing up, has a positive effect on others, communicating acceptance, openness, cooperation and trustworthiness. 4. Maintain appropriate eye contact.When you’re able to maintain eye contact, you’re communicating to others that you’re honest, approachable and confident. Those who aren’t able to maintain eye contact or are the first to break eye contact signal that they’re hiding something, feeling uncomfortable, or projecting a lower-status than or submissiveness to the person they’re speaking with. Just make sure that your eye contact is appropriate and doesn’t become too aggressive, making others uncomfortable. 5. Mirror the body language of others.If you want to bond with others, consider mirroring their body language to build understanding and acceptance. For instance, if someone is sitting in a certain way, consider sitting in a similar position or mirroring the expressions, movements and other simple mannerisms of the person. If it’s not enough to mimic or copy someone else’s body language; you also need to know when it’s not appropriate to do so. The success of mirroring comes down to doing it in a way that feels and seems natural, not to imitate or irk those around you. Who wants to do business with a company that appears to be inept? A negative first impression is hard to overcome, and if you have a negative experience the first time you deal with a company, chances are you won’t be inclined to give them a second chance. The opposite of that is also true. If you have a consistently good experience with a company, then run into an isolated incident where something isn’t right, you are much more likely to forgive that company and overlook the indiscretion. Source: Openforum.com |
