Administrative Sparkle

Body language says a lot about a person, whether we like it or not.  Some things we do, we do unconsciously.  If you find yourself meeting resistance when interacting with others, it might be a signal to evaluate what your visual presentation is conveying.

Here are some things to avoid:

• The tentative entrance. Walk with purpose, confidence, and that you belong.  Otherwise you will either 1. appear to be lost or that you don’t know what you are doing there, or 2. just won’t be noticed at all.
• The downcast look. Eye contact is important or you will come across disinterested or, worse, dishonest.
• The lowered chin. This posture comes across aggressive and makes eye contact impossible.
• The dead-fish handshake. This conveys lack of self-confidence and, an offense, disinterest.
• The death-grip handshake. Just makes the other person uncomfortable.  Not a good first impression.
• Fidgeting. Other people catch onto it whether you realize it or not making others nervous, frustrated, and eager to leave.
• Sighing. Suggests that the situation calls for despair.  You really aren’t that negative and depressing, are you?
• Yawning. Be attentive and interested.
• Head scratching. Equals confusion.
• Lip biting. Nervous, anxious.
• Rubbing the back of the head or neck. This gestures conveys frustration and impatience.
• Narrowing of the eyes. Very negative gesture suggesting disagreement, resentment, and anger.  Squinting just suggests you are absolutely clueless.
• Raised eyebrows. This act conveys that you do not believe or trust what the person is saying, disbelief.
• Peering over the top of your eyeglasses. Same thing as raised eyebrows.
• Crossing arms in front of your chest. This is a message of defiance and being close minded.  The tighter and higher, the more elevated the aggression.
• Rubbing eyes, ears, or the side of the nose. These tell others that you doubt what is being said by either yourself or someone else.

I realize that I have a tendency to fuss and fidget having been in a car accident that fractured the length of my spinal column in my back, neck, and skull.  So I make every effort to take deep breaths and, literally, shake it off (I do this somewhere I am alone before going into a room to interact).  Yoga and meditation also helps to keep me limber and reduce the build up of stress in my muscles.  Nevertheless, I realize that I do this and have taken steps to reduce it so as not to make other people uncomfortable.

Have you ever watched the TV series “Lie to Me?” This is a great show to learn how our mannerisms, expressions, and reactions disclose what we think and feel.  A great resource to check out.

These tips were brought to you by a book that I am currently reading called The Unofficial Guide to Climbing the Corporate Ladder by Jack Griffin.

I look forward to hearing your comments and your own stories.

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