Your body can help you emphasize and make your points more clearly in public speaking. The most effective way for us to express our confidence, attitude, and the message we want to get across is through body language. Why? Nonverbal communication accounts for more than half of all human interaction. Scientific research has shown that a person's personality is determined by their body language. Therefore, those who can relate to and understand how body language and gestures influence one's personality realize that improving your body language is necessary if you want to have an effective personality. The keys to a forceful personality for generating a good first impression on an individual are appropriate speaking posture, gestures, body movement, facial expression, and eye contact.
Personality Development Tips: 5 Body Language Gestures That Leave Bad Impression
#1 Crossing Arms Behind Your Back
Talking to someone while crossing your arms behind your back may give them the wrong idea nonverbally. You can come out as trying to break off the conversation or as arrogant and conceited (unless you want to seem like that). This could also imply that you do not believe what the other person is telling you. According to psychologists, signaling someone you are unsure of them by crossing your arms or holding something in your back while speaking. If you tightly clasp your hands and grasp both of your arms, one would assume that you are trying to hide something when you are being questioned during a conversation. Yes, holding your arms behind your back while tightly holding the hands of another person and slouching your shoulders is a sign of anger, uneasiness, and lack of confidence. This may also suggest that you lack confidence in yourself and are perhaps looking for some solace at the time.
#2 Touching Your Face
When you chat to someone and touch your face, you could unintentionally give them a negative impression. During a talk or interview, touching your face is a really weak gesture. You are displaying symptoms of worry, nervousness, lack of self-control, and insecurity. Yes, one of the four common gestures that turn people off is stroking your face while you are speaking. This implies that you are continually thinking about something and demonstrates a lack of attention to the conversation at hand. Remember that touching someone else's face typically indicates intimacy and affection, whereas covering up your genuine feelings by touching your own face.
#3 Hand Clasping or Intertwined Fingers
When you chat to someone and clasp your hands or fingers, you can unintentionally give them a negative impression. Yes, despite the fact that many individuals would believe that having their hands clasped or their fingers entwined offers a powerful and authoritative impression, the exact reverse is true. During a conversation, clasping your hands or crossing your fingers conveys nervousness, insecurity, trepidation, and anxiety. It may indicate a lack of preparation if you find yourself repeatedly clasping or wringing your hands when speaking or presenting. Additionally, it is a symptom of tension, stress, and irritation. The tighter your hands or fingers are clasped, the more stressed and unprepared or hiding you appear to be.
#4 Pointing Finger at Someone/ Something
When you talk to someone while pointing your finger at them, you can unintentionally give them a negative impression. Many people may use the finger-pointing technique to make a point or draw attention to something. However, because it appears unpleasant and confrontational, it is NOT a good gesture. You can come across as being arrogant or giving the other person a lecture. The other person may become offended if you point your finger at them. Pointing a finger at anything is also seen as being impolite in educated societies. With your index finger extended, you are indicating aggression.
#5 Crossing Legs While Standing
When you cross your legs when speaking to someone, you can be sending the wrong message non-verbally. You can come across as unconfident in what you have to say. This is NOT a good posture if you cross one leg over the other. Your confidence is undermined as a result, and your comments lose some of their impact. Crossing your legs when speaking or presenting yourself can give the impression that you are being reserved, afraid, or stressed. When a person is standing among strangers in an elevator, they are more likely to detect such leg-crossing signals. However, crossing your legs mid-sentence can give the impression that you are being defensive or closed off.
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How does body language affect personality?
Overall, our research shows that Extroverted and Feeling personality types are more likely to be affected by body language than other personality types. They are more inclined to highlight it in both their perceptions and behaviors. This makes sense if the human connection is mediated by body language.
What are the 4 types of body language?
All people use one of four movements to communicate their body language: light and bouncy, soft and fluid, dynamic and determined, or precise and bold.
What is negative body language?
Negative body language can be an intentional or unintentional way to show despair, rage, anxiety, impatience, boredom, or lack of confidence. Body language can reveal a lot about a person's emotional state. Negative body language patterns include: avoiding eye contact. Staring.