body language

Using the Right Body Language During Video Conference Calls

By in Communication Tags: ,

Body_Language_During_Conference_Call

You’ve probably been attending a lot of video conference calls these days. And other than putting on a clean shirt and brushing your hair, you might not be giving a lot of thought to how you come across on camera. But just like with in-person meetings, body language is important. Using the right body language during a video conference call can help you to make a good impression on your clients and coworkers. Here are a few tips:

  • Smile – A genuine smile is really appealing, and will cause others to view you as friendly and likable. In addition, smiles are often contagious. If you smile, it will inspire other people to start smiling as well.
  • Don’t cross your arms – Even if you feel comfortable sitting this way, try not to do it. Others might think that you’re annoyed or impatient.
  • Lower your voice – Now don’t go too far. You don’t want to sound weird or like you’re recovering from a sore throat. But if you can lower your pitch just a little bit, it will help other people to take what you’re saying more seriously.
  • Maintain good posture – Even in a video conference call, it’s important to sit up straight. It makes you appear to be confident and in control. When people hunch over, they look like they’re unsure of what they’re saying.
  • Look at the camera when you speak – Try to look at the camera when you’re talking (rather than watching yourself talk on screen). You’ll look like you’re making good eye contact, which will help you to come across as interested and engaged in the conversation.
  • Don’t wave your hands around – It’s OK to make occasional hand gestures when you’re speaking. But try to keep them at a minimum, and move your hands slowly. Lots of quick movement will not translate well over video.
  • Try not to fidget – Try not to bounce in your chair, play with your hair, rub your hands together, or engage in other nervous activities. These types of behaviors will make you look like you’re bored with the meeting and dying for it to be over. It will also make you seem less trustworthy and dependable. If you find yourself starting to fidget, take a deep breath, place your feet squarely on the floor, and place your hands on your desk. Try your best to stay calm and still. You’ve got this.

And here’s one more suggestion. Think about your lighting and camera placement. If you’re sitting in the shadows or if your camera is positioned at a weird angle, people won’t be able to see your engaged expression or amazing body language! Try to make sure that there’s some light on your face, and that your camera is positioned correctly.

…

Goman, C. K. (2013, September 17). 8 body language tips for video meetings. Zoom Blog. Retrieved from: https://blog.zoom.us/8-body-language-tips-video-meetings/

Lovgren, B. (n.d.). Working remote? These are the biggest dos and don’ts of video conferencing. Entrepreneur. Retrieved from: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/238902

What Your Hand Gestures Mean

By in Communication Tags: , ,

Hand_Gestures

When you’re giving a presentation, your words matter. But the way you gesture with your hands also matters quite a bit. You may not realize it, but your audience will derive a lot of meaning from the way you hold your hands. Body language is very revealing!

So it’s important to be aware of what you’re communicating when you hold your hands in a certain way. To help you out with that, here is a list of common hand gestures and how others tend to interpret them.

  1. Not Moving Your Hands at All
    You don’t make any hand gestures while talking.
    What It Means: Your audience may think that you don’t really care about what you’re talking about. You may appear to be uninterested or indifferent.
  2. Hiding Your Hands
    Throughout your speech, you hide your hands from your audience’s view.
    What It Means: Your audience may think that you’re untrustworthy.
  3. Hands Open at a 45 Degree Angle
    You hold your hands in front of you with your open palms facing each other. Your hands are tilted outward slightly.
    What It Means: This gesture suggests that you’re being open and honest about what you’re saying.
  4. Hands Open With Palms Facing Down
    You hold your hands in front of you with your open palms facing the floor.
    What It Means: This gesture is often interpreted as meaning that you’re very certain about what you’re saying.
  5. Palms Facing Each Other With Fingers Touching
    You hold your hands in front of you with palms facing each other and your fingers touching (forming a triangle shape). This is sometimes known as a “hand steeple.”
    What It Means: This gesture suggests that you’re an expert on the topic under discussion. (I also think it could mean that you’re an evil genius. I’ve noticed that a lot of movie villains tend to hold their hands this way!)
  6. Gripping Your Hands Together OR Touching Your Face and Hair a Lot
    You clasp your hands together, or you constantly touch your face and play with your hair.
    What It Means: These gestures will make you look nervous and uncertain.
  7. Making Big Gestures
    You hold your arms and hands out wide.
    What It Means: If you only do this once in a while, it’s a good way to let your audience know that you’re communicating something very important or groundbreaking. If you do it all the time, you will look a little odd and out of control.

 

Weinschenk, S. (2012, September 26). Your hand gestures are speaking for you. Psychology Today. Retrieved from: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brain-wise/201209/your-hand-gestures-are-speaking-you

 

How to Appear More Powerful

By in Learning Tags: ,

Steeple_Fingers

I’m not a manager. So that means I’ve got no one to boss around at the office. But just today I discovered that it doesn’t really matter how much actual power you wield. By simply using body language, you can appear to be powerful. And hey, that’s better than nothing, right?

Just try these three techniques:

  1. Stand up straight – Good posture will make you appear more confident and can actually improve your mood.
  2. Lean with gusto – At your next meeting, try leaning back. It will make you appear to be relaxed and in control.
  3. Steeple your fingers – I think this last suggestion is the best because it kind of reminds me a James Bond villain. Apparently, pressing your fingertips together makes you look both thoughtful and formidable. (If it can work for criminal masterminds, it can work for you.)

Now go out there and intimidate people!

 

Cain, A. (2016, October 28). 3 body-language tricks that make you look powerful. Inc. Retrieved from http://www.inc.com/business-insider/3-body-language-tricks-to-appear-more-powerful.html