Actions speak louder than words

Did you know:

~ People in love mirror each other naturally, even to the point of mirroring their breathing?

~ It has been established by researchers that those who can effectively read and interpret nonverbal communication, and manage how others perceive them, will enjoy greater success in life than individuals who lack this skill.

~ Nonverbal communication is universal; it works with any human, anyplace and anywhere. 

Considering the above, the goal is to learn how to observe the world around us and to determine the meaning of nonverbal communication in any interaction to enhance our lives. Below are important ingredients to effectively read nonverbal communication:

1. Observe the world around you so you’re aware and alert to what’s happening to yourself and others, and by that I mean really seeing what’s going on around you. Make observation a way of life as you move through your day, consciously, deliberately and intentionally using all your senses, see what you’re seeing, hear what you’re hearing, feel what are you feeling, smelling and tasting.

2. Observe the context in which the behaviour takes place to gain a better understanding of what it means. For example, during an interview I would expect nervousness initially, then for it to dissipate. Whereas, if I asked a specific question later in the interview and if that nervousness reappeared, I would have to wonder the reason.

3. Learn to read and interpret nonverbal communication to enable you to effectively assess the thoughts, feelings and intentions of those around you and get the most out of any interaction. Look for sudden changes in another person's behaviour to reveal how people are reacting to you, or someone else.

4. Calibrate the nonverbal behaviours of people you meet regularly, their posture, gestures and speech patterns. Get to know how they usually sit, place their feet, hold their hands etc. so you’ll be able to identify what’s abnormal.

5. The ability to distinguish between comforting and discomforting nonverbal cues is fundamental to deciphering what another is truly thinking and feeling.

6. Be subtle, both in your observations and in utilising body language techniques to elegantly lead and pace another to quickly build rapport and get the best out of your interactions with anyone, anywhere!

7. Flexibility to keep changing your behaviour until you reach your desired outcome.

The big question is what nonverbal behaviours you should be looking for, which is answered in my Body Language Workshop http://corrcoaching.com/workshops.html