7 Office Body Language Rules to Follow
While most of us focus on the tasks we have to accomplish each day, we rarely pay attention to our office body language. No matter how well you do your job, your body language is the key to a more successful career. Just like speaking skills, body language helps you look and behave more professionally, be a role model and a good leader and motivate others to be professionals at work. Seemingly little office body language mistakes can ruin your business relationships and prevent you from achieving your career goals and getting a promotion. Check out some of the most important office body language rules you should follow to reach the top in your workplace.
1 Control your facial expressions
This is the hardest office body language rule to follow. When you have problems at home or at work, you obviously don’t feel and look happy. Everyone notices your pessimistic or angry face and tries to stay away from you or comfort you. You don’t need that support in the workplace, though. No matter what’s happening in your life, your boss and coworkers shouldn’t know about that. Control your facial expressions in order to look more professionally.
2 Practice good eye contact
Eye contact is crucial in all aspects of life. It helps you win a guy’s heart on the first date or make a great first impression wherever you go. Good eye contact can also help you boost your career. There are a few reasons why people hide their eyes when speaking – they either lie or are shy. That’s why if you want others to perceive you as a trustworthy and honest person, keep eye contact whenever you talk to someone in the office. If you are a shy person who has trouble looking an interlocutor in the eyes, try to focus on their eye color. Just don’t gaze, otherwise they may think you are assessing them.
Read also – 7 Common Habits of Confident People
3 Control your pitch
Your vocal pitch as important as your eye contact. Make your voice sound better by reducing your pitch. This way, you will sound less rude and nervous. Low vocal pitch, though isn’t good for your workplace too. No one will hear and understand you so you won’t have any chance to become a leader. Control your pitch when speaking to sound more authoritative and strong.
4 Walk confidently
Regardless of your job position, you should never hide your confidence. Perhaps you’re not a manager and, of course, you’re not a boss, but it doesn’t mean you are not important in the office. You do your job well and you love the company you work for (hopefully!) Don’t feel ashamed of your work. Stand tall, keep your head high and your hands at your side. Walk confidently even when someone doesn’t notice you. If you’re a shy person by nature, try to fake your confidence at first. Your boss will definitely notice your confidence and may reconsider your job position.
5 Don’t slouch
Not only can slouching ruin your health, it can affect your career path as well. Break this childhood habit by practicing good posture at home and in the office. Good posture radiates confidence, professionalism, credibility and openness. These are exactly what you need in the workplace to gain respect and get a promotion.
6 Control your gestures
Sure, it doesn’t mean you should stand still and show no emotion when talking or giving a speech. However, continuously waving your hands back and forth or shaking your head is a big no no. Gestures can either improve your speech or ruin it. When your gestures are wedded to your words, you boost your persuasiveness and make your speech truly successful. Persuasive speakers know how to use their gestures, which is why they are so persuasive and successful.
Read also – 8 Ways to Become a Highly Persuasive Speaker
7 Give a firm handshake
A firm handshake is a sign of confidence, professionalism and respect, but only if you give it with a good eye contact. Otherwise, your handshake will be a sign of disrespect and your own insecurities. Ask your friend to help you develop a firm (not too strong) handshake and show your skills in the workplace. The perfect handshake lasts about 3 seconds, so make sure you don’t overdo it.
Developing a good office body language is a time-consuming process. However, it’s the key to a successful leadership and overall career path. Pay more attention to your body language in the office and try to correct all the mistake you notice. You can also ask some of your coworkers to help you find out your body language mistakes. What are your biggest office body language mistakes?
