Let Me Hear Your Body Talk, Your Body Talk...

How much thought have you given to body language?

If you're like most people, not much.

And yet how you nonverbally communicate has the power to change everything.

If you want to change your results, you must change your body language.

Body language includes many things: what you do with your face, how you stand, how you gesture, what your voice sounds like, etc., but the easiest way to think about it is to separate the various nonverbal communication skills into four areas:

• What you do with your body
• What you do with your voice
• What you do with your eyes
• How you're breathing

Today let's discuss body and voice.

Great communicators are highly skilled, but it's not just skill that makes them great. It's timing. 

Great communicators know what skill to use when.

For example, there are two basic nonverbal types I teach: authoritative communication and approachable communication.

In nearly every communication situation you are either sending information or seeking it. 

For example, if you get a Starbuck's coffee every day, you most likely say, "Tall, soy, light-foam latte," when you get to the cashier. (At least that's what I say.)

But if you miss your turn and end up in a Dutch Brother's parking lot, you might ask, "Do you guys serve soy lattes here?"

To be purposeful, use authoritative communication when sending information:

• Stand with weight over both feet
• Turn the palms down
• Curl your voice down at the ends of statements

Additionally, use approachable communication when seeking information:

• Stand with weight over one foot
• Turn the palms up
• Curl your voice up at the ends of statements

Want jurors to talk to you? BE APPROACHABLE. Want to communicate you're the leader? BE AUTHORITATIVE.

Using the right nonverbal communication at the right time has the power to change your results.

Give this podcast a listen to learn more.