Body Language For Dummies®, 2nd Edition

Body Language For Dummies®, 2nd Edition

by Elizabeth Kuhnke
Released March 2012
Publisher(s): For Dummies
ISBN: 9781119953517

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Book description

Say what you mean, without opening your mouth

Actions really do speak louder than words, but you've got to be able to understand them. That's where Body Language For Dummies, Second Edition comes in handy. If you find yourself puzzled by other people, or want to improve the impression you give, having an insight into body language is key, and this book will teach you to comprehend what people really mean, even if they say nothing at all, and how you can use your body and your expressions to make a positive impact.

Image and presentation are crucial to successful communication, and realising what kind of impression you give, and understanding how others judge you when you meet them, is an essential skill for getting where you want to go, both personally and professionally.

Body Language For Dummies, Second Edition

  • Explores why we give the signals we do

  • How to read the most common expressions

  • Shows how you can use body language to transform your personal and professional relationships

Perfect for anyone looking for the inside edge in understanding their own and other people's actions, this book is ideal for those who want to ensure their communications are positive in every way, people in relationships, those looking for a relationship and trying to interpret the "signals" of the opposite sex, and countless other readers.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Table of Contents
  3. Title Page
  4. Introduction
  5. Part I: In the Beginning Was the Gesture
    1. Chapter 1: Defining Body Language
      1. Discovering How Body Language Conveys Messages
      2. Examining Key Types of Gestures
      3. Getting the Most Out of Body Language
      4. Appreciating Cultural Differences
    2. Chapter 2: Looking Closer at Non-verbal Gestures
      1. Observing the History of Body Language
      2. Understanding the Nuts and Bolts of Body Language
      3. Hearing a Final Word on Non-Verbal Gestures
  6. Part II: Starting at the Top
    1. Chapter 3: Heading to the Heart of the Matter
      1. Demonstrating Power and Authority
      2. Showing Agreement and Encouragement: The Nod
      3. Displaying Attention and Interest
      4. Indicating Submissiveness or Worry
      5. Showing Boredom
      6. Showing You’re Deep in Thought
    2. Chapter 4: Watching Facial Expressions
      1. Communicating Feelings When Words Are Inappropriate
      2. Recognising Facial Expressions that Reinforce the Spoken Message
      3. Masking Emotions
      4. Expressing a Range of Emotions
    3. Chapter 5: The Eyes Have It
      1. The Power of the Held Gaze
      2. The Wandering Eye: Breaking Eye Contact
      3. Other Ways Your Eyes Tell a Tale
    4. Chapter 6: Mastering Lip Reading
      1. Revealing Thoughts, Feelings, and Emotions
      2. Differentiating Smiles
      3. Remembering that Laughter’s the Best Medicine
  7. Part III: The Trunk: Limbs and Roots
    1. Chapter 7: Taking It From the Torso
      1. Gaining Insights into the Impact of Posture
      2. Knowing the Three Main Types of Posture
      3. Changing Attitudes by Changing Posture
      4. Using Posture to Aid Communication
      5. Shrugging Signals
    2. Chapter 8: Arming Yourself
      1. Building Defensive Barriers
      2. Conveying Friendliness and Honesty
      3. Touching to Convey Messages
    3. Chapter 9: It's in the Palm of Your Hand
      1. Up or Down: Reading Palms
      2. Hands Up!
      3. Letting the Fingers Do the Talking
      4. Analysing Handshakes
      5. Displacing Your Energy
    4. Chapter 10: Standing Your Ground
      1. Showing Commitment and Attitude through Your Stance
      2. Reflecting Your Feelings by the Way You Position Your Feet
      3. Walking Styles
    5. Chapter 11: Playing with Props
      1. Using Accessories to Reflect Mental States
      2. Through the Looking Glasses
      3. Holy Smokes
      4. Making It Up as You Go Along
      5. Clothing: Dressing the Part
  8. Part IV: Putting the Body into Social and Business Context
    1. Chapter 12: Being Aware of Territorial Rights and Regulations
      1. Understanding the Effect of Space
      2. Knowing Your Space
      3. Using Space
      4. Seating Arrangements
      5. Orientating Yourself
    2. Chapter 13: Rating, Dating, and Mating: Using the Body in Courting Behaviour
      1. Attracting Someone’s Attention
      2. Showing That You’re Available
      3. Progressing Through the Romance
    3. Chapter 14: Interviewing, Influencing, and Playing Politics
      1. Making a Great First Impression: The Interview
      2. Creating a Positive Environment
      3. Pointing Your Body in the Right Direction
      4. Negotiating Styles
    4. Chapter 15: Crossing the Cultural Divide
      1. Recognising the Different Strokes for Different Folks
      2. Observing the Conventions of Higher- and Lower-Status Behaviour
      3. Getting Specific: Common Gestures, Multiple Interpretations
      4. Avoiding Problems and not Causing Offence
    5. Chapter 16: Reading the Signs
      1. Taking an Interest in Other People
      2. Drawing Conclusions from What You Observe
      3. Practice Makes Perfect: Improving Your Reading
  9. Part V: The Part of Tens
    1. Chapter 17: Ten Ways to Spot Deception
      1. Catching Fleeting Expressions Crossing the Face
      2. Suppressing Facial Expressions
      3. Eyeing Someone Up
      4. Covering the Source of Deception
      5. Touching the Nose
      6. Faking a Smile
      7. Minimising Hand Gestures
      8. Maximising Body Touches
      9. Shifting Positions and Fidgeting Feet
      10. Changing Speech Patterns
    2. Chapter 18: Ten Ways to Reveal Your Attractiveness
      1. Using Eye Contact
      2. Showing Liveliness in Your Face
      3. Offering Encouragement
      4. Using Open Gestures
      5. Showing Interest Through Your Posture
      6. Positioning Yourself
      7. Touching to Connect
      8. Being on Time
      9. Synchronising Your Gestures
      10. Balancing Your Non-Verbal Aspects of Speech
    3. Chapter 19: Ten Ways to Find Out About Someone Without Asking
      1. Observing Eye Movements
      2. Looking at Facial Expressions
      3. Watching for Head Movements
      4. Noticing Hand and Arm Gestures
      5. Observing Posture
      6. Considering Proximity and Orientation
      7. Paying Attention to Touching
      8. Responding to Appearance
      9. Checking Timing and Synchronisation
      10. Scrutinising Non-verbal Aspects of Speech
    4. Chapter 20: Ten Ways to Improve Your Silent Communication
      1. Taking an Interest
      2. Knowing What You Want to Express
      3. Modelling Excellence
      4. Mirroring Others
      5. Practising Gestures
      6. Developing Timing and Synchronisation
      7. Dressing the Part
      8. Acting the Way You Want to Be Perceived
      9. Demonstrating Awareness
      10. Asking for Feedback
  10. Cheat Sheet

Product information

  • Title: Body Language For Dummies®, 2nd Edition
  • Author(s): Elizabeth Kuhnke
  • Release date: March 2012
  • Publisher(s): For Dummies
  • ISBN: 9781119953517