The Secret Language of Business: How to Read Anyone in 3 Seconds or Less

Chapter 3. Elements of Body Language

There are worksheets at www.kevinhogan.com/worksheets.htm that you can print out and use forever. (You can use them before sales presentations, meetings, and events where you are speaking. In addition, you can use one chart during meetings to give you an edge that you've never experienced before.)

The elements of body language can be broken down in many ways, from physical body parts to how those body parts are used. Academics and scientists can spend years studying just a single element, and entire books have been written on each of the eight elements you'll learn about in this chapter.

My purpose here is to expand your understanding of body language by breaking it down into the key elements—eyes, face, gestures, touch, posture, movement, appearance, and voice. Each one plays an important role in nonverbal behavior, but as you've come to expect with body language, none of them operate in complete isolation. They work together, often in very subtle ways, and different combinations can produce entirely different body language messages. You will benefit greatly by keeping this in mind as you read through the chapter.

Eyes

The eyes are the windows to the soul, it has been said, and most people would say this is indeed true. Your eyes have a huge impact on communication and are a key component of your body language. Eye movement and use is often the first nonverbal behavior others notice because your eyes are usually the first place they look and ...