The Silent Language of Leaders: How Body Language Can Help—or Hurt—How You Lead

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INTERNATIONAL BODY LANGUAGE

Input from Twelve Experts

I have worked (given speeches or seminars, coached or consulted) in twenty-four countries, and I have traveled to a dozen more. But I certainly don't consider myself an expert on international business practices. I do, however, have access to a network of businesspeople who are experts—professionals and communicators from around the world, many of whom are affiliated with the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). This chapter is a compilation of their insights and experiences with global body language and business protocol. In this chapter, you'll get a multicultural perspective of how eye contact, touch, space, emotional expression, and greeting behaviors are exhibited in a business meeting; you'll increase your ability to understand and identify cultural differences; and you'll be able to anticipate more accurately how your behavior is likely to be perceived.

I'd like to introduce my panel of experts….

Marc Wright (United Kingdom) is the publisher of www.simply-communicate.com, the online resource and magazine used by fifteen thousand internal communication professionals around the world. Marc is chair of IABC Europe & Middle East; chair of simplyexperience, an event and video production company; and chair of simplygoodadvice, a consultancy specializing in internal communication.

Paulo Soares (Brazil) is a professional with broad experience in business communication. He currently works as corporate ...