Career Tips: 8 Body language tips & tricks to master at work

Sarah Khan 26 Sep 2016

1/8
Smile (with a slight delay)
Smiles have a profound impact on people - research from Duke University proves that we like and remember those who smile at us.
For more impact, instead of immediately smiling as you meet someone, pause and take in his or her face for a fraction of a second before letting a warm smile spread on your face and in your eyes. This less-than-a-second delay will actually convince people your smile is genuine and personalised for them, and not just merely for anyone who walks through the door.
2/8
Greet new acquaintances like old friends
When first introduced to someone, imagine that you are meeting an old friend. This will actually cause subconscious reactions in your body, such as the softening of your eyebrows and eyes, that will make you seem genuinely warm and interested in the person.
This technique is great for forging trust and likability with someone you've just met. It works because it is in general human nature for people to respond more favourably towards those we perceive are genuine and interested in us.
3/8
Try power priming
There are situations at the workplace that may cause us to feel out of our depth or comfort zone - for instance, an important presentation.
Think of a past success or accomplishment you've achieved that makes you feel proud and confident about yourself. It could be the last time you've successfully managed an event or drafted a great proposal your boss liked. Recall that swell of pride and confidence you felt as you step up to the front of the room before your presentation - recalling that emotion will help you channel and embody it.
(Tip: You can start keeping a 'success log' of achievements, both in your personal life and career, in order to track these events easily.)
4/8
Try a steeple to appear convincing
A “steeple” is a power signal where the tips of your fingers touch with your palms separated, forming a little “rooftop” with your hands.
An effective body language trick when you want to project conviction and sincerity on a case you're making, you may see executives and politicians like Barack Obama, and even lecturers, using this hand gesture when illustrating a crucial point.
Be discerning on when you use the steeple however; while it may be effective in showing confidence and strength while negotiating, it can come across as arrogant in situations where you're trying to gain someone's trust.
5/8
Maintain eye contact
Extended eye contact can be tricky, even slightly uncomfortable at times, particularly if you’re an introvert or come from a cultural background where eye contact is not necessarily the social norm. However, majority of people in work environments globally said they favoured eye contact that is maintained between 50-60% of the time.
Here’s a simple technique to improve eye contact. Whenever you greet a business colleague, look into his or her eyes long enough to notice what color they are. Either that, or try counting your partner’s blinks to maintain eye contact. Subjects in a case study reported significantly higher feelings of respect and likability for their colleagues who used this technique.
6/8
Perfect that handshake
The right handshake can lend you instant credibility when meeting with clients or new colleagues, but may be tricky to pin down. A Fortune 500 CEO said that between two candidates with similar qualifications, he would and had always given it to the candidate with the better handshake.
Avoid the limp 'dead fish' or 'bone-crushing' handshakes - the former may make you seem timid while the latter may leave the impression that you are domineering. The general rule of thumb is to make firm palm to palm contact with the webs of both your hands (i.e. the skin between your thumb and first finger) touching, and closely matching the hand pressure as close possible.
Cultivating the perfect handshake can be especially key for women particularly in male-dominated work environments, where their confidence is evaluated by the firmness and quality of their handshake.
7/8
Use open, speech-complementing hand gestures
Brain imaging studies have shown that the Broca's area in our brain (the region linked to speech production), is active when we're speaking and when we use our hands. As such, gesturing while you're speaking can actually boost your thinking while you're communicating with someone.
Researchers have noticed that people who incorporate speech-hand gestures when they're speaking have better verbal content: they make less speech fillers like 'ums' or 'uhs', form clearer, cogent thoughts, speak in tighter sentences, and get their points across to the audience better.
Keep your gestures relaxed and open, showing the palms of your hands, which suggests an openness and credibility. Avoid nervous hand gestures such as fidgeting, bouncing on your feet, or twirling with your hair or jewellery, as it can make you lose credibility instead.
8/8
Lower your vocal pitch
The quality and undertone of our voices can also create either favourable or unfavourable impressions of us.
Studies have shown that low voice tones actually make people more efficient, while a higher pitch has the reverse effect. Speakers with higher-pitched voices are judged to be less powerful and more nervous than speakers with lower pitched voices.
To lower your voice pitch to its optimal tone, speech therapists suggest putting your lips together and saying, “Um hum, um hum, um hum.”

From maintaining eye contact to perfecting that handshake, we’ve got you covered on our 8 body language tips and tricks to start mastering at work.

Navigating social situations in the workplace can be a tricky one – “How long do I need to make eye contact for? What can I do to come across convincing and reliable when interacting with my colleagues or during a presentation? How can I make a good impression on my co-workers?”

These may be some of the thoughts and concerns that plague our minds as we flit in and out of the office daily. And our concerns are completely warranted. Our body language can suggest and reveal a surprising array of things about our personality, confidence and headspace without us realising it.

We have narrowed down our top 8 easy body language tips and tricks for you to start mastering in the workplace – from smiling tips (yes, that too), to using speech-complementing hand gestures to use when speaking, and practising power-priming when feeling self-doubt. No doubt, these tips would definitely give you the edge in forging great relationships and succeeding at work.

Sarah Khan

Photos: Getty Images

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