While you’d never do this in real life, according to Dr. Travis Blackberry, this is what happens when you ignore nonverbal cues during a conversation.
Here are some of the most common body language tendencies and what they communicate:
Slouching: a sign of disrespect.
Exaggerated gestures: stretching the truth.
Turning yourself away from others: uncomfortable and distrustful of the person speaking.
Crossed arms/crossed legs: not open to what the other person is saying.
Exaggerated nodding: feeling anxiety about approval.
Fixing your hair: anxious, self-conscious, and distracted.
Avoiding eye contact: hiding something or lacking confidence.
Sustained eye contact: communicates confidence, leadership, strength, and intelligence.
Eye contact that’s too intense: perceived as aggressive or an attempt to dominate.
Getting too close (nearer than 18 inches): low self-awareness and awareness of how others feel.
Since more than 50% of the information in a conversation is passed nonverbally, great communicators are not only self-aware of their own nonverbals, but they are always taking note of what their prospects are expressing.
After all, most of what is being said is not being said.
