Making Etiquette Easy: Body Language

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In all business situations, from interviews to corporate meetings, body language is an extremely important indicator of your mental awareness and your opinions about a certain subject. It’s a priceless art to master your self-knowledge on body language and be able to react accordingly. Here are a few tidbits of handy info to get your body (language) going in the right direction:

• Before you meet with someone, make sure you are well situated before walking into their office or conference room. Pulling up your pantyhose or adjusting your belt as you walk in the door make you appear sloppy and disheveled.
• Always look people in the eye. Do not, however, give them a blank stare. People are drawn to other people who actively engage in the conversation. Staring only creates the illusion of distance and can be awkward for the recipient.
• Shake hands as soon as you meet someone. Your handshake should be strong and firm, not limp, and not so hard that you injure the person you are meeting (I've actually seen this happen). Make sure you respect the other person’s personal space and haven’t applied so much perfume that you are a distraction.
• When seated, always sit up straight and lean slightly forward, appearing genuinely interested in what they have to say. Nodding and smiling go a long way. Make sure you do not slouch, lean your body towards the door (an indication that says you would rather be on your way out), tap your feet nervously, or rub the back of your neck. Crossing your hands also communicates that you are disinterested.

It is safe to mirror other people in a business situation and take cues from them. The most important thing is to know what your actions are communicating so you can assure you are sending the right message.

Making Etiquette Easy,

Susan K. Medina