Improving performance through body language • 3 min read
Research from the Society for Human Resource Management stated that "while most people are hired for their technical abilities, their soft skills (like listening and communication) give them career durability."
Makes sense when a whopping 85% of what we know, we’ve actually learned through listening.
Introduction
Body language plays a significant role in workplace interactions, impacting how employees are perceived by colleagues, managers, and clients. This article explores how your employees' non-verbal signals might be influencing their professional success and offers practical ways to develop more positive and effective communication cues.
Helping your workforce understand and optimise body language can build confidence, improve self-esteem, and enhance performance across the organisation.
Why focus on body language?
Your workforce likely observes non-verbal cues constantly—how managers adjust their posture during a tense meeting or how a colleague’s gestures change when discussing a challenging topic.
However, while employees are quick to notice others' body language, they may lack awareness of their own. Misaligned self-perceptions and unconscious gestures could undermine their credibility, professionalism, and engagement.
Recognising the need for change
Consider whether your team members identify with these scenarios:
Struggles with presentations: Feeling unsure about how to gesture or position their body, which may negatively affect their performance.
Perceived lack of confidence: Body language that unintentionally signals insecurity, leaving colleagues less inclined to take them seriously.
Comparisons with peers: A belief that others are naturally better at non-verbal communication, reinforcing a lack of self-belief.
Encourage employees to reassess their signals
If any of these resonate with your workforce, it’s essential to create awareness around how their non-verbal communication may be influencing their effectiveness.
Research shows that optimising body language can significantly improve stakeholder engagement and buy-in. By fostering self-awareness, your employees can consciously improve their gestures, posture, and expressions to align with professional expectations.
Putting awareness into action
Start by guiding employees to observe their behaviours in common workplace interactions. For example:
Reflect on emotional triggers: Encourage your workforce to acknowledge feelings about colleagues or situations that may inadvertently influence their non-verbal cues. For instance, irritation might manifest as crossed arms or defensive posture.
Adopt intentional habits: Suggest practising open gestures and positive facial expressions to project confidence and collaboration.
Through consistent practice, employees can internalise positive body language, transforming it into an unconscious habit that reinforces their professional presence.
Key takeaways
Verbal and non-verbal communication are equally important for professional growth, with body language often speaking louder than words.
Self-awareness is critical—encourage employees to reflect on negative feelings or reactions before engaging with colleagues to manage their non-verbal cues effectively.
Positive body language can be practised, adopted, and internalised over time, improving how employees interact with others.
Think big, act small
Non-verbal communication is a powerful tool for building confidence and maximising performance. Encourage your workforce to consider whether their body language is holding them back.
Next, focus on embedding small, actionable behaviours that enhance their professional presence, ensuring your people put their best foot forward every day.
Content sources
Forbes Magazine, Raazi Imam, ‘The Power of Body Language in the Workplace’
Harvard Business Review, Charalombos Vlachoutsicos, ‘Your Body Language Speaks for You in Meetings’
Harvard Business Review, Nicole Torres, ‘When You Pitch an Idea, Gestures Matter More Than Words’
Psychology Today, Susan Krauss Whitbourne Ph.D. ‘5 Ways Our Body Language Speaks Loud and Clear’
Scienceofpeople.com, Body Language In The Workplace: 15 Cues You Must Know
Time Magazine, Sophia Gottfried, ‘The Body Language Mistakes You Don't Realize You're Making at Work’
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