Chapter27

INPTERPRETATION

OF

BODYLANGUAGE

ContentsFacialExpressionBodyPosturesGesturesHandshakesEyeContactUseofSpaceToneofVoiceAmbiguityinInterpretation

Bodylanguage?isatypeofnonverbal?communication?inwhichphysicalbehavior,asopposedtowords,areusedtoexpressorconveyinformation.Suchbehaviorincludes?facialexpressions,bodyposture,?gestures,handshakes,eyecontact,useofspaceandtoneofvoice,etc.Bodylanguagecomplementsverbalcommunicationinsocialinteraction.Infact,nonverbalcommunicationaccountsforagoodpart,ifnotthebetterpart,oftheinformationtransmittedduringinterpersonalinteractions.

Acorporatesecretaryisnotsomeonewhoonlyworksatdesk.Dealingwithpeopleisamorefundamentaltaskforthem.Itistoacorporatesecretary’sadvantagetohavesomeelementaryknowledgeabouttheinterpretationofhumanbodylanguage,forthisknowledgewillhelpbuildupaprofessionalaswellaslikableimage,gainrespectfromthepeopleheorshehastodealwithandwinconfidenceandtrustfromthestakeholdersofthecompany.Forthesereasons,wehaveincorporatedthischapterabouttheinterpretationofbodylanguage.

FacialExpressionFacialexpressionplaysanimportantroleincommunication.Consciouslyorsubconsciously,thecombinationsofeyes,eyebrows,lips,nose,andcheekmovementshelpshowdifferentmoodsofanindividual,forexample,happy,sad,depressed,angry,etc.Facialexpressionisthemostdirectbodylanguage.Foracorporatesecretary,itistabootoputonapokerfacewhendealingwithpeople.Youshouldalwaysappeartobeinterestedintheconversationwhenyoutalktoanyshareholdersofyourcompany.

BodyPosturesFacialexpressionandbodilyexpressionarenormallycongruentwhenapersontalks.Howapersonapprehendssomeoneelsestalkingisinfluencedbythetalkersfacialexpressionaswellasbodilyexpression.Unlessabigpartofthatpersonsbodyisnotseen,for