“When the eyes say one thing, and the tongue another, a practical man relies on the language of the first.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Here’s a true story about nonverbal cues. We’ll call the star of our story Heather, who was a year into a fully remote marketing role. Most of Heather’s meetings were virtual. No body language worries necessary, right?
Heather was sitting in on an executive strategy meeting and wasn’t expected to chime in, at least not yet. She was gathering info, observing only. Or so she thought. Out of nowhere, she heard her name—the CEO had singled her out.
“I can see that Heather has something to say about this. Heather? What’s on your mind?”
It turns out her body language wasn’t as neutral as she imagined. In hindsight, she realized that the moment she heard the discussion veer down a path she didn’t agree with, she began formulating arguments and solutions in her head, which caused her to fidget, lean back, purse her lips, and perhaps even scowl a bit.
Heather’s nonverbal cues delivered scathing remarks without her saying a word. Chances are, you’ve been in—or have witnessed—a similar situation.
The Power of Nonverbal Cues
You’ve heard the statistic: Up to 93% of what we communicate to others is nonverbal. In-person, virtual, it doesn’t matter. Those you are interacting with are being influenced by your body language even more than the words you’re using. That’s why UT Austin Center for Professional Education instructor Antoinette Griffin includes nonverbal cues as a key area of study in her course Bridging Communication Gaps: How to Connect, Lead and Influence Others.
“These small habits can quietly affect your credibility and how professionally you’re perceived by others,” Griffin explains.
And it can work the other way, too. Understanding the nonverbal cues you get from others can make you a much more powerful, intuitive communicator. A great example of this? Observing another person’s feet and legs.
“Most people are far less conscious of what they’re doing with their legs and feet than with their hands, face, or posture. As a result, these lower-body cues can reveal genuine interest, discomfort, confidence, or anxiety,” Griffin reveals.
Mastering This Skill
So how does one become a body language whisperer, especially in a business setting? It takes collaboration and practice, Griffin says.
Remember, nonverbal communication is a social skill, so it’s very difficult to identify areas of improvement on your own. What’s more, each one of us is different in our behaviors, reactions, and communication styles. For instance, crossing your arms could be an act of insecurity in one personality or situation, but an act of defiance in another.
This is why Griffin created a personalized communication and behavioral assessment, along with a guided debrief, that participants in her Bridging Communication Gaps workshop receive and learn from in real time, with her helpful guidance.
The course can be taken as a standalone two-day workshop or as part of the Communication Skills for Professionals Certificate. If you’re an introvert, you can benefit from an additional CPE course offered by Griffin called Communication Strategies for Introverted Business Professionals, which can also be taken as a standalone two-day workshop or as part of the Communication Skills for Professionals Certificate.
Nonverbal cues matter. Every gesture and expression counts. Becoming more aware of your own body language and learning to interpret the signals others are sending can transform the way you connect and lead.