When you interact with others, you probably focus a lot on what you say. Words, of course, matter. But there’s something that might matter as much as, if not more than, your words.
Nonverbal communication holds a lot of power to influence others either positively or negatively. And it doesn’t just include your arms and hands: You can communicate with eyes, with your posture, with your stance. Once you’re aware of your own body language, you can start to use those insights to read other people’s thoughts and reactions—particularly important when you’re going on a sales call.
Even if the conversation isn’t one-on-one, nonverbal communication makes an impact. When you’re standing in front of an audience, convincing them to listen or to buy in to whatever it is you’re talking about, your nonverbal communication can help you fight a winning (or losing) battle.
What should you know about nonverbal communication? This graphic explains it.