Body language is one of the most common form of non verbal communication there is when dealing with someone one on one. This is why it can be of great importance to remain aware of your own mannerisms and others who communicate with you. Becoming an effective body language interpreter requires time and practice. It is a trait that you will hold on to for life. There are so many occasions when body language comes in to play. Dating, job interviews, and interrogations are just a few applications where the one who knows how to read and communicate with body language will gain an edge. In this article I will explain a few key practices you can take in to your daily life to help you start understanding the power of body language and non verbal communication.

Eye Contact

Eye contact is crucial in communication. Lack of eye contact with any given person may give the impression that you are not interested or don't care. This is such a key player in job interviews. When you are in a job interview, you must not only come off as interested but you must also appear to be engaged in the conversation. A good benchmark is to keep eye contact around 60% to 70% of the time. Any more eye contact than this may be a little too intense. At this percentage, it shows a genuine interest and that you are at attention. Any more intentional eye contact than this can be interpreted as non-genuine and far too eager, as if you are trying too hard. Try to keep it natural.

Posture

Posture is another key element in judging one's body language. Someone who is slouching with shoulders forward and chest collapsed in is displaying submissive tendencies and may be projecting a lack of self confidence. Alternatively, one who's head is high in the air, nostrils in full view may have an air of overconfidence and come off as a bit pretentious or snooty. Maintaining a vertical and horizontal head level gives an air of authority and confidence, but not overly so. This is a good way to come into a job interview. However, while listening to someone it could be considered polite body language to occasionally tilt your head slightly to the left and alternate tilting the head to the right when listening. It gives off a hint of understanding and reception.

Arms

Arm positioning is another crucial element in body language. Have you ever seen anyone on a subway platform waiting for a train? More often than not they are standing with their arms crossed. Crossed arms is translated in body language as leave me alone. It can also be translated as someone who is holding themselves back from participating in a conversation and overall, generally means that they wish to be withdrawn from the current situation that faces them. Crossed arms is a protective stance. It doesn't allow the person out and doesn't let anyone in. This posture is fine if this is what you wish to project. The way to make people feel welcoming to you would be to approach or sit with your arms to your side. It's a non defensive posture, showing that you need not protect anything and are wide open. Taking this a step further, if the palms are open and facing up or towards you it is a sign of welcome and comfort. This would be the ideal posture to have if you are dating. Arms crossed on a date can be translated as impatience and insecurity.

This really is just the tip of the iceberg. When it comes to body language there are literally thousands of non verbal cues to clue you in to how people really feel. Once you have a mastery of body language, you will begin to rely on it, believe it, and more often than not it will take precedence over what anyone says verbally.