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Gajanan Shirke
Body Language

Gajanan Shirke
 Body Language - Outline
• What is body language?
• Its importance and power
• Universal body language gestures
• Distance and zones
• Do’s and Dont’s
– While standing
– While talking
– While walking

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 What is body language?
• It is a constant non-verbal flow of
communication
• It is the unspoken communication between
human beings

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 Why is it important?
Total Impact of a Message
7% Verbal
38% Vocal

55% Visual

100% Total Impact

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UNIVERSAL
GESTURES

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 Zone Distance
• Each person has his own personal territory
– The area that exists around his possessions
such as his home
– His car
– His bedroom
– His personal chair
– A defined air space around his body

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 Zone Distance

INTIMATE
ZONE PERSONAL SOCIAL ZONE
ZONE
0 – 1.5 feet
1.5 – 4 feet Between 4 - 12 feet PUBLIC ZONE

-- those who
-- distance from -- distance from Over 12 feet
are emotion-
others at office strangers
ally close;
parties, social -- people whom we -- when addressing
parents,
functions, and do not know very a large group of
spouse, well
friendly people
children, -- postman,
gatherings
close friends, shopkeeper, etc.
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relatives
 WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO
FACE

• Do not hang your head –

negative judgmental

attitude, expression of

boredom.
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 WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO
LEGS

• Do not shift your feet

• Do not stand with your legs

crossed – defensive position

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 WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
HANDS

• Keep arms at your side or

behind your back or in

front in the ‘ready’ position

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 WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO
HANDS

• Clenched hands – gesture

of frustration

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 WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO
HANDS
• Do not cross one hand
across body to play
with watch – partial
arm barrier –unsure of
himself and/or his
circumstances

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 WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO
HANDS

• Do not stand in the

hands-on-hips pose
– aggressive and
dominant attitude

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 WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO
HANDS

• Do not fold your

arms across your
chest – defensive
and negative
attitude

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 WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO
HANDS
• Do not stand with arms
firmly gripped and
crossed – negative
restrained attitude
(want to hold back)

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 WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO
HANDS

• Do not have one arm

across the body to hold

the other arm – lack of

self-confidence

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 WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO
HANDS
• Do not stand with
hands in your pockets
– unwilling to
participate attitude
• Do not rub the back of
your neck – critical and
negative person
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 WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO
HANDS

• Hand-gripping-wrist
gesture – signal of
frustration and an
attempt at self-control

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 WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
FACE

• Head slightly tilted to one

side indicates an interested

and helpful expression

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 WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO
FACE

• The neutral head position

– staring-into-space
expression; neutral attitude
to what you are hearing

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 WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
FACE

• Maintain eye contact – the

business gaze

• Gaze directed in this triangle

– serious atmosphere
meaning business

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 WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO
FACE

• Social gaze – drops

below the other persons
eye level – a social
atmosphere created

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 WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO
FACE

• Intimate gaze – across

the eyes and below the
chin

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 WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO
FACE

• Speak with neither head

nor body turned towards
other person

• Do not give a sideways

glance
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 WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
BODY

• Lean slightly inward –

shows interest
• Orientation with the
others around

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 WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO
BODY

• Body oriented away

from others – excludes

others, like strangers

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 WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
LEGS
• Legs uncrossed and feet
placed together in a neutral
position – open attitude
• Foot points to the person
whom one finds interesting

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 WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
HANDS

• Open gesticulations

with hands – open

attitude

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 WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO
HANDS

• Do not cross your hands

behind your back when
speaking – expression of
being closed to others’
views and expressions

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 WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO
HANDS

• Avoid unnecessary
movements of hands –
distracted and
preoccupied expression

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 WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO
HANDS

• Arm-fold gesture with both

thumbs pointing vertically
upwards – defensive, to
get a feeling of protection

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 WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
HANDS
• Always use an open palm
gesture – submissive
position
• Vertical handshake –mutual
respect and rapport to the
other
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 WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO
HANDS

• Palm facing down in

handshake – dominant,
taking control

• Palm facing upwards –

submissive, giving control
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 WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO
HANDS

• The knuckle grinder

• The dead fish

• The glove

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 WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO
HANDS

• Palm closed into a fist

and pointed finger –

aggressive position

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 WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO
HANDS
• The nose touch –
insincere gesture acts
like a mouth guard
• Eye rub – insincere
gesture, avoid looking
at the person to whom
he is telling a lie
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 WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO
HANDS

• Ear rub – trying to block

the words of the speaker
• Neck scratch – signal of
doubt or uncertainty
• Collar pull – after speaking
a lie, angry or frustrated
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 WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

• Look ahead and be aware of your

surroundings
• Have an attentive look

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 WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO
FACE

• Do not look distracted, lost or unaware of

your surroundings
• Do not walk with your head down

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 WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
BODY

• Move purposefully

• Maintain your posture of stomach

in/chest out at all times

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 WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO
BODY

• Do not slouch

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 WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
LEGS

• Walk at an even pace in all areas

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 WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO
LEGS

• Do not run or walk leisurely

• Do not drag your feet
• Do not clomp or shuffle

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 WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
HANDS

• Keep your hands by your side

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 WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO
HANDS

• Avoid unnecessary movements of your

hands
• Do not walk with your hands behind your
back or in front

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