Your body sends people signals all the time, without paying attention to them. The way you move your eyes, the way you shake a hand and so on. There are things you can do to send subconscious signals using body language that make people like you better, or at least give you the benefit of the doubt. This article compiles the best body language tricks for you to make friends and influence people, starting from today!
9. Steeple your hands
This projects an image of intelligence and confidence. It will make you appear more interesting and trustworthy. This works best in more formal environments, use it when talking to your superiors and watch your credibility go skywards. You can also do this when someone is saying something important to you, as it makes you look very attentive and shows the speaker that they have your full and undivided attention.
8. Posture is important
Posture influences the first impression people have about you. This is why positive posture is vital when it comes to influencing people. Positive posture includes standing straight (no slouching!) while looking relaxed. Sit straight and keep some tension in your core, but don’t look rigid. Besides making you more likable, it will also make you feel more confident.
7. Master the handshake
The ideal handshake is firm, yet gentle. Use firm pressure, but don’t squeeze the other person’s hand too hard. Make eye contact when you shake hands, as looking away signifies disrespect or a sneaky attitude. Finally, when looking into someone’s eyes during the shake, smile as if you saw something in their eyes that makes you happy.
6. Mirror your posture
Mirroring the other person’s posture is a powerful psychological tool that will influence his/her opinion of you. Without being too obvious, copy their movements subtly. Cross your arms if they cross theirs, take a sip of your drink with them and simply smile when they do.
5. Tone down the fidget
Fidgeting makes you look shifty, uncomfortable or even childish. Don’t move around too much during a serious conversation. Constant gesturing will make you appear anxious and over-excited. Instead, simply fix a constant gaze on the listener and show them that you’re fully concentrated on what is going on.
4. The Big-Baby Pivot
People are very conscious of how you react to them. When you meet someone new, turn your body fully toward them and give them your full and undivided attention, the way you do to a baby. This tells them that they are significant to you and that you genuinely care about talking to them. In short, it makes them feel very special.
3. Epoxy eyes
While socialising in a group of people, you should occasionally look at the person you are interested in, regardless of who else is talking. If your attention is drawn to that person even when they are simply listening, you are showing that you are extremely interested in his or her reactions. However, doing this frequently can make the subject uncomfortable. You should not stare at them intensely for a long time. Instead, you should primarily watch the speaker, but allow your glance to wander to your target when the speaker finishes interesting points or pauses briefly.
2. Old friends
When meeting someone for the first time, pretend they are your old friends. This will cause your subconscious to react in certain ways; relaxing your entire body, softening your eyes and positioning your toes. These changes will make you seem more friendly and approachable. Moreover, if you pretend you like someone, it acts as a self-fulfilling prophecy so that you might genuinely start liking them.
1. Watch how you smile
Don’t flash a huge smile immediately after being introduced to somebody.
This makes them think anyone in your line of sight would receive that
same smile. What you should do instead: pause for a second after
focusing on their face and then let a big, warm, responsive smile flood
over your face and overflow into your eyes. Although it just takes a
second longer, this technique convinces people that you are genuinely
happy to meet them.
