Expression of Body
Language: Key t o Success
By Dr. Estella Sneider
Body language, more than our words, is what
gets people to like us, trust us, or mistrust us.
Whether we realize it or not, the messages we
give to others is mainly through our non-verbal
communication. Understanding how to project
confident body language is essential to
personal and professional success.
Some people are born with charisma, and for
those who are not, the good news is we can
learn it.
Charisma is a combination of having presence,
power and, most importantly, warmth. In a
one-on-one situation, we must be fully present
when a person speaks to us. Maintain eye
contact. Don?t be checking your cell phone
messages. Listen attentively. Don?t interrupt.
When you are fully present, whether you are
talking to one person or facing an audience, make a connection. Get them to feel they are the
center of the universe.
Lack of self-confidence is the biggest roadblock to charisma. You have to change those
negative intruding thoughts by creating a new inner dialog. Tell yourself that you know exactly
what you are doing, and that you can do it successfully. Repeat it in front of a mirror every
morning. Make it your mantra. You will eventually come to believe it because you know you
are good at it. These positive self-perceptions will become your new reality. You are well on
your way to self-confidence and charisma.
Another approach is to use what actors call method acting. In method acting, the actor
becomes the character he or she is playing. This triggers the authentic emotions and body
language belonging to that character.
Similarly, athletes are encouraged by their coaches to visualize their success just prior to
performance. It works.
One way to increase your performance prior to speaking to an audience is to keep your
shoulders back. This simple postural adjustment expands the chest, which produces a release
of hormones. That biochemical boost will help you be in peak performance.
Power is having the ability to utilize our talents to impact others. Our power may come from
our personal appearance, grooming, posture, voice fluctuations, and facial expressions, but
most of all it comes from the demeanor in the communication of body language.
With awareness and practice of the above-mentioned techniques, your self-confidence will
strengthen, and your body language will organically reflect these improvements. You charisma
will skyrocket. So enjoy the new and improved YOU!
2.