BASIC GUIDES ON PROFESSIONAL BODY LANGUAGE AT WORK

By Zaini Abdul Wahab 2014

Professional Business Appearance &

Etiquette Information Sharing Series

Professional Body Language At Work

Body Language May be the biggest part of effective workplace

communication

It “tells”—gestures and facial expressions tell the listener what you are thinking or what your attitude is regardless of what you are verbalizing

Hidden signals conveyed by your body

The ‘smile’ factor, building posture, facial expressions & eye contact & gestures

Practical Guides To Using Body Language At The Work Place

Project confidence with your body language Act confident & feel

confident Confident vs.

Cocky

Body Language: How to look confident?Be positive – identify and overcome our “ weaknesses”

How to look confident? Smile Eyes forward

How to look confident? Hands out of

pockets No crossed hands

X

How to look confident? Stay still and firm Straight posture

with shoulders back

How to look confident? Basic grooming Take wide steps

How to look confident? Touch people

whenever appropriate

How to look confident?

Move slower › Body movement› When you speak

Good

Relax hangs with open palms

Lean forward slightly

Make eye contact

Good Sit/stand upright -

relaxed shoulders & arms

“Mirror” the body language of the other person

Respect the space

Stroking your neck

Wringing your hands

Fidgeting

Bad

Bad Foot tapping/pen

drumming

Clenching fists/chopping

Bad Tight crossed arms

Rolling on heels

Lazing about on a chair

Shoulder shrugs

Bad Playing with hair

Pulling your ear

Touching your face

Common body language for women

Bad body language for women

Gazing down your face 

Tilting your head too much 

Smiling too much 

Nodding too much

Minimizing the space you take up

Girlish behaviour› Avoid them as

much as you can

Being flirty

High voice 

Speaking too soft 

Being too courteous

Handshake that’s too delicate

Gestures that are too animated

Let your body “talk” professionally too. It’s a skill that we can learn!

THANK YOU!zainiabdulwahab@yahoo.com