HOW WILL YOU COMMUNICATION (BODY LANGUAGE)

Body language: an introduction

Body language is rarely given the place it deserves in the teaching of communication skills. There are over 600 muscles in the human body;

90 in the face of which 30 act purely to express emotion. Changes in your position or expression—some obvious, others subtle—can heavily

influence the message that you are communicating.

We've all met someone and thought ‘I didn't like him’ or ‘she seemed trustworthy’. Often these impressions of people are not built on what

is said but the manner in which people handle themselves. You subconsciously pick up cues from the other person's body. Being good at

using body language means having awareness of how the other person may be viewing you and getting your subconscious actions and

expressions under conscious control.

If done well, you can influence the other person's opinion of you, make them more receptive to your message, or add particular emphasis

to certain words and phrases.

Touching

One of the most powerful forms of non-verbal communication and needs to be managed with care.

Greeting: touch is part of greeting rituals in most cultures. It demonstrates that you are not holding a weapon and establishes

Intimacy.

Shaking hands: There are many variations. The length of the shake and the strength of the grip impart a huge amount of information.

For added intimacy and warmth, a double-handed grip can be used. For extra intimacy, one may touch the other's forearm or elbow.*

Dominance: Touch is a powerful display of dominance. Touching someone on the back or shoulder demonstrates that you are in

Charge—this can be countered by mirroring the action back.

Sympathy: the lightest of touches can be very comforting and is appropriate in the medical situation where other touch may be

Misread as dominance or intimacy (you shouldn't hug a patient that you've only just met!). Display sympathy by a brief touch to the arm

Or hand.

A cluster of movements concerned with seeming open. The most significant part of this is the act of opening—signaling a change in the

Way you are feeling. Openness demonstrates that you have nothing to hide and are receptive to the other person. Openness encourages

Openness.

This can be used to calm an angry situation or when asking about personal information.

The key is to not have your arms or legs crossed in any way.

Arms open: either at your side or held wide. Even better, hold your hands open and face your palms to the other person.

Legs open: this does not mean legs wide but rather not crossed. You may hold them parallel. The feet often point to something of

Subconscious interest to you—points them at the patient!