4 Body Language Tricks to Impress Anyone - Improve Communication Skills - Personality Development

409,510 views ・ 2018-05-05

Learn English Lab


Please double-click on the English subtitles below to play the video.

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Hey there!
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We often think of communication as being verbal; that is, performed using words.
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But there is another element to it: the nonverbal, the signals and the messages that we send
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using our body in a conversation.
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We call this body language, and mastering it is key to appearing more confident, interesting,
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and impressive.
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In other words, you need good body language to be a successful communicator.
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So, in this video, I’m going to teach you four body language tricks that you can use
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to impress anyone in a conversation.
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Let’s jump into it.
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Number one is something I’m sure you’ve heard many times when it comes to body language:
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smile.
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Your smile should express your confidence and enthusiasm.
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Avoid the resting face: the resting face is when your face is totally relaxed, showing
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no emotion.
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This is my resting face.
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Do you like it?
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Do you want me to talk to you like this… for the rest of the video?
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NO, OF COURSE NOT.
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Isn’t this a lot better?
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However, a word of caution: it’s just not humanly possible to smile all the time.
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If you keep smiling artificially, your facial muscles will grow tired, and your smile will
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look fake.
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And a fake smile can actually have a negative effect on your listener.
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So, the solution is smile broadly at the start of the conversation (that is when you meet
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someone), and at the end (when you say goodbye).
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But during the rest of the conversation, wear a soft smile on your face: just enough to
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show that you’re engaged in the discussion.
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This will make you appear genuine and fully present.
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Number two is make eye contact.
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You should do this both when you’re speaking and when you’re listening.
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After all, the annoying thing is when you’re talking to somebody, and their eyes are darting
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all across the room.
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Instead, in any conversation, your focus should be your partner’s eyes.
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But, of course, I realize that there is a problem with that.
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When we keep looking into someone’s eyes without looking away, it can get uncomfortable
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pretty quickly with a lot of tension building up the two pairs of eyes.
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So, here’s a simple rule for you to follow: Make eye contact and hold it for a few seconds
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(about seven to ten seconds).
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You don’t have to count in your head; just hold eye contact until you start to feel that
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tension.
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Then, blink away to the side (just a little bit), and blink back.
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This will release that tension.
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Now, I say blink because if I’m looking at you, and I suddenly look away, it’s too
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distracting.
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So: eye contact for a few seconds as we’re talking; you start to feel the tension building;
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you blink away and then you blink back.
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Practice this until it feels natural.
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Number three is use good posture.
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Posture refers to how you stand or sit: basically, how you position your body.
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There are three keys to good posture.
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The first is: Keep your back straight One of the most common mistakes I see in my trainees
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(both in conversations and in public speaking situations) is a rounded back with hunched
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shoulders.
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This signals a lack of confidence.
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At the same time, you don’t want to puff up your chest like you’re ready for a fight.
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So, imagine a piece of thread, a string going up your spine, up through the back of your
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head, and out from the top like you’re a puppet.
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Now, what would happen if somebody pulled on the thread?
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Your back would straighten, and your shoulders would drop to a natural position.
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This is a posture which expresses strength and confidence; this is how you want to be.
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The second key to good posture is keep your chin level with the other person’s chin
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– you don’t want to be looking up at them, because that looks like you’re suspicious,
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and you don’t want to be looking down like you feel superior.
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Instead, maintain a straight line from underneath your chin to the other person’s.
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Even if that person is taller or shorter than you, this straight line will make sure that
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your eyes are centered on theirs.
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The final element of good posture is Keep the center lines aligned.
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Now, you might be surprised to hear this, but the center line of your body is what indicates
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your point of interest.
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Let me demonstrate.
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{I turn away} Now, I’m looking at you, my face is pointed towards you, and I’m talking
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to you, but am I really interested in you?
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Where’s my point of interest?
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My point of interest is whatever is on this side because my body is pointed in this direction.
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{I turn back} But, what about now?
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Now, you are my point of interest.
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This is very important in body language.
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Your center line should be aligned with that of your conversation partner.
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And here’s a good way to ensure that: Think of your heart.
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The human heart is about in the center of the chest.
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Imagine that your heart is shooting arrows of positivity – and you want to aim these
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arrows exactly at the other person.
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If you do this, your center line will be aligned with that of your partner.
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This position shows that you are fully engaged and interested in this conversation.
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So, the three keys to good posture are keep your back straight, keep your chin level,
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and keep the center lines aligned.
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And finally, body language trick number four is control your hands.
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In any natural conversation, we use our hands a lot.
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We make lots of gestures.
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This is good, and it’s natural.
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The problem is when you don’t have control over it.
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Oftentimes, when we have conversations in a foreign language like English, we might
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have trouble coming up with the right words or ideas, and this ups our anxiety level.
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And as a result of that, our heart rate speeds up, our speech rate increases, and our hand
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gestures get out of control.
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It’s as if our hands begin to speak a language of their own.
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What message does this send to the listener?
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Well, it tells the listener that you’re nervous or that you lack confidence.
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So, here’s what you should do: make slow and controlled movements like I’m doing
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now.
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This shows that you are in control of the situation, and that commands respect from
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your listener.
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If you find yourself getting nervous, begin to focus on your breathing and consciously
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slow down your movements.
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Avoid fidgeting, that is playing with an object, your clothing or even just with your hands.
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Now, making controlled movements takes practice.
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So, you need to get in front of a mirror.
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I recommend that you spend a few minutes every day just practicing controlled hand gestures.
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Get in front of your mirror and talk about something – it could be anything.
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As you talk, focus on maintaining a firm posture (remember the string?).
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Notice your hand gestures, slow yourself down and make controlled movements.
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Pretty soon, you will see a big difference in your own body language.
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You, and other people, will notice that you appear more confident and more impressive
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than ever before.
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So, those are the four body language tricks you can use to impress anyone: Smile, make
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eye contact, use good posture, and control your hands.
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Remember that the most important thing is to practice.
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Learn to notice your own body language in conversations and to keep improving yourself.
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That is the one true path to becoming a highly successful communicator.
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If you liked this lesson, give it a thumbs up by hitting the like button.
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Remember to subscribe to this channel to get my latest lessons right here on YouTube.
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As always, happy learning and I will see you in another lesson soon.
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