How to improve your non-verbal communication skills

- Improving nonverbal communication skills in the office can significantly enhance your interactions with colleagues, managers, and clients. Nonverbal cues such as body language, facial expressions, eye contact, and tone of voice can convey confidence, empathy, and engagement. Here are three nonverbal skills to adopt. Number one, open up. Because so many of us spend so much time at our desk, we don't realize that we may be conveying a closed posture or body language. For example, are you leaning your head on your hand while listening? This may convey lack of interest. Are your arms crossed in front of you? This can be perceived as confrontational or disagreeable. Are you slouching? This may be taken as lack of confidence as much as you're able try to maintain and convey an open body language. Sit up straight, don't lean and avoid crossing your arms. Number two, fix your face. I know sometimes we can't help it. The face gives it all away, right? But when it work, ensure your facial expressions align with your message. If you're the speaker, a smile can go a long way to convey warmth and approachability. While a neutral expression can be useful in serious discussions if you're the listener, subtle expressions like a slight nod can convey that you're actively listening. And number three, align your gestures with your words. Use hand gestures that compliment your words, such as pointing upward when you're talking about growth or pointing to an object to focus when appropriate. Walking from one side to the other can also be a nonverbal cue to indicate movement, to convey energy or to show that you're owning the space, or it can be used to keep the audience engaged. Think about how comedians use this when they go back and forth across the stage.