Posture and Movement Etiquette
You may know the rules of proper etiquette for verbal communication with others, but you should also know how to use your posture and movements to send the right nonverbal messages. Once you understand the particulars of posture and movement etiquette, you can tell others that you are confident, approachable, respectful or attentive just by the way you stand and move your head, limbs and the rest of your body.
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Definition
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Posture and movement etiquette means the way you use your stance and body to communicate nonverbally with others. When you are speaking to someone, you are also standing a certain way and possibly moving in significant ways. This might include standing tall vs. slouching, using your hands, swaying, fidgeting or any other type of movement. If you are using proper etiquette, you will stand in an appropriate way and refrain from distracting or disrespectful movements.
Consistency
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If you are not aware of your posture and movements, you may be saying one thing with your mouth while the rest of your body is sending a completely different message. This can confuse others who may misinterpret your intentions or what you are actually trying to communicate. They may even become suspicious if your body language conflicts strongly with your words. With good posture and movement etiquette, you can maintain consistency between your verbal and nonverbal "speech" to avoid confusion.
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Stance
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According to Lillian Biorseth of The Sideroad business website, posture is one of the first things another person will notice about you. Communicate confidence by standing tall and maintaining your space by keeping your feet about 8 inches apart, with one slightly in front of the other. Your stance can also indicate whether you are open to being approached. If you are talking to someone and want to remain approachable, Biorseth says to stand with your feet pointed outward rather than forming a rectangle with the other person, and make eye contact with others when they approach.
Movement
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Dummies.com recommends being careful not to move your hands too much when speaking. Hand movement is natural for some people, but it can be viewed as aggressive or intrusive by others. Body movement can also signal aggression if you step toward the other person, so be careful to maintain your space. Maintain eye contact without moving your eyes away or blinking excessively. Looking away can signal boredom or inattentiveness, and excessive blinking can make you appear nervous. Don't fidget, as this can also make the other person think you are bored or not listening. You can show your attention through appropriate head movements like nodding slightly in agreement or shaking your head slightly to subtly show disagreement or disapproval.
Space
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It is good etiquette to respect another person's space. Some people don't mind if you get close, but others are uncomfortable when you get into what they perceive as their personal space. Keep some distance when standing near another person to talk. Watch for any nonverbal cues that might indicate discomfort, and adjust your space accordingly.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Riccardo Bonuccelli
