Soft Skills Assignment Report on the Significance of Body Language

Submitted by: ARCHANA.K CHAITRA DAMINI DIVYA DEORA CHETHANA ELAINE ALMEIDA EVASHISHA T. KUSHBU DIANA RIBA

TABLE OF CONTENTS
S. No 1. 2. 3. 4. Title Introduction Objective of the Study Statement of the Problem Limitations of the Questionnaire 5. 6. Research Methodology Data Analysis and Interpretation 7. 8. 9. 10. Findings Suggestions Conclusion Annexure 64 65-66 67 68 30 31- 63 Page Number 4-25 26- 27 28 29 Prepared By

INTRODUCTION BODY LANGUAGE

Body language refers to forms of non-verbal communication, wherein a person reveals clues as to some unspoken intention or feeling through their physical behaviour. These behaviours can include body posture, gestures, facial expressions, and eye

movements. Although this article focuses on interpretations of human body language, animals also use body language as a communication mechanism. Body language is typically subconscious behaviour, and is therefore considered distinct from sign language, which is a fully conscious and intentional act of communication.

Body language may provide clues as to the attitude or state of mind of a person. For example, it may indicate aggression, attentiveness, boredom, relaxed

state, pleasure, amusement, and intoxication.

Body language is significant to communication and relationships. It is relevant to management and leadership in business and also in places where it can be observed by many people. It can also be relevant to some outside of the workplace. It is commonly helpful in dating, mating, in family settings, and parenting. Although body language is non-verbal or non-spoken, it can reveal a lot about your feelings and meaning to others and also how other others reveal their feelings toward you. Body language sigals happen on a conscious and unconscious level.

HOW TO READ BODY LANGUAGE

Noticing the signals that people send out with their body language is a very useful social skill. Some of us can read it naturally and some of us are notoriously oblivious. Fortunately, with a little extra attentiveness, you can learn to read body language, and with enough practice it'll become second nature.

Pay attention to how physically close someone is to you: The closer they are, the warmer they are thinking of you. If you move slightly closer to them, do they move slightly further away? That means they don't want your interaction to be any more personal than it already is. If they don't move further away, then they are receptive. And if they respond by getting even closer to you, they probably really like you or are very comfortable around/by you.

It is worth noting that personal space is culturally fluid; keep in mind that what is considered close in one country is far away in another.
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Watch their head position:

1. Overly tilted heads are either a potential sign of sympathy, or if a person smiles while tilting their head, they are being playful. 2. Lowered heads indicate a reason to hide something. Take note if someone lowers their head. If it is when he is complimented, he may be shy, ashamed, timid, keeping distance from the other person, in disbelief, or thinking to himself or herself. If it is after an explanation, then he may be unsure if what he said was correct, or could be reflecting. 3. It should be noted that some cultures see this as a sign of respect. 4. Cocked heads mean that they are confused or challenging you, depending on their eye, eyebrow, and mouth gestures. Think of how a dog slightly cocks its head when you make a funny noise.

Check their arms:

1. People with crossed arms are closing themselves to social influence. Though some people just cross their arms as a habit, it may indicate that the person is (slightly) reserved, uncomfortable with their appearance (self conscious and trying to cover it), or just trying to hide something on their shirt. If their arms are crossed while their feet are shoulder width or wider apart, this is a position of toughness or authority. 2. If they are rubbing their hands together or somehow touching their own body, they might be comforting themselves (which means they aren't enjoying the current situation). 3. If someone rests their arms behind their neck or head, they are open to what is being discussed or just laid back in general. 4. If their hands are on their hips, they might be waiting, impatient or just tired.

5. If their hands are closed or clenched, they may be irritated, angry, or nervous.

Be aware of nervous gestures:

1. If someone brushes their hair back with their fingers, this may be preening, a common gesture if the person likes you, or their thoughts about something conflict with yours. They might not voice this. If you see raised eyebrows during this time, you can be pretty sure that they disagree with you.

2. If the person wears glasses, and is constantly pushing them up onto their nose again, with a slight frown, that may also indicate they disagree with what you are saying. Look to make sure they push up their glasses with an intent, not casually adjusting them. Look for pushing on the rim with two fingers, or an extra motion of wiggling the side of their glasses. The frown or raised eyebrows should tip you off. (Note: A frown may also indicate eyestrain, and constant re-adjusting of glasses could be the result of an improper fit. The distinguishing feature is whether they are looking directly at you while doing it.)

3. Lowered eyebrows and squinted eyes illustrate an attempt at understanding what is being said or going on. It's usually skeptical. This is presuming they are not trying to observe something that's far away.

Watch their feet:

1. A fast tapping, shifting of weight, laughing, or movement of the foot will most often mean that the person is impatient, excited, nervous, scared, or intimidated. 2. The meaning of feet tapping can usually be discerned depending on the context; if you are currently talking and they are tapping their feet, that is an indication of a desire to leave (though usually this behavior manifests when the person is anxious to get somewhere specific, such as a meeting, rather than because of what you're doing specifically). Slow shuffling indicates boredom with the current situation. If during flirtation your legs/feet touch, tapping can generally be interpreted as nervous excitement. This is because if they

were uncomfortable, they would discreetly move away from the contact, a much more subtle escape than indirectly trying to tell you to move away. 3. Note though that some people with ADHD will constantly jiggle their legs. It doesn't mean anything, it's entirely subconscious and, while eccentric, it is difficult to stop. Some people also do it out of habit. 4. If the person is sitting, feet crossed at the ankles means they're generally at ease.

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Important Aspects of Body Language

Be Relaxed:

When you communicate with others, if you are relaxed and comfortable it shows in the way you move and conduct yourself. So even when you are stressed out or nervous, make sure that you do not move stiffly as it will give away your nervousness to the other person. By forcing yourself to appear relaxed you can make a better impression on the other person. Avoid, When in Doubt:

You need to avoid body language which can be misunderstood or might appear to be unprofessional to the other person. For instance some people have a habit of winking whenever they make a joke, which might be ok when you are sitting with your friends but can be interpreted as a negative signal in a professional set up. Make Eye Contact:

A steady and constant eye contact is a significant part of communication and without establishing eye contact you cannot make your point. Stay Focused:

Many people have a habit of fiddling around while they are talking as it helps them avoid being nervous but the fact is that appear to people as a sign of nervousness and not only does this distract their attention from hearing what you are saying but also makes a poor impression. Know what it Signifies:

Every part of the body can signify a different expression or thought while you are talking or listening, for instance nodding when someone else is talking means that you are in agreement with what he is saying, biting your nails is an indicative of nervousness. Look at the Speaker:

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Most people have a habit of looking somewhere else when someone is talking to them. This is a very bad habit as it indicates that you are not interested in what the other person is saying and is considered as arrogant behavior. Conclusion: You body language can help you a lot in communication as people observe your body language almost as much as they listen to what you are saying and the end result is that they believe your body language more than what you are saying. You can practice on your body language to make sure that you are sending the right message across

Understanding body language

The technique of "reading" people is used frequently. For example, the idea of mirroring body language to put people at ease is commonly used during interview situations. Body language can show feelings to other people, which works in return for other people. People who show their body language to you can reveal their feelings and meanings. Mirroring the body language of someone else indicates that they are understood. It is important to note that some markers of emotion (e.g. smiling/laughing when happy, frowning/crying when sad) are largely universal, however in the 1990s Paul Ekman expanded his list of basic emotions, including a range of positive and negative emotions, not all of which are encoded in facial muscles. The newly included emotions are: A study in body language. 1. Amusement 2. Contempt 3. Contentment 4. Embarrassment
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5. Excitement 6. Guilt 7. Pride in achievement 8. Relief 9. Satisfaction 10. Sensory pleasure 11. Shame Body language signals may have a goal other than communication. People would keep both these two in mind. Observers limit the weight they place on non-verbal cues. Signalers clarify their signals to indicate the biological origin of their actions. Verbal communication also requires body language to show that the person you are talking with that you are listening. These signals can consist of; eye contact and nodding your head to show you understand. More examples would include yawning (sleepiness), showing lack of interest (sexual interest/survival interest), attempts to change the topic (fight or flight drivers). Rudolf Laban and Warren Lamb add much to this about dancers. Mime artists such as Booff Show utilize these techniques to communicate entire shows without a single word.

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20 Body Language Facts

Scientists once said that body language accounts for 80% of the message we try to tell others and that what we actually say is only 20%. Body language definitely plays an important role in communication. Body language is used to convey things that we may not be fully aware of. We are not fully conscious of signals we give off to others through our body language and what others are trying to send off to us. Furthermore, body language means different things in different cultures or context. For example, direct eye contact is usually a sign of respect or interest, but in other cultures like Japan, eye contact is actually disrespect. Hence, when trying to read body language, pay careful consideration into the cultural and situational context. Here I have a list of 20 body language and what they generally mean in Western culture. Squinting - When people see what they dont like, feel threatened, or are unhappy, they squint their eyes.

Arched Eyebrows - When we raise our eyebrows, it means we are contemplating what were listening to and that were mildly intrigued. Direct Eye Contact - means were interested, were listening, and that were focused on you. It also conveys that we got nothing to hide.
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Blinking too much - means were nervous or anxious Hands the Church Steeple - fingertips touching, palms facing apart conveys were thinking and that were about to make a decision or move. Arms Akimbo - planting your hands with your thumps backward on your hips and elbows out in a V shape displays dominance or authority. Feet facing directly the other person - It shows that were focused on the other person. Crossed feet (Standing or sitting) - When we cross our feet standing or sitting down, it shows that were comfortable or relaxed, but sometimes also defensive. Shaking Your Head left and right - Means youre in disagreement or disbelief Shaking Your Head Up and Down (nodding) - means youre agreeing Thumb Sucking - means the person is stressed, relieving that, and/or thinking out of mind.

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Shaking Your Legs - means youre anxious, scared or impatient Leaning Forward - means youre interested in the other person and wan t to hear more of what they say. Smiling - one of the universal emotions mean youre happy, comfortable and approachable.

Tilting the head and smiling - means being playful. Lowered head - means youre ashamed of something, shy or have something to hide.

Looking to the side or elsewhere - means youre distracted or that youre submitting. Dilated Pupils - means youre interested.

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Eyes seemed far away - means theyre in deep thought or dosing off. Mirroring - Mirroring someones body language means theyre interested in you and trying to build rapport. Arms Crossed - reserved, uncomfortable or defensive. Or to display dominance or authority.

Hands on the hips - means theyre impatient or aggressive or tired.

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Negative Body Language

Negative body language is somewhat less reliable as an indicator of the person's comfort with the current conversation than positive body language. Actions that are generally considered negative may just be a matter of comfort for this person, may indicate that the person is tired, or may result from other matters that are weighing on this person's mind. Body tense - Stiffness, wrinkled brow, jerky body motion, hands clasped in front or palms down on the table. These can indicate concern with the topic or dealing with the other person. Arms folded in front- Creates a barrier; can express resistance to what is being said. Hand on face - A hand over one's mouth is a closed gesture. Leaning on one's elbow with the chin in the hand can communicate boredom. Fidgeting - Moving around a lot, playing with things and drumming fingers are usually a sign of boredom, nervousness or impatience. Arms behind head, leaning back - In a well-established relationship this can be a relaxed gesture. In a new relationship, it is often used to express a desire for control or power. Yawning - Boredom, confusion. The other person is talking too much or in too much technical detail. Impatience - Trying to interrupt what the other person is saying, opening one's mouth frequently as if to speak. Distraction Eyes flicking about, blank stares, flipping through literature without really reading it, looking at others in the office, looking at the person's body or clothing. Leaning away - Avoiding moving closer, even when something is handed to the person, is strongly negative.
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Negative facial expressions - These include shaking head, eyes narrowed, scowling ,frowning.

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Positive Body Language

Positive body language is generally quite reliable as an indicator of a person's feelings .It signals interest in the other person and in the conversation. Relaxed posture - Comfortably seated, relaxed breathing, no visible stiffness or abrupt movements. These indicate no major barriers to communication. Arms relaxed - Uncrossed arms and hands open (palms up or otherwise visible to the other person) are signs of openness. Good eye contact - Looking in the other person's eyes, particularly when they are speaking, indicates interest in that person. Proper eye contact involves looking away occasionally to avoid staring. Nodding agreement - When nods are used to punctuate key things the other person has said, they signal agreement, interest and understanding. However, continual unconscious bobbing of the head usually indicates that the listener is tuning out. Taking notes - Shows interest and involvement, particularly if notes are on what the other person is saying. Smiling/adding humour - This is a very positive sign. It signals a warm personal relationship. Leaning closer - Reducing the distance between two people, particularly when the other person is speaking. Indicates interest is up and barriers are down. Gesturing warmly - Talking with hands, particularly with palms open, indicates involvement in the conversation and openness to the other person. For all of these positive gestures, moderation is the rule. When they are exaggerated, they can become more negative than positive.

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Workplace Body Language

It's the place where we spend the most of our adult lives. Hundreds of people interact with each other on a daily basis. Welcome to the workplace. It's no wonder that body language plays a pivotal role here too. First impressions count in this case since in the first 30 seconds, most people have already formed an opinion of you. From the way you dress to the way you gesture while you pitch an idea, all these things factor into how someone thinks of you. Use these tips when you interact with co-workers, present a proposal, or even in an interview - and you'll find yourself having a more receptive audience. Good Body Language Relaxed hangs with open palms - This is often associated with sincerity and openness. Leaning forward slightly - This communicates interest in what others have to say. Make eye contact - If no eye contact is made, this can signal deception or suspiciousness. Also, be careful on your judgments if someone does not make eye contact with you. While to you it may seem suspicious, to them it could be a sign of respect or timidness as a result of different cultures

Sitting or standing upright with relaxed shoulders and arms - This is good assertive body language. While you are showing powerfulness through standing upright, you are showing you are open to ideas and suggestions with your relaxed posture.

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Mirror the body language of the other person - This shows that you are in tune with what the other person has to say and will make them feel at home and relaxed. Use discreetly though, otherwise you could seem to be making a mockery of them.

Respect the space of others- This will avoid nervous tension and allow a better atmosphere to communicate in. Just like there is positive body language for the workplace, there are also little things we do that affect other's negatively. It may be things we don't notice - like shrugging after presenting a proposal or fidgeting with a pen during an interview. The best thing to do is to videotape yourself and then watch the tape over and over to be able to tell when you are doing something that would annoy another person. Watch out for these things: Bad Body Language Tightly crossed arms- Defensive, uninterested Rolling on your heels- Insecure, childish Lazing about on a chair- Arrogant Shoulder shrugs- You don't believe in what has just been said, even if it was you who said it Playing with your hair- Inner build-up of anxiety Pulling your ear- Gives the impression that you're struggling to reach a decision Touching your face- Nervousness, sometimes dishonesty Stroking your neck- Stressed, can been misread as flirtatious
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Wringing your hands- Concern Fidgeting- Worry. This also draws attention away from you and reduces the impact of what you say. Foot tapping or pen drumming- Impatience, boredom Clenching your fists or chopping: Usually when presenting an idea. Be careful not to gesture to wildly or frequently, because it gives the impression of violence.

Importance of Body Language in Interviews When we speak, we are first seen and heard, and eventually understood. Thus, a simple swing of the foot, a simple movement of the head could express our thoughts more clearly that all the words of our beautiful language. A successful communication should enable a message to be understood 100% and it is far from being the case! A team of U.S. researchers has studied the language of every day. They wanted to assess the importance of all its components: meaning of words, intonations, gestures, attitudes, postures. Their results are quite surprising: the meaning of words account for only 7% in the understanding of the message. Intonation is 38%, and gestures for ... 55%! And if we can control without much difficulty what we say, it is much more difficult to pay attention to all mechanical movements that accompany our words. In fact, it is because the gestures are uncontrollable that they reveal us and others. The amplitude, the direction of your actions speaks for you. Gestures more oriented to the right are an indication of dedication, but also for bragging. Those oriented to the left indicate a tendency towards monopolization. Gestures directed towards the bottom are signs of impatience (the gesture of the impatient who taps the side of the table with his fingers, or the child who stomp foot). Oriented toward the chest, the gesture shows the disappointment, or protest. Forward, the gesture indicates self-confidence. It is the attitude of the speaker up to the podium,
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for example. If the action is limited to the hand, the explanation may be different: it is the act of begging. In either case, there is an attitude to attract attention to itself. Gestures rearward denote fear. The hands are "the privileged field of observation of the movement" (J. Berges - "Gestures and personality"). Thus, clenching fists is a sign of anger. Show the palms is a sign of submission.

The handshake is very telling, especially since it is the first gesture exchanged with an interlocutor. A frank handshake suggests that the subject itself is frank, open character. If the handshake is "moist", we can assume that our partner is not relaxed. It betrays his emotion ... or anxiety. A stiff handshake, of fingertips, is a sign of indifference, even contempt. However, we cannot judge a person on a single handshake. Take into account all other signs given by the body, in particular its stiffness, the inclination of the head, the look! Some gestures and their meanings The attitudes of the head are very revealing of your mindset. Head tilted forward is a sign of despondency, sadness, or shyness. It is the attitude of shame or concealment. Head tilted backwards indicates pride, the pride, the need to be seen. The lateral inclination of the head has different meanings depending on the expression of the face accompanying it. The shoulders are also good indications: the shrug demonstrates the willingness to unload a burden. It may also be a sign of impatience, or an attitude of total detachment. Push the neck to the shoulders is a sign of despondency. It is the attitude of the defeated character.

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OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

Human beings spend much of their working life observing the world in which they live. Perhaps it is evolutionary advantageous to seek to know as much about our environment as we can, or maybe as a species, we are just curious! Either way, observing the world is something with which all of are familiar. The reason we have chosen body language as our topic for this study is because, when it comes to communication, we put a lot of emphasis on speech and written communication but we often fail to realize that body language is one of the most important means of communication which tells more about us than the way we speak or write emails. Body language can send a lot stronger signals than words or written text. Since the body language is primarily controlled by the subconscious mind of every individual, so it can actually reveal if theres difference in what you are saying and what you are actually thinking. However, like everything else you can control you body language and practice it to make sure that your words are in accordance with the body language at all times. The objectives of our study are: Body language during an interview: As students pursuing a Bachelors degree in a reputed college, our basic need is to find a job in todays competitive world. However, most of us pay attention only to our education forgetting the fact that education not only means possessing a degree with high marks but also knowing how to talk, debate and present ourselves confidently. Our objective here to is to know how much students in college know about body language and/or signals during interviews. Inter-Cultural body language: For people that travel quite a bit or live in a multi-cultural community, understanding body language and gestures from other countries and cultures can be very important. Without that knowledge, unintentional miscommunication is possible. Most of the
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students today want to go abroad, travel the world and se different cultures, however, most people do not know the different gestures and body language people around the world follow. Our objective here is to test how many students know the acceptable code of conduct in various countries. Feminine body language: From time unmemorable, people have always complained about the fact that they never understand women and the hidden signals and gestures women have. Our objective here is to check how much these women know about themselves. The best place to do this is defiantly Mount Carmel College, where we have checked if the girls have been able to crack the code to their own behavior! Our objective is not only to know how much college students know about body language and gestures but, also to make sure something is done about their lack of knowledge. This led to our second main objective: To show the need for introduction of soft skills in high school and pre- university If young children are thought at a young age the need, importance and advantages of body language and gestures, it will not only result in their brighter future but eventually, it will lead to a better tomorrow.

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STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Communication plays a very important role in professional life, personal life and social life. We all need to make sure that we have learned all the aspects of proper communication so that we can progress in our careers. When it comes to communication, we put a lot of emphasis on speech and written communication but we often fail to realize that body language is one of the most important means of communication which tells more about us than the way we speak or write emails. Body language can send a lot stronger signals than words or written text. Since the body language is primarily controlled by the subconscious mind of every individual, so it can actually reveal if theres difference in what you are saying and what you are actually thinking. However, like everything else you can control you body language and practice it to make sure that your words are in accordance with the body language at all times. You need to make sure that you know which gestures you need to avoid while talking to someone and what kind of gestures can make you appear more positive and confident. You can also learn to show your disappointment and disapproval with your body language rather than expressing yourself in words. Our emotions, feelings, motives, and thoughts are expressed by the changes in our facial expressions, gestures, posture and body position. Psychologists believe nonverbal communication reveals more than the words we speak. Therefore, body language is very important. Todays generation seems to be very far away from the positive or the right body language and perhaps doesnt even know its importance. As said earlier right body language can be exhibited through considerable practice, therefore some points should be kept in mind to portray a positive body language. Do not turn away from the audience, do not rush, do not roll your eyes, do not look messy, do not clasp your hands, etc. Most importantly to exhibit the right body language one needs to be a good listener.

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LIMITATIONS OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE

1. Time Constraint - Due to the time constraint during which the study was conducted, the information provided by the respondents may not be completely accurate. Thus there can be variations in the results. 2. Fewer number of respondents - The number of respondents to the questionnaires and the data analyzed is done for only 50 people. In the case of more respondents, the results would vary. 3. No assurance that the information provided is accurate - It's natural to assume that the respondent is the same person you sent the questionnaire to. This may not actually be the case. Many times questionnaires get handed to other people for completion; mothers could have responded for their children, some would have responded as a prank. For a variety of reasons, the respondent may not be who you think it is. It is a confounding error inherent in questionnaires. 4. Own interpretation - People may read differently into each question and therefore reply based on their own interpretation of the question - i.e. what is 'good' to someone may be 'poor' to someone else, therefore there is a level of subjectivity that is not acknowledged 5. Responses can change due to various external factors like climate, physical wellbeing etc

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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY QUESTIONNAIRES

A Questionnaire is a document containing all the questions, closed and open-ended, for a survey. Normally, a separate questionnaire is used for each respondent to a survey, providing enough space for answers to be recorded, and subsequently coded for analysis of all replies to each question. Questionnaires range from: The postcard, with a few questions to be filled in by respondents to Long documents to be filled in by trained interviewers.

Good questionnaires require a great deal of care and effort, to ensure that The questions are clear and easy to answer, To exclude leading questions unless by conscious design, To prompt and probe respondents' recollections of events that may not always be very recent and, To shape the interview overall so that it is a pleasant and interesting experience for respondents. The three questionnaires adopted by us are postcard questionnaires as our targeted group is college students and not trained interviewers. We have chosen the method of data collection for this research as it best suits our needs to achieve the objectives of research. We have observed the respondents on various criteria of body language by passing around three different questionnaires to 50 respondents to collect accurate data to the best possible extent on the following: 1. Inter-cultural body language 2. Body language at and/or during interviews 3. Feminine body language
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DATA ANALYSIS OF CULTURAL BODY LANGUAGE

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Table 1- Is thumps up sign an insult in Bangladesh? PARTICULARS Correct Answer Wrong Answer Not Known NO. OF RESPONDENTS 6 2 2 PERCENTAGE 60% 20% 20%

Pie Chart:1

Is thumps up sign an insult in Bangaladesh?

20% correct answer 20% 60% Wrong Answer Not Known

INTERPRETATION: 60% of the respondent have given the correct answer 20% of the respondent have given the wrong answer 20% of the respondent do not know the answer ANALYSIS: From the above pie chart, most of the people know the correct answer whereas a few are either wrong or unaware.

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Table 2- Is shaking Saudi Arabian womens hand accepted? PARTICULARS Correct Answer Wrong Answer Not Known NO. OF RESPONDENTS 10 0 0 PERCENTAGE 100% 0% 0%

Pie Chart:2

Is shaking Saudi Arabian womens hand accepted?

correct answer Wrong Answer 100% Not Known

INTERPRETATION: 100% of the respondent have given the correct answer 0% of the respondent have given the wrong answer 0% of the respondent do not know the answer ANALYSIS: From the above pie chart, all of the respondents know the correct answer.

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Table 3- In what countries is the A-Ok gesture considered being an affront, equivalent to using the middle finger? PARTICULARS Correct Answer Wrong Answer Not Known NO. OF RESPONDENTS 4 2 4 PERCENTAGE 40% 20% 40%

Pie Chart:3

In what countries is the A-Ok gesture considered to be an affront, equivalent to using the middle finger?

40%

40% correct answer Wrong Answer 20% Not Known

INTERPRETATION: 40% of the respondent have given the correct answer 20% of the respondent have given the wrong answer 40% of the respondent do not know the answer ANALYSIS: From the above pie chart, equal number either know the right answer or the answer is not known to them and a few have answered it wrong.
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Table 4- In Middle East, is pointing someone with the index finger offensive? PARTICULARS Correct Answer Wrong Answer Not Known NO. OF RESPONDENTS 9 0 1 PERCENTAGE 90% 0% 10%

Pie Chart:4

In Middle East, is pointing someone with the index finger offensive?

0%

10% correct answer Wrong Answer 90% Not Known

INTERPRETATION: 90% of the respondent have given the correct answer 0% of the respondent have given the wrong answer 10% of the respondent do not know the answer ANALYSIS: From the above pie chart, most of the people knows the correct answer and a few are unaware of it.

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Table 5- In Europe, the V sign can be changed from meaning victory to meaning shove it by simply doing what? PARTICULARS Correct Answer Wrong Answer Not Known Pie Chart: 5 NO. OF RESPONDENTS 5 1 4 PERCENTAGE 50% 10% 40%

In Europe, the V sign can be changed from meaning victory to meaning shove it by simply doing what?

40% 50% correct answer Wrong Answer 10% Not Known

INTERPRETATION: 50% of the respondent have given the correct answer 10% of the respondent have given the wrong answer 40% of the respondent do not know the answer

ANALYSIS: From the above pie chart, most of the people know the correct answer and an almost an equal number and unaware and a few have given the wrong answer.

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Table 6- Is a smile always means the person is happy? PARTICULARS Correct Answer Wrong Answer Not Known NO. OF RESPONDENTS 6 2 2 60% 20% 20% PERCENTAGE

Pie Chart:6

Is a smile always means the person is happy?

20% correct answer 20% 60% Wrong Answer Not Known

INTERPRETATION: 60% of the respondent have given the correct answer 20% of the respondent have given the wrong answer 20% of the respondent do not know the answer ANALYSIS: From the above pie chart, most of the people knows the correct answer and an equal number either have given the wrong answer or it is unknown to them.
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Table 7- In what countries do nodding the head up and down mean no? PARTICULARS Correct Answer Wrong Answer Not Known NO. OF RESPONDENTS 5 2 3 PERCENTAGE 50% 20% 30%

Pie Chart:7

In what countries does nodding the head up and down mean no?

30% 50% correct answer Wrong Answer 20% Not Known

INTERPRETATION: 50% of the respondent have given the correct answer 20% of the respondent have given the wrong answer 30% of the respondent do not know the answer ANALYSIS: From the above pie chart, most of the people know the correct answer but another substantial portion either have given the wrong answer or the answer is unknown to them.
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Table 8- In what culture is it considered offensive to touch the top of ones head? PARTICULARS Correct Answer Wrong Answer Not Known Pie Chart:8 NO. OF RESPONDENTS 3 4 3 PERCENTAGE 30% 40% 30%

In what culture is it considered offensive to touch the top of ones head?

30%

30% correct answer Wrong Answer 40% Not Known

INTERPRETATION: 30% of the respondent have given the correct answer 40% of the respondent have given the wrong answer 30% of the respondent do not know the answer ANALYSIS: From the above pie chart, most of the people have given the wrong answer. Whereas a few have given the right answer and a few are unaware.

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Table 9- In Asian countries, what does it mean when placing the hand up with palm towards someone? PARTICULARS Correct Answer Wrong Answer Not Known NO. OF PARAMETERS 4 2 4 PERCENTAGE 40% 20% 40%

Pie Chart: 9

In Asian countries, what does it mean when placing the hand up with palm towards someone?

40%

40% correct answer Wrong Answer 20% Not Known

INTERPRETATION: 40% of the respondent have given the correct answer 20% of the respondent have given the wrong answer 40% of the respondent do not know the answer ANALYSIS: From the above pie chart,40% know the correct answer and 60% dont know the answer or have given the wrong answer.
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Table 10- Is putting hands on hips a sign of confidence? PARTICULARS Correct Answer Wrong Answer Not Known NO. OF RESPONDENTS 7 2 1 PERCENTAGE 70% 20% 10%

Pie Chart: 10

Is putting hands on hips a sign of confidence?

10% 20% correct answer 70% Wrong Answer Not Known

INTERPRETATION: 70% of the respondent have given the correct answer 20% of the respondent have given the wrong answer 10% of the respondent do not know the answer ANALYSIS: From the above pie chart, most of the people know the correct answer. However a few either are unaware or have given the wrong answer.
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Table 11- In which countries is it consider eye contact to be offensive? PARTICULARS Correct Answer Wrong Answer Not Known NO. RESPONDENTS 3 6 1 PERCENTAGE 30% 60% 10%

Pie Chart: 11

In which countries is it consider eye contact to be offensive?

10%

30% correct answer Wrong Answer

60%

Not Known

INTERPRETATION: 30% of the respondent have given the correct answer 60% of the respondent have given the wrong answer 10% of the respondent do not know the answer ANALYSIS: From the above pie chart, most of the people have given the wrong answer. A few have however given the right answer.
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Table 12- Which country requires the most amount of personal space? PARTICULARS Correct Answer Wrong Answer Not Known NO. OF RESPONDENTS 7 0 3 PERCENTAGE 70% 0% 30%

Pie Chart: 12

Which country requires the most amount of personal space?

30% correct answer 70% 0% Wrong Answer Not Known

INTERPRETATION: 70% of the respondent have given the correct answer 0% of the respondent have given the wrong answer 30% of the respondent do not know the answer ANALYSIS: From the above pie chart, most of the people knows the correct answer. A few are unaware of the answer.

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Table 13- Which country showing the feet is unclean and showing the heels is insulting? PARTICULARS Correct Answer Wrong Answer Not Known NO. OF RESPONDENTS 4 6 0 PERCENTAGE 40% 60% 0%

Pie Chart: 13

Which country showing the feet is unclean and showing the heels is insulting?
0% 40% correct answer 60% Wrong Answer Not Known

INTERPRETATION: 40% of the respondent have given the correct answer 60% of the respondent have given the wrong answer 0% of the respondent do not know the answer ANALYSIS: From the above pie chart, most of the people have given the wrong answer and a few have given the right answer.
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Table 14- In what country is slouching considered being rude? PARTICULARS Correct Answer Wrong Answer Not Known NO. OF RESPONDENTS 1 6 3 PERCENTAGE 10% 60% 30%

Pie Chart: 14

In what country is slouching considered being rude?

10% correct answer Wrong Answer 60% Not Known

30%

INTERPRETATION: 10% of the respondent have given the correct answer 60% of the respondent have given the wrong answer 30% of the respondent do not know the answer

ANALYSIS: From the above pie chart, most of the people have given the wrong answer and a few are unaware.
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Table 1- When a student being interviewed for the job in which position did she moved? PARTICULARS Correct Answer Wrong Answer Not Known NO. OF PARAMETERS 11 9 o PERCENTAGE 55% 45% 0%

Pie Chart 1 When a student being interviewed for the job in which position did she moved?
0%

45% Correct answer 55% Wrong answer Not known

INTERPRETATION: 55% of the respondent have given the correct answer 45% of the respondent have given the wrong answer 0% of the respondent do not know the answer ANALYSIS: From the above pie chart, most of the people know the correct answer and less than half have given the wrong answer.

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Table 2- What is the most important piece of research showed when people meet for the first time? PARTICULARS Correct Answer Wrong Answer Not Known NO. OF PARAMETERS 15 5 o PERCENTAGE 75% 25% 0%

Pie Chart 2
What is the most important piece of research showed when people meet for the first time?
0% 25% Correct answer Wrong answer 75% Not known

INTERPRETATION: 75% of the respondent have given the correct answer 25% of the respondent have given the wrong answer 0% of the respondent do not know the answer ANALYSIS: From the above pie chart, most of the people know the correct answer and onefourth do not know the right answer.

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Table 3- What is the non-verbal behaviors which shows statistically significant correlation with job interview success? PARTICULARS Correct Answer Wrong Answer Not Known NO. OF PARAMETERS 9 11 0 PERCENTAGE 45% 55% 0%

Pie Chart 3

What is the non-verbal behaviors which shows statistically significant correlation with job interview success?
0%

45% Correct answer 55% Wrong answer Not known

INTERPRETATION: 45% of the respondent have given the correct answer 55% of the respondent have given the wrong answer 0% of the respondent do not know the answer ANALYSIS: From the above pie chart, most of the people have given the wrong answer and less than half have given the right answer.
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Table 4- Which is the statement which are likely to be true about the two people? PARTICULARS Correct Answer Wrong Answer Not Known NO. OF PARAMETERS 14 5 1 PERCENTAGE 70% 25% 5%

Pie Chart 4
Which is the statement which are likely to be true about the two people?

5% 25% Correct answer 70% Wrong answer Not known

INTERPRETATION: 70% of the respondent have given the correct answer 25% of the respondent have given the wrong answer 5% of the respondent do not know the answer ANALYSIS: From the above pie chart, most of the people know the correct answer and one fourth have given the wrong answer and a small portion do not know the answer.

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Table 5- Which of the interviews are to be more formal based on the positions of the desk and chairs? PARTICULARS Correct Answer Wrong Answer Not Known NO. OF PARAMETERS 9 11 o PERCENTAGE 45% 55% 0%

Pie Chart 5

Chart Title
0%

45% Correct answer 55% Wrong answer Not known

INTERPRETATION: 45% of the respondent have given the correct answer 55% of the respondent have given the wrong answer 0% of the respondent do not know the answer ANALYSIS: From the above pie chart, most of the people have given the wrong answer and less than half have given the correct answer.

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Table 6- What happens when you end up one day at a little out of the way Greek village where nobody speaks English? PARTICULARS Correct Answer Wrong Answer Not Known NO. OF PARAMETERS 7 13 0 PERCENTAGE 35% 65% 0%

Pie Chart 6
What happens when you end up one day at a little out of the way Greek village where nobody speaks English?
0% 35% Correct answer 65% Wrong answer Not known

INTERPRETATION: 35% of the respondent have given the correct answer 65% of the respondent have given the wrong answer 0% of the respondent do not know the answer ANALYSIS: From the above pie chart, most of the people have given the wrong answer.

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Table 1- Holding and playing with your pen when you speak is? Particulars Correct answer Wrong answer Not known Number of Respondents 3 16 1 Percentage (%) 15 80 5

Pie Chart 1

5%

15%

correct answer wrong answer not known

80%

INTERPRETATION: 15% of respondent have given the correct answer 80% of respondent have given the wrong answer 5% of respondent do not know the answer

ANALYSIS: From the above pie chart we can conclude that most of the respondents do not know the correct answer, only a few have given the correct answer.

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Table 2- When you rest your forearms flat on the table, its a sign that youre: Particulars Correct answer Wrong answer Not known Number of respondents 13 7 o Percentage (%) 65 35 o

Pie Chart 2
0

35% correct answer wrong answer not known 65%

INTERPRETATION: 65% of respondents have given the correct answer 35% of respondents have given the wrong answer

ANALYSIS: From the above pie chart most of the respondents have given the right answer and some have given the wrong.
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Table 3- Leaning on your elbows on the table, this position is best avoided when trying to flirt with guy: Particulars Correct answer Wrong answer Not known Number of respondents 13 6 1 Percentage (%) 65 30 5

Pie Chart 3

5%

30%

correct answer wrong answer not known 65%

INTERPRETATION: 65% of respondents have given the correct answer 30% of respondents have given the wrong answer 5% of respondents do not know the answer

ANALYSIS: From the above pie chart we can conclude that most of the respondents have given correct answer, some have given the wrong answer and a few do not know the answer.

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Table 4- sitting with your feet hooked around chair legs, you sit like this because you feel: Particulars Correct answer Wrong answer Not known Number of respondents 9 9 2 Percentage (%) 45 45 10

0%

15% 17% correct answer wrong answer not known

Interpretation: 45% of respondents have given the correct answer 45% of respondents have given the wrong answer 2% of respondents do not know the answer

Analysis: From the above pie chart we can conclude that the correct and wrong answers given by the respondents are equal in numbers and a few do not know the answer.

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Table 5- Crossing your arms if you stand like this, youre showing the person youre speaking to that youre: Particulars Correct answer Wrong answer Not known Number of respondents 3 17 0 Percentage (%) 15 85 0

0% 15%

correct answer wrong answer not known 85%

INTERPRETATION: 15% of respondents have given the correct answer 85% of respondents have given the wrong answer

ANALYSIS: From above pie chart we can conclude that most of the respondents have given the wrong answer. Only a few percentages of respondents have given the correct answer.

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Table 6- Covering your mouth with your thumb and forefinger: Why is it a bad sign when the person youre speaking to adopts this position? Particulars Correct answer Wrong answer Not known Number of respondents 6 14 0 Percentage (%) 30 70 0

0% 30%

correct answer wrong answer 70% not known

INTERPRETATION: 30% of respondents have given the correct answer 70% of respondents have given the wrong answer

ANALYSIS: From the above pie chart we can conclude that most of the respondents know the answer and a few of them do not know the answer.

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Table 7- A woman who strokes her neck is: Particulars Correct answer Wrong answer Not known Number of respondents 8 12 0 Percentage (%) 40 60 0

0%

40% correct answer 60% wrong answer not known

INTERPRETATION: 40% of respondents have given the correct answer 60% of respondents have given the wrong answer

ANALYSIS: From the above pie chart we can conclude that a majority have given the wrong answer and some have given the correct answer.

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Table 8- Brushing your hair back behind your ears, constantly brushing your hair back behind your ears reveals that youre: Particulars Correct answer Wrong answer Not known Number of respondents 3 17 0 Percentage (%) 15 85 0

Sales
0% 15%

correct answer wrong answer not known 85%

INTERPRETATION: 15% of respondents have given the correct answer 85% of respondents have given the wrong answer

ANALYSIS: From the above pie chart, most of the respondents have given the wrong answer and a few have given the correct answer.

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Table 9- Playing with your hair, why shouldnt you play with your hair when youre among friends? Particulars Correct answer Wrong answer Not known Number of respondents 2 18 0 Percentage (%) 10 90 0

0% 10%

correct answer wrong answer not known 90%

INTERPRETATION: 10% of respondents have given the correct answer 90% of respondents have given the wrong answer

ANALYSIS: From the above pie chart, majority of respondents have given the wrong answers. A very few of them have given the correct answer

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Table 10- Standing with your feet in this position is a sign of: Particulars Correct answer Wrong answer Not known Number of respondents 2 18 0 Percentage (%) 10 90 0

0% 10%

correct answer wrong answer not known 90%

INTERPRETATION: 10% of respondents have given the correct answer 90% of respondents have given the wrong answer

ANALYSIS: From the above pie chart, majority don not know the answer and a few have given the correct answer.

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Table 11- Interlocking your fingers and raising your thumbs: Particulars Correct answer Wrong answer Not known Number of respondents 7 13 0 Percentage (%) 35 65 0

0%

35% correct answer 65% wrong answer not known

INTERPRETATION: 35% of respondents have given the correct answer 65% of respondents have given the wrong answer

ANALYSIS: From the above pie chart, majority of respondents do not know the answer and some know the answer.

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Table 12- Sitting on your hands: Particulars Correct answer Wrong answer Not known Number of respondents 7 13 0 Percentage (%) 35 65 0

0%

35% correct answer 65% wrong answer not known

INTERPRETATION: 35% of respondents have given the correct answer 65% of respondents have given the wrong answer

ANALYSIS: From the above pie chart, majority of respondents have given the wrong answer and some number have given the correct answer

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FINDINGS
Interview questionnaire findings 54% have given the correct answer 45% have given the wrong answer And 1% did not know the answer Feminine habits questionnaire findings 32 % have given the right answer 58 % have given the wrong answer 10% dont know the answer Culture questionnaire findings 53% have given the right answer 25% have given the wrong answer 22% dont know the answers

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SUGGESTIONS
In schools it is very important that the students are thought how their body language should be maintained; workshops or classes should be held for the students to realize its importance. They should inculcate the habit of reading articles, newspaper columns, books related to body language and articles on internet. Knowing more about body language will also help them to understand the other persons state of mind .For example, if a person has crossed his legs it means he is in state of defense. Even the editorial of newspaper could be requested to put a daily column in the newspaper on body language so that the people could read it in their leisure time. At workplace after appointment, the employees must also be trained and developed in body language and not only about their work so as it helps them to move well with their national or international clients. There can also be training institutes which would train the people on body language. The other aspects could be that the teachers would be trained on body language so that they can train the students in schools and colleges. Some Body Language Tips Be natural. Even if you were to succeed in controlling your body language "by the book," you would look fake. While there are certain aspects of body language that can be improved upon to create a more effective message, you still need to act like yourself and not be robotic. Identify your body language patterns. Make a conscious effort to think about what your body is doing in different interactions with different people. A mirror can be useful to examine facial expressions and posture, but mainly you just want to pay attention to what your body does when you're angry, nervous, or happy. Emphasize a point. Have more than one gesture. This will help you better get your message across. If you want to make sure you're not misunderstood, repeat both gestures when you speak the idea aloud. If the listener doesn't pick up on one gesture, he or she will likely be familiar with the other. You don't have to use a body language gesture (or two) for every word, but it's a good idea to have a toolbox of gestures you can use to reinforce very important, yet easily misinterpreted concepts. Use hand gestures carefully. Be conscious of what your hands are saying as you speak. Some hand gestures can be very effective in highlighting your points
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(open gestures), while others can be distracting or even offensive to some listeners, and can lead to the conversation or listening being closed down (closed gestures). It also helps to watch other people's hand gestures to see how they come across to you. Recognize people. Sure, you don't necessarily know the people in your audience or that new friend in your group, but they're nodding along with you and looking knowingly at you all the same. This means that they are connecting with you. So reward them with your acknowledgment. Use facial expressions consciously. Aim to reflect passion and generate empathy with the listener by using soft, gentle, and aware facial expressions. As much as possible, except when culture dictates, avoid negative facial expressions, such as frowns or raised eyebrows. Identify cultural norms. If you have recently entered a new culture, you may need to adjust your body language. Cultural norms regarding body language (i.e. how far away you should stand from someone, how much eye contact you should make, and what gestures are considered taboo), vary considerably and if you don't speak the same body language as the locals, you're liable to be misunderstood a great deal. This can even sometimes be met with very serious implications.

Say what you mean. For most people, body language that effectively reinforces the speaker's intent comes naturally when they mean what they say. The problem, of course, is that we don't always say what we mean. If you're trying to lie convincingly, for example, you'll probably have to alter your body language to prevent it from arousing suspicion. It's often easier to just say what you feel. Observe your own expressions Use your body language to help you understand how you feel. If you're not quite sure how you feel about something or someone, pay attention to what your body is saying. Other people will be able to read your body language to help uncover what you're feeling, so you should be able to read your body language better than anyone else can. Using body language effectively means not only communicating with others, but also learning more about you.

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CONCLUSION
We all have heard the phrases, Strong presence, Dressed to kill or hawks vigil and so on. All these terms describe the impression of an individual which he passes on in a subtle manner without verbal communication. Actually, it is a general observation that a man of few words makes the most impactful impression. So, what speaks louder than words? It is his body language which makes the first and lasting impression despite of less verbal communication. In reality, body language alone can make or break the impression you leave on others. Given that humans are so adept at reading people based on body language and other nonverbal cues, it is imperative that individuals pay attention to such gestures as they communicate with others so as not to inadvertently offend, discourage or confuse those with whom they interact. When its your turn to listen to someone else speak, it is ke y that you make eye-contact, direct your towards the speaker and offer facial feedback that illustrates that youre listening attentively. Do this whenever you interact with others, and youll find that your communications on the whole will be more engaged , productive and worthwhile!

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Questionnaire
Dear Sir/Madam, We, the students of Second year B.Com(II) are conducting a research on Significance of Body Language and request you to kindly spend a few minutes in filling the following questionnaire. We assure you confidentiality of the information provided. Name: Gender: Age: Phone Number:

1. In Bangladesh, is the thumb up sign a signal of something good or an insult?

2. Shaking hands is an accepted form of greeting in America and Britain, but should one shake a Saudi Arabian womans hand upon meeting her? Why?

3. In what countries is the A-Ok gesture considered to be an affront, equivalent to using the middle finger?

4. Is it offensive in the Middle East to point at someone with the index finger as if to call them to come to over?

5. In Europe, the V sign can be changed from meaning victory to meaning shove it by simply doing what?

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6. A smile always means the person is happy, right?

7. In what countries does nodding the head up and down mean no?

8. In what culture is it considered offensive to touch the top of ones head?

9. In American and Britain, when place the hand up with palm towards someone means stop. What does it mean in Asian cultures?

10. Is putting hands on hips a sign of confidence?

11. What countries consider eye contact to be offensive?

12. What countries require the most amount of personal space?

13. In what countries are the feet considered unclean and showing the heels considered insulting?

14. In what countries is slouching considered to be rude?

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Questionnaire
Dear Madam, We, the students of Second year B.Com(II) are conducting a research on Significance of Body Language and request you to kindly spend a few minutes in filling the following questionnaire. We assure you the confidentiality of the information provided. Name: Gender: Age: Phone Number: Address:

Holding and playing with your pen when you speak is: A way of lending weight to what you're saying A barrier against any objections to what you're saying A sign of aggression

When you rest your forearms flat on the table, it's a sign that you're: Prepared to take things on Dreamy Suspicious

Leaning on your elbows on the table, this position is best avoided when trying to flirt with a guy. True False

Sitting with your feet hooked around chair legs, You sit like this because you feel: Threatened Looked down upon Treated like a child

Crossing your arms if you stand like this, you're showing the person you're speaking to that you're: Not open to discussion Vulnerable In a bad mood

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Covering your mouth with your thumb and forefinger Why is it a bad sign when the person you're speaking to adopts this position? Its a sign they don't trust you It means they're being dishonest It shows that you're boring them

A woman who strokes her neck is:

Expressing her need for tenderness Having a think before committing herself Indicating that she won't be made a fool of

Brushing your hair back behind your ears, Constantly brushing your hair back behind your ears reveals that you're: An opportunist A tease Indecisive Playing with your hair, why shouldn't you play with your hair when you're among friends? It creates a barrier between you and your friends It shows your friends that they're boring you Its a sign that you're uncomfortable

Standing with your feet in this position is a sign of: Impatience Nonchalance Romantic interest in someone Interlocking your fingers and raising your thumbs If you repeat this gesture with your hands while you're talking, it suggests you're: Fake Tormented Spoilt Sitting on your hands: A lack of maturity Shyness A passive attitude

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Questionnaire
Dear Madam, We, the students of Second year B.Com (II) are conducting a research on Significance of Body Language and request you to kindly spend a few minutes in filling the following questionnaire. We assure you the confidentiality of the information provided.
Name: Gender: Age: Phone Number: Address: 1. In a job interview, a student being interviewed in posture A suddenly moved to sitting straight in the chair Give a possible explanation. A. The interviewee feels defensive B. The interviewee feels cold C. The interviewee is becoming more relaxed

2. A piece of research showed that when people meet for the first time, there are three important factors. These are given below. W hich is the most important? A. Content - what they say. B. How they sound (tone of voice - accent, pitch, variation and tempo of speech). C. Body Language. 3. Another piece of research found that certain non -verbal behaviours (e.g. not including dress and appearance) showed a statistically significant correlation with job interview success. Name ONE of thes e behaviours from the list below A. Firm handshake B. Regular eye contact

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C. Sitting up straight D. Smiling E. Head nodding F. Loud voice 4. W hich of the following statements are likely to be true about the two people here? A. They are of similar status. They agree with each others views. B. They are of different status. They disagree with each other.

5. Based on the positions of the desk and chairs as you enter the room, which of these two interviews are likely to be the more formal? A. B.

6. W hilst on holiday in Greece, you end up one day at a little out of the way Greek village where nobody speaks English. You decide to study job opportunities at the local taverna with your 4 companions and try to order a round of 5 drinks signing with your hands. W hat happens next? A. You are treated like a long-lost relative B. You wake up in hospital with 2 black eyes, and a bruised ego.

Thank you for your cooperation and time!

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Answers to the Questionnaire

Cultural Body Language 1. It is considered to be insulting. The thumbs up gesture is also considered rude in Nigeria and Sydney, Australia. 2. No, the touching of a Saudi Arabian womans hand by anyone other than her husband is against the Sharia Laws and considered immoral. 3. The A-Ok gesture is considered offensive in Brazil and most Latin American countries, Germany, and Austria. In France it means zero and in Japan it means money. 4. Yes. It is also considered an insult to do this in Portugal, Spain, Latin America, Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Hong Kong. If the index finger must be used to call someone, make sure the palm is down as that is more acceptable. 5. By turning the palm toward oneself. Palm out means victory, palm in means shove it. 6. Not always. The Japanese often smile when they are confused, angry, or even embarrassed. 7. Bulgaria and Greece. 8. In Asian cultures, particularly Southeast Asia. This is because it is believed that a persons soul or spirit resides there. 9. It means to ask permission to speak. 10. It is in American and Britain, however, in some Asian countries is it seen as a sign of arrogance. In Mexico, it is seen as a sign of hostility. Putting ones hands in the pockets in Indonesia is considered rude. 11. In most Western cultures, eye contact is considered a good thing, but in Japan, Latin American countries, and the Caribbean, direct eye contact is considered disrespectful. 12. Americans definitely like their personal space, but Germans and Japanese require even more. Personal space it not as important to those

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from China, France, Latin American countries, and Saudi Arabia. 13. Middle Eastern countries, China, Japan, Russia, Taiwan, and Korea consider the feet to be dirty and the heels of the feet should never be shown to another. 14. Germany, Sweden, and China consider slouching to not only be rude, but also a sign of poor manners.

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Interview Questionnaire Answers

1. The posture with arms and legs crossed (POSTURE B) is called a CLOSED posture. It usually signifies a defensive or negative attitude, but beware of misinterpretation - the person may just be cold or just not have pockets! The other posture with arms and legs uncrossed (POSTURE A) is called an OPEN posture and usually suggests a more relaxed, open attitude.

2. Research by Albert Mehrabian suggested that body language was the most important, followed by how you sound, with what is actually said being the least important! Mehrabian now says that this only applies when a person is talking about their likes and dislikes "unless a communicator is talking about their feelings or attitudes, these equations are not applicable" . Even so, it's still a salutary lesson that we shouldn't just focus on a person's words. 3. Although all of these (except perhaps a loud voice) probably do contribute towards a good impression at interview, the three that had a statistically significant correlation were found to be eye contact, smiling, and surprisingly nodding your head! To complicate matters further, some recent research found that head nodding was seen as positive in women, but not in men, whereas too much eye contact was seen as negative in women candidates! (see panel to the right). Karl Grammer of the University of Vienna found that women show interest in a man by regular eye contact, toying with their hair, tidying their clothes, and regular head nodding. He also found they make the same signals in the first minute of meeting a man whether they like him or not. Such flirting only shows real interest if it continues longer than four minutes. Grammer suggests women use the signals to keep the man's interest until they have

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decided he is worthwhile getting to know better. We find people who look directly at us more likeable and more attractive. This is especially true if they are smiling. However staring at the interviewer all the time could be perceived as hostile! Having a deep voice may also pay benefits at interview. Researchers at Duke University found that voters are more likely to pick candidates with a deeper voice whether the speaker was male or female. They made recordings of both male and female speakers and then altered the pitch of their subjects' voices and found that listeners "voted" more frequently for the "candidate" with the lower voice. Women with lower voices were perceived to be stronger, more trustworthy and competent. A lower tone gave male candidates a distinct advantage on the corporate ladder with a 22.1 MHz pitch decrease equalling an annual compensation increase of $187,000! A US study found that students with a higher body mass index were less likely to be offered a place at graduate school. The study found evidence of a link in people's minds between BMI and lack of academic ability. This association is of course completely false but is is another example of the well known finding that people who are deemed to be physically attractive are perceived to have positive qualities. 4. When people copy each others posture, it is called postural echo or mirroring. e.g. in a pub, friends will often pick up their drinks at the same time. It occurs subconsciously when people have similar views, the same status, or like each other. Strangers often studiously avoid mirroring each others postures.Paraphrasing what the other person is saying to you is a verbal version of mirroring, and can show that you are listening carefully to the other person. In research on this an actor played an interviewee and mimicked the posture

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of the interviewer. Interviewers showed no awareness of this mimicry but rated the interviewer more favourably considering that he thought more like they did and identified with them. However, beware of consciously mirroring interviewers to try to make them like you - most personnel managers will probably know far more about this than you do!

5. Position B is called the "throne" position. It reinforces the interviewer's sense of controlhe/she can see everything that goes on in the room. Old fashioned managers often use this type of arrangement. Also the interviewee's chair is a long way from the desk increasing the formality. Position A with the desk touching the wall allows for a more informal and less dominating encounter. Sitting side on to the door allows for ease of approach. Sometimes the desk may be absent completely. Doctors and lecturers often use this arrangement. However be careful not to read too much into desk positions, the interviewer may have just borrowed the office for the interview and may not be able to influence the arrangement! Out of interest researchers at the University of Minnesota found that a tidy desk may suggest generosity, and conventionality whereas a messy desk may relate to creative thinking and stimulating new ideas. "Disorderly environments seem to inspire breaking free of tradition, which can produce fresh insights. Orderly environments, in contrast, encourage convention and playing it safe."

6. Putting your hand up with five spread fingers is an insult gesture in Greece! Be aware that people from other cultures have different distances they stand apart, loudness of voice, gaze behaviours etc. which can easily be
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misinterpreted by people of a different culture.

Feminine Body Language Questionnaire Answers

1.Holding and playing with your pen when you speak is: A way of lending weight to what you're saying A barrier against any objections to what you're saying A sign of aggression Explanation: You've maybe noticed on TV that the majority of politicians, company executives and journalists hold a pen in their hand and fidget with it when they're talking. Even your boss does it during meetings or interviews. It's not a sign of obsessive compulsive disorder, but a symbolic weapon or 'barrier' the speaker uses to protect him or herself from tough questions that might be heading their way. Another interpretation is that the pen is an extension of the authoritative forefinger and is therefore a sign of power.

2.When you rest your forearms flat on the table, it's a sign that you're: Prepared to take things on Dreamy Suspicious Explanation: This position indicates a high level of self-confidence and usually reveals an enterprising character, someone with the will to see things through. On the other hand, if you place your hands on the edge of the table, this signals that you're more of a manager than an entrepreneur.

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3.This position is best avoided when trying to flirt with a guy. True False

Explanation: Leaning on your elbows with your body leaning in towards the person you're speaking to is considered an invasion of the other person's space. Although this position may be used when flirting (you're interested in him and want to get into his personal space!), it should be avoided when negotiating with your boss or a client!

4.You sit like this because you feel: Threatened Looked down upon Treated like a child

Explanation: This is an attitude acquired in childhood. Someone who sits like this feels like the person speaking to them is being patronizing.

5.If you stand like this, you're showing the person you're speaking to that you're: Not open to discussion Vulnerable In a bad mood Explanation: This is such a common position that we don't give it much thought, but crossing your arms is a subconscious reaction to feeling insecure. It's a protective, defensive position.

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6. Why is it a bad sign when the person you're speaking to adopts this position? It's a sign they don't trust you It means they're being dishonest It shows that you're boring them Explanation: If, during a job interview, the interviewer adopts this position, it's time to change tack...fast! You may be laying it on too thick. If the forefinger points to the left, it indicates the person is protecting him or herself from your powers of persuasion. If it's towards the right, the person is assessing you and trying to find the best way to counter you.

7.A woman who strokes her neck is: Expressing her need for tenderness Having a think before committing herself Indicating that she won't be made a fool of Explanation: We can't help doing it, but contrary to what you might think, it doesn't necesarily reveal a lack of affection. Usually - and especially if you're flirting with someone - stroking yourself indicates how you'd like to touch the person you're talking to...

8.Constantly brushing your hair back behind your ears reveals that you're: An opportunist A tease Indecisive Explanation: It's a way of unblocking your ears, meaning that you're ready to seize any opportunities that arise!

9.This is a powerful weapon of seduction, but why shouldn't you play with your hair when you're among friends?
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 It creates a barrier between you and your friends It shows your friends that they're boring you It's a sign that you're uncomfortable Explanation: Gazing sultrily at strands of your hair you're playing with creates distance between you and the people you're with, placing a barrier between you.

10.Standing with your feet in this position is a sign of: Impatience Nonchalance Romantic interest in someone

Explanation: Watch out for this one: even if a woman is taken, if she's adopting this position it's a sign she's got her beady eye on someone present. Her foot will subconsciously point towards the object of her desire... 11.If you repeat this gesture with your hands while you're talking, it suggests you're: Fake Tormented Spoilt Explanation: Fakes and imposters often resort to this gesture. The thumbs regularly move apart to try and 'break up' the discussion, conveying the person lacks conviction or doesn't know what they're talking about.

12.Sitting on your hands reveals: A lack of maturity

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 Shyness A passive attitude Explanation: Don't ever do this during an interview! It's very common in children, but in children it suggests a desire to grow up fast. In adults, it indicates a lack of maturity.

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