Table Of Content

Cover Page: i Introduction Page: xii About This Book Page: 2 Foolish Assumptions Page: 2 Icons Used in This Book Page: 3 Beyond the Book Page: 4 Where to Go from Here Page: 4 Part I: Getting Started with Body Language Page: 4 Chapter 1: Defining Body Language Page: 6 Discovering How Body Language Conveys Messages Page: 8 Examining Key Types of Gesture Page: 19 Getting the Most Out of Body Language Page: 27 Appreciating Cultural Differences Page: 32 Chapter 2: Looking Closer at Non-Verbal Gestures Page: 33 Observing the History of Body Language Page: 35 Understanding the Nuts and Bolts of Body Language Page: 37 Offering a Final Word on Non-Verbal Gestures Page: 44 Part II: Starting at the Top Page: 44 Chapter 3: Heading to the Heart of the Matter Page: 46 Demonstrating Power and Authority Page: 47 Showing Agreement and Encouragement: The Nod Page: 53 Displaying Attention and Interest Page: 55 Indicating Submissiveness or Worry Page: 57 Showing Boredom Page: 59 Indicating You’re Deep in Thought Page: 61 Chapter 4: Watching Facial Expressions Page: 62 Communicating Feelings When Words Are Inappropriate Page: 64 Recognising Facial Expressions that Reinforce the Spoken Message Page: 65 Masking Emotions Page: 69 Expressing a Range of Emotions Page: 70 Chapter 5: The Eyes Have It Page: 75 The Power of the Held Gaze Page: 78 The Wandering Eye: Breaking Eye Contact Page: 86 Other Ways Your Eyes Tell a Tale Page: 90 Chapter 6: Mastering Lip Reading Page: 93 Revealing Thoughts, Intentions and Emotions Page: 95 Differentiating Smiles Page: 102 Remembering that Laughter’s the Best Medicine Page: 107 Part III: The Trunk: Limbs and Roots Page: 107 Chapter 7: Taking It From the Torso Page: 110 Gaining Insights into the Impact of Posture Page: 111 Identifying the Three Main Postures Page: 116 Changing Attitudes by Changing Posture Page: 119 Using Posture to Aid Communication Page: 121 Shrugging Signals Page: 124 Chapter 8: Arming Yourself Page: 126 Building Defensive Barriers Page: 127 Conveying Friendliness and Honesty Page: 134 Touching to Convey Messages Page: 135 Chapter 9: Letting Your Hands Do the Talking Page: 141 Up or Down: Reading Palms Page: 144 Hands Up! Page: 150 Letting the Fingers Do the Talking Page: 153 Analysing Handshakes Page: 159 Displacing Your Energy Page: 165 Chapter 10: Standing Your Ground Page: 168 Showing Commitment and Attitude through Your Stance Page: 169 Reflecting Your Feelings in the Way You Position Your Feet Page: 176 Walking Styles Page: 180 Chapter 11: Playing with Props Page: 180 Using Accessories to Reflect Mental States Page: 181 Through the Looking Glasses Page: 184 Making It Up as You Go Along Page: 187 Dressing the Part Page: 189 Part IV: Putting the Body into Social and Business Context Page: 190 Chapter 12: Being Aware of Territorial Rights and Regulations Page: 192 Understanding the Effect of Space Page: 193 Knowing Your Space Page: 194 Using Space Page: 197 Considering Seating Arrangements Page: 201 Orientating Yourself Page: 205 Chapter 13: Rating, Dating and Mating: Courting with Your Body Page: 209 Attracting Someone’s Attention Page: 211 Showing That You’re Available Page: 220 Progressing Through the Romance Page: 228 Chapter 14: Interviewing, Influencing and Playing Politics Page: 230 Making a Great First Impression: The Interview Page: 232 Creating a Positive Environment Page: 237 Pointing Your Body in the Right Direction Page: 244 Negotiating Styles Page: 249 Chapter 15: Crossing the Cultural Divide Page: 254 Recognising the Different Strokes for Different Folks Page: 256 Observing the Conventions of Higher- and Lower-Status Behaviour Page: 261 Getting Specific: Common Gestures, Multiple Interpretations Page: 264 Avoiding Problems and not Causing Offence Page: 265 Chapter 16: Reading the Signs Page: 269 Taking an Interest in Other People Page: 271 Drawing Conclusions from What You Observe Page: 273 Honing Your Powers of Observation Page: 277 Part V: The Part of Tens Page: 277 Chapter 17: Ten Ways to Spot Deception Page: 280 Catching Fleeting Facial Expressions Page: 281 Suppressing Facial Expressions Page: 282 Eyeing Someone Up Page: 282 Covering the Face Page: 283 Touching the Nose Page: 284 Faking a Smile Page: 284 Minimising Hand Gestures Page: 285 Maximising Body Touches Page: 285 Shifting Positions and Fidgeting Feet Page: 286 Changing Speech Patterns Page: 287 Chapter 18: Ten Ways to Reveal Your Attractiveness Page: 287 Engaging With Your Eyes Page: 289 Showing Liveliness in Your Face Page: 290 Offering Encouragement Page: 290 Using Open Gestures Page: 291 Showing Interest Through Your Posture Page: 291 Positioning Yourself Page: 292 Touching to Connect Page: 292 Being on Time Page: 293 Synchronising Your Gestures Page: 294 Enhancing Your Way of Speaking Page: 294 Chapter 19: Ten Ways to Find Out About Someone Without Asking Page: 294 Observing Eye Movements Page: 295 Looking at Facial Expressions Page: 296 Watching for Head Movements Page: 297 Noticing Hand and Arm Gestures Page: 297 Observing Posture Page: 298 Considering Proximity and Orientation Page: 298 Paying Attention to Touching Page: 299 Responding to Appearance Page: 299 Checking Timing and Synchronisation Page: 300 Scrutinising Non-Verbal Aspects of Speech Page: 301 Chapter 20: Ten Ways to Improve Your Silent Communication Page: 301 Taking an Interest Page: 303 Knowing What You Want to Express Page: 304 Modelling Excellence Page: 304 Mirroring Others Page: 305 Practising Gestures Page: 305 Developing Timing and Synchronisation Page: 306 Dressing the Part Page: 306 Acting the Way You Want to Be Perceived Page: 307 Demonstrating Awareness Page: 307 Asking for Feedback Page: 308 About the Author Page: 308 Cheat Sheet Page: 330 Advertisement Page Page: 330 Connect with Dummies Page: 330 End User License Agreement Page: 330

Description:

The complete guide to mastering the art of effective body language

Body Language For Dummies is your ideal guide to understanding other people, and helping them understand you. Body language is a critical component of good communication, and often conveys a bigger message than the words you say. This book teaches you how to interpret what people really mean by observing their posture, gestures, eye movements, and more, and holds up a mirror to give you a clear idea of how you're being interpreted yourself. This updated third edition includes new coverage of virtual meetings, multicultural outsourcing environments, devices, and boardroom behaviours for women, as well as insight into Harvard professor Amy Cuddy's research into how body language affects testosterone and cortisol, as published in the Harvard Business Review..

Body language is a fascinating topic that reveals how the human mind works. Image and presentation are crucial to successful communication, both in business and in your personal life. This book is your guide to decoding body language, and adjusting your own habits to improve your interactions with others.

Become a better communicator without saying a word
Make a better first (and second, and third...) impression
Learn what other people's signals really mean
Transform your personal and professional relationships

Realising what kind of impression you give is a valuable thing, and learning how to make a more positive impact is an incredibly useful skill. Whether you want to improve your prospects in job seeking, dating, or climbing the corporate ladder, Body Language For Dummies helps you translate the unspoken and get your message across.