Expert Body Language Insights For Job Interview Success
We’ve all heard the phrase, ‘It’s not what you say but how you say it’, but did you know that body language makes up 55% of how we communicate? In other words, it’s the non-verbal cues that have the most impact on others. Is it possible to control these? Not easily, but having an awareness of the ways in which our body language operates can educate us into becoming better communicators, and better communicators make better employees!
The Role of Non-Verbal Communication
Body language is confusingly complex and is made up of facial expressions, gestures, and a plethora of other actions, but what role do they play in the way we communicate?
1. Eye Contact
We’ve all heard that the eyes are the windows to the soul, but just how exactly do we master the art of eye contact? Is there a difference between looking and seeing? How much eye contact should we give? Using eye contact effectively is one of the most useful tools we have as communicators. Check out this talk from Rodney White for more insights into the magic of eye contact.
2. Smile
A smile is universal and also contagious! But why does a smile leave a lasting impression on the people we meet? and what does your smile say about you? Did you know that we smile in the womb before we even meet another person? A smile is integral to our make up as human beings, so why not use it more often? Find out more in this excellent (and smile-inducing) talk by Ron Gutman.
3. Mirroring
Mirroring or emulating another are at the roots of connected communication, but why is that? It turns out our brains are wired to do this as this talk on mirror neurons explains. Mirror neurons are the reason we feel empathetic, or in other words, are essential in being able to feel what others may be feeling, which could really give you a head start in an interview. Very interesting stuff from Neuroscientist Vilayanur Ramachandran, I think it's possible that I just got smarter from mirroring his intelligence!
To Summarise...
Admittedly there's so much more to successful communication than what's listed here but even improving on these three basic aspects could greatly improve your chances of securing the job. So what are you waiting for? Get practising that winning smile :)