Leading people and building trust between a manager and team members is primarily a matter of effective and transparent communication. Since the vast majority of communication takes place on a subconscious level through nonverbal signals, body language and proper gestures during conversations and meetings with your subordinates play a key role in building trust between you and your team. Here are several tips on how to use body language and nonverbal signals in your daily managerial communication.
Smile
As Forbes points out, you can rarely go wrong with a smile. There are very few types of interactions where a smile is inappropriate. By smiling, you demonstrate not only friendliness and good intentions, but also a certain level of confidence and a willingness to build trust with the person you are interacting with. Therefore, do not be afraid to smile. Use this powerful tool when communicating with subordinates and use it to promote a positive and friendly atmosphere within the team.
Eye contact
Eye contact is one of the fundamental tools of nonverbal communication. Letting your eyes wander around the room may be perceived as a sign of nervousness and low self confidence, so try to avoid it when speaking with subordinates. Instead, maintain healthy and sufficient eye contact. However, moderation is important. An intense stare may be perceived as an attempt to manipulate the other person and may therefore seem inappropriate.
Confident posture
Posture and body position are a reflection of a person's level of self confidence. If you slouch while communicating with subordinates, with bent shoulders and a hunched back, you will not appear sufficiently authoritative or trustworthy. A firm, upright posture with your chest forward and shoulders back, on the other hand, is a sign of confidence and readiness.
Openness toward the other person
Opening your posture and orienting your body toward the person you are speaking with is one of the most effective tools of nonverbal communication for expressing goodwill and positive intentions. Therefore, avoid leaning away from others or crossing your arms during communication, as this may subconsciously be perceived by subordinates as a barrier between you and them.
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