Business Communication

50  /  Business Communication
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No one can gain full control of one’s body language, but it is possible to enlarge one’s awareness
of one’s body and gain a good deal of control on one’s posture, movements and voice modulation. If
we develop increased sensitivity to our own body language, our ability to read other’ body language is
increased.
A
PPEARANCE
A person’s general appearance depends on several things. Two of the important factors that contribute
to appearance are grooming and personal hygiene. Care of skin, nails, feet and hair are expected
standards. A person who neglects these aspects makes an unpleasant impression. Appearance makes
the first impression, lack of neatness or cleanliness, carelessness in grooming, clumsy clothes make a
negative impression. Poor health is easily reflected in the appearance.
F
ACIAL
 E
XPRESSIONS
It is said that the face is the index of the mind. The thoughts of the mind and the feeling of the heart
often find expression on the face. A cheerful or appreciative smile, displeased frown, a look of surprise
and several other expressions of the face can convey, with or without words, the attitude, feelings and
reaction of the communicators. There are people who are good at reading facial expressions. Good
communicators, be they speaker or listener, learn to read and interpret facial expressions.
E
YE
 C
ONTACT
Eye movements is a key part of facial behaviour, directing other’s attention or showing surprise or
happiness and other emotional displays. Eye contact between speaker and listener is necessary for
indicating that both are interested in the communication. While making an oral presentation it is
important to create rapport with the audience with eye contact.
Presenters make it a point to take in the whole audience with a sweep of the eye, making brief eye
contact with as many as possible. The comfort level for eye contact is three to five seconds, if eye
contact is held more than 3 to 5 seconds it can cause discomfort to the other person. It is commonly
believed that avoiding eye contact indicates that the speaker is lying, yet some liars may hold
unblinking eye contact and watch to see your reaction. Persons who lack self-confidence also
generally avoid eye contact. However, the rules and customs of culture influence how people use their
face and eyes.