At long last the commercial director has been called upstairs to get the low-down on what is going on, direct from the executive management team. As a senior member of the HR team you need to know urgently what the truth of the matter is, so you can start taking appropriate action. Distinct differences in his body language would give you the first clues.
The commercial director comes back looking confident with an upright posture and head position. He moves with a smooth, steady gait through the office, makes eye contact, smiles and starts to call people together to join him in the meeting room.
Or, scenario two, he hurries in, a worried expression on his face, head down, shoulders hunched and, without making eye contact, rushes into his office and slams the door; you momentarily glimpse him frantically shuffling papers.
Or, how about if he comes back with a face that is pinched and thunderous? His shoulders are stiff, his head is held high; he glares at anyone who dares to make eye contact; slams his papers on the desk and beckons you - and you alone - over.
These are all, of course, extreme examples of how body language can speak volumes before we have even opened our mouths. But, for HR teams and managers trying to maintain engagement and motivation in tough times, the messages our bodies communicate to employees can be just as important as our actual words, particularly if one does not appear to tally with the other.
Managers who claim to be positive about an issue, while they stand or sit with a slumped back, rounded shoulders and an expressionless face will not necessarily be believed.
Spatial awareness is also important; managers who stand over someone who remains seated during a conversation risk the employee feeling subjugated or overpowered, creating a vague discomfort - however positive the actual words being said. Similarly, if there is a significant height difference between two people it is a good idea for a taller manager to ensure there is just over an arm's length distance between them and the employee. These extra few inches allow the shorter person to feel more comfortable and help to avoid giving the impression that you are ‘getting in the other person's space'.
People are far more influenced by the sub-conscious impact of body language than they may realise. Seemingly subtle indicators of confidence and authority can sway even the most sceptical audiences to accept or reject whatever is being said. In a study reported in the January-February issue of Harvard Business Review, Alex Pentland of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found he could predict with an astonishing 87% accuracy which business presentations would be successful without even looking at their content. He based his predictions entirely upon ‘social signals' being given out by the speaker - for example, tone of voice, gesticulation, proximity to others and so on. Within the business environment, body language will generally involve a complex web of interactions from the tone of voice to body posture.
The good news for managers - and for HR teams coaching managers - is that it is possible to train yourself to improve your body language presentation by mastering your mental attitude and focus, which affect posture and delivery.
Philippe Turchet, body language expert and author of The Universal Language of the Body, has even argued that a manager's body language when they are speaking on the telephone can affect the strength and intonation of their voice, and thereby have an impact on the other party.
Managers who are attuned to body language signals can read better how their non-verbal signals are going down with their audience. This will help them discern whether their message is being accepted or, in turn, gauge better what an employee who is speaking back to them is ‘really' thinking.
"Managers who observe and are able to interpret subtle nonverbal signals correctly - such as eye movements, body positioning and involuntary micromovements - can also tell the difference between the stress caused by being untruthful, for example, and the stress a person might feel when they are under pressure to perform," suggests Turchet. "A manager who is presenting an employee with a problem or challenge can, for example, see when the employee is mentally rejecting the idea - even though they might be making overt signals of acceptance," he adds.
If a manager demonstrates weak or unsure body language when talking to a superior or to the team, the effect on any staff who see this could be feelings of insecurity or lack of confidence in the manager and their ability to lead the department.
Conversely, when a manager stands up to make a team presentation with self-assurance, belief and purpose this will be demonstrated in their body language and vocal impact as well as in their words - and directly influence the level of motivation, engagement and job satisfaction in whatever plans are being presented.
The potential effect of managers' body language on employee engagement is clear. Body language talks, and it talks every day in every interpersonal communication.
Tips
For a difficult conversation, in order to minimise defensiveness and negativity, avoid the confrontational position of sitting directly across the table from the other party
Stand up when you want to carry out a telephone call with greater confidence.
A confident posture is important for both seated and stand-up presentations.
Body language can affect mental state. Just as your body language ‘speaks' to others, it also ‘speaks to you'. If you find yourself feeling negative, worried or frustrated, take a few minutes to use this knowledge to your advantage. Lift your head; smile; straighten your posture; and unfold your arms. Then think - you will be far more resourceful.
Mary-Louise Angoujard founder and managing director of Rapporta
