The Secrets to Deciphering Remote Body Language

As a remote worker, you might not be striding into an office on the regular, but know this: you and your reactions are indeed on display.

True, working remotely means you’re not always visible to others; it’s why you wear your PJs til noon sometimes, or don’t shower every day. That said, you still don’t have any special powers. You cannot actually disappear before your colleagues’ or bosses’ eyes on GoToMeeting (though you might like to from time to time).

No, you will have critical video conversations at some point, and you will want to be prepared. You may already have nailed what you want to say, but that’s hardly the majority of what you’re communicating.

Research states that your body language accounts for up to 90% of a conversation. Let that figure sink in for a minute.

Remember that your physical actions can also influence your emotions. So, demonstrating nonverbal cues that reflect confidence and assurance will be important, but you’ll also benefit from being able to read colleagues’ and clients’ body language.

Want to know how to decipher what body language you’re seeing, and to best project what you intend? Check out these handy points:

Powerful Body Language

Open posture: expresses confidence both in oneself and within the context of this particular conversation
Gently folded hands when seated: displays trustworthiness and comfort
Direct eye contact: shows engagement and communicates honesty
Gesturing with palms out or up: communicates that a person is approachable and receptive
Broader stance: exhibits confidence and self-assurance
Neutral eyebrows: indicates respect, and that the person is not surprised or alarmed
Mirroring others: displays interest in and/or alignment with a counterpart’s comments

Defensive Body Language

Crossed arms: reveals someone is closed off and (symbolically) protecting themselves; can indicate defensiveness as well as arrogance
Hunched shoulders: communicates a lack of engagement or discouragement
Glancing to the right: indicates a lie or that the speaker is making something up on the spot
Touching mouth: shows a physical suppression of feedback
Scratching or holding neck: displays concern, insecurity, or worry about the subject at hand
Looking down: means that the person may be hiding a stronger emotion or feeling ashamed
Fidgeting: conveys feelings of boredom or frustration

Examining the Elusive Microexpression

As you study the examples above, keep in mind that another critical element of body language—microexpressions—can serve to help or hinder your position. These split-second expressions flash across your face in the blink of an eye; when noticed by others, however, they can reveal true feelings that you may prefer to keep hidden.

Naturally, the same goes for your counterparts in any conversation. For example, if you happen to catch a glimpse of a hesitant microexpression with pursed lips or furrowed eyebrows, it might be worth exploring why a colleague may feel uncomfortable or uneasy about a certain topic. If you see a fleeting display of excitement, including raised eyebrows and a slight smile, that can indicate significant interest and enthusiasm.

These often subtle cues can not only help you become a more effective communicator, they can enable you to better understand those with whom you interact—whether the bulk of your conversations are happening in person, via video calls, or a mix of the two.

Photo Credit: bigstockphoto.com

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