Beyond respect, punctuality and responsibility, there are more subtle issues, such as gestures or physical attitudes, that can give a look of little seriousness, hinder work relationships or ruin promotions.
According to the specialized publication Work & Money, in the office it is convenient to avoid these 12 manifestations of body language.
1. Cross your arms, legs, or feet
They may look like comfortable postures, but they are negative signs that show you are on the defensive, marking distance or being refractory.
2. Use the cell phone
Except that a person’s job is to use a cell phone, it is bad to do it in the office: it shows disrespect for the people with whom you are interacting. When it is really necessary to do so, it is convenient to excuse yourself before taking it.
3. Roll your eyes
Obvious: it is an arrogant and rude gesture.
4. Shake hands
Shaking hands is a small but key gesture in work environments. And while you don’t have to break each other’s knuckles, the outstretched hand must be firm and steady to be pleasant.
5. Sneaking in
When you enter a meeting room, or when you arrive at the office, even when you are late, you should not sneak away. Greeting is essential; if people are talking, a smile or a nod does the same thing.
6. Make a bored face
Drawing pictures on a pad, being distracted by anything, sighing while another speaks are all signs that give the impression that one is tired of work.
7. Invade personal space
Even if someone is very sympathetic to your colleague, you have to respect the acceptable social distance that each person needs. Imposing the physical presence of one on the closest space of the other causes discomfort and can be scary.
8. Avoid the look
You don’t just have to look each other in the job interview: every conversation between two people requires the courtesy of attention, and the simplest way to express it is not to avoid looking.
9. Make nervous gestures
Playing with the hair, blowing the knuckles, biting the nails, biting the lips … All these habits of nervousness convey that a person is anxious or, even, that he does not feel capable of doing the job that occupies him.
10. Exaggerate gesturing
Gesturing, itself, is a problem. But using arms and hands and facial expressions in work communication indicates insecurity or lack of professionalism.
11. Hide your hands
Sometimes an introvert can hide his hands as part of his general shyness; However, in a work conversation it generates an impression of mistrust. The hands in sight, with the palms open up from time to time, on the contrary, generate confidence.
12. Look at the clock
When in conversation with a colleague or boss, looking at the clock often reveals impatience and, sometimes, disrespect.
