What is Body Language?

Generally when I have asked this question to students/aspirants, their answers have always been similar Something to do with the way one sits or gestures, etc. Well. Thats correct no doubt. But Body Language goes far beyond that and the whole premise that it holds good only for that one GD or the PI for your selection into the B-School is rubbish. Your Body Language is something like a platform upon which you will base many future-things like summer internship, final placements, deals with clients, executive interviews, and list goes on. One thing that I have learnt in my life (the hard way of-course) is the fact that the best of deals that I have cracked in my profession and the negotiations that went along with them were won due to my body language which prevailed upon the other side giving them an impression that they could trust me and in turn trust the establishment I was representing. Remember no skill that you will learn from this book will end up non-usable in your career. Every one of them is true for every possible situation starting right now from your selection GD and Interviews to client acquisitions. The Body language (like any other language) has its own set of rules but like a good conversationalist, one can master every response in such a way that you can win in any situation, or against any opponent (hey, arent they an opponent?). It has been termed as the non-verbal communication by many masters and therefore counts for maximum marks in your GD-PI and creates maximum impression when you are with clients. Why? Well I believe any Dr. Know-it-all will tell you that non-verbal communication accounts to almost 60% of our total communication to any person. As of now, I will suggest you to go by this rule until you figure out something else more scientific. First up for you the basics of Body Language for Group Discussions. What is the best way to sit inside a GD?This is the starting point. Almost every student will ask this question first up. Actually in India, the formal education does not teach us many things and one of them will be the way to conduct ourselves in different situations. Either we are too serious and mess-up, or we are too casual and mess-up. There is a third wherein we dont know what to do and mess-up. All these possibilities are avoidable.When one sits on a chair for discussing a topic, the idea is to relax and also be attentive. Using the chair is something that I have had pains to make many people understand. When you sit on a chair, many a times there is a possibility that you will tend to sit on the edge of the chair. This is a no-no. I will want you to sit back so that the back rest is actually doing its job supporting your back. Research says that if your backbone is steady and in not much of a stress, then your thinking becomes a little better than usual.(Have you ever wondered how come those Head of the Departments thought correctly at times and not observed them couched into their seats?). Having said that, the correct posture is to sit back, keep both your legs in-front of you, both hands on your legs, and relax your body by breathing deeply once or twice. Avoid putting one leg on top of the other (as you may be a Zamindaar but out there it is time to prove other things), and folding your hands as you get ready to speak.

What should be my hand movement during discussions?I will ask you to go and watch some of these news presenters from the English channels. One can actually learn a lot from them in terms of how they use their hands for making various points and suggestions.Not pointing fingers and things like that are something that I do not want to mention as it is understood you will not do those things that you wont want others to do to you. So what is it that you will need to create an impression? Normally, people who make an impression are those who speak without folded hands. An open arm gesture while talking always gives others a subconscious feeling that you are the one they will want to talk to. Use Karate-Chop movements for making a point that you believe is pertinent and has to be told to everyone. Open-Palm usage to point to someone is also acceptable as that helps you create your own team in the process. What about my eye-contact?I just hope that you dont end up getting Hritik Roshan or Aishwarya Rai in your GD group so that you have an issue with your eye contact as you speak in a GD. Even if they are there, the idea is to ensure that you speak to everyone and not to someone special alone. Most of the time, we tend to look at people and talk to them who are either supporting our thoughts or are opposing our points vehemently. Why should the others be left out? Dont you have to discuss with every member in the group? Is it not a very democratic discussion wherein they deserve your attention for any point that is discussed? The idea is to (a) speak to all the members and let them feel that you are the one who can be trusted and you will be there to hear when they will make their points, and (b) know and strategize around those people who will be hostile to your ideas and logic. Please avoid a very long eye contact as it may mean otherwise either intimidating or something else altogether. Figure this out by taking a feedback from your peers if your eye-contact currently is good enough or you need to get the ideal way of doing it. Should I keep a smiling face or should I be serious?Normally, common sense prevails upon many who ask me this question. I generally advise anyone to keep a straight face to start with and there is nothing wrong to have a smiling face. People say this and they mean it Dont take anyone on face value. Why? You will feel that if someone is smiling when you are talking then you have sold him the idea and be shocked when the next disturbing question comes from that very person. Please understand that it is very much situation based and you will have to figure out that if there are situations wherein you will need to have a straight face and it will help in the discussion, who will stop you from doing that? You should be the one who will bring the group and the discussion together (maybe even others will do that which is better still), and therefore if you are approachable, then you should get more discussion threads directed towards you than anyone else. Isnt it nice when the group will wish to seek your opinion before going in for a conclusion? Some of the common errors in body-language that I have come across with students who sit for their practice GDs are: 1. They get into a shell when their points are being questioned and discussed animatedly in the group, which shows in their body language that closes up giving a clear communication that they are not comfortable. 2. They use excessive hand movements that at times seem a little hostile. 3. They seem to forget that there are a couple of people sitting right next to them, and avoid eye-contact with them throughout the discussion. 4. They come to the edge of their seats when something they feel is very important to prove or disprove.

5. They start using hand gestures that are un-parliamentary in any forum. This generally happens due to over excitement.