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Thirty years ago an American psychologist, Albert Mehrabian, found that only seven per cent of what we say counts for our credibility. Body language and facial expressions, on the other hand, make up a whopping 55 per cent of our credibility ranking.
On top of this, a 2013 study from Princeton University found that body language is more important than facial expressions.
No pressure or anything, right? Before you start over-analysing your every movement, there are some easy ways you can tweak your body language to make people respond positively to you.
1. The baby pivot.
Just like an enthusiastic baby, try turning your entire body to the person you are trying to win over. This indicates to the person that you are very interested in them. “Pivoting 100 per cent towards the new person shouts, ‘I think you are very, very special,’” Leil Lowndes, author of How To Talk To Anyone, tells Business Insider.
2. Fidget less.
If you want to draw attention to your words, then ensure you’re not fidgeting. Watch that your hands don’t move too much around your face, as that can be a sign of anxiousness or even that you are lying. “Do not fidget, twitch, wiggle, squirm, or scratch,” advises Lowndes.
3. Strike a power pose.
Using your entire body, try to take up as much space as possible. You could be standing with your legs and arms stretched open, or leaning back with your hands behind your head and your feet up on your desk. These are called "high-power" poses, and research from Harvard and Columbia Business Schools have found that holding those poses for just two minutes can make you feel more powerful, and less stressed.
Why? Well, body language expert Carol Kinsey Gorman explained to Forbes that the "high-power" poses stimulate higher levels of testosterone, which is the hormone linked to power and dominance, while also lowering that pesky hormone called cortisol, which is a stress hormone. (Post continues after gallery...)
Sleeping Positions
4. Avoid "prayer hands".
If you want to look truthful and open, avoid making "prayer hands" while in conversation. "Prayer hands" are exactly what it sounds like - putting hands palm-to-palm, or even just fingers-to-fingers, in a prayer-like pose.