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10 Nonverbal Cues That Convey Confidence At Work
10 Nonverbal Cues That Convey Confidence At Work

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# 10 Nonverbal Cues That Convey Confidence At Work

[Jacquelyn Smith](https://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/ "https://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/")
Former Staff

If it has to do with leadership, jobs, or careers, I'm on it.

Mar 11, 2013,01:12pm EDT

Updated Apr 14, 2022, 02:05pm EDT

This article is more than 10 years old.

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> _What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say. - Ralph Waldo Emerson_

Imagine your co-worker storms into her office after lunch. She’s red-faced, tight-lipped and speaks to no one. She throws her briefcase on the desk, plops down in her chair and glares out the window. You ask, “Are you all right?” She snaps back in an angry tone, “I’m fine!”

Which message do you believe: Her nonverbal communication (behavior and voice tone), or her verbal one (words alone)? "Most likely, you believe the nonverbal message," says Darlene Price, author of _[Well Said! Presentations and Conversations That Get Results](http://www.amazon.com/dp/0814417876)._

Price says research shows that when a person sends a mismatched message--where nonverbal and verbal messages are incongruent—recipients almost always believe the predominant nonverbal message over the verbal one. “In other words, _how_ we say something is more impactful than _what_ we say,” she explains. “In some studies, nonverbal communication has been shown to carry between 65% and 93% more impact than the actual words spoken, especially when the message involves emotional meaning and attitudes,” she adds.

[Patti Wood](http://www.pattiwood.net/), a body language expert and author of [_Snap: Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language, and Charisma_](http://www.amazon.com/Snap-Making-Impressions-Language-Charisma/dp/1577319397), says in a face-to-face interaction with just one person you can exchange up to 10,000 nonverbal cues in less than one minute. “You cannot consciously control all that communication so it can be much more telling than the few words you could exchange in the same amount of time.”

_What is a nonverbal cue, exactly?_

Wood says nonverbal cues include “all the communication between people that do not have a direct verbal translation.” They are “body movements, body orientation, nuances of the voice, facial expressions, details of dress, and choice and movement of objects that communicate.” Time and space can also be perceived as having nonverbal cues.

“Simply put, nonverbal cues include all the ways you present and express yourself, apart from the actual words you speak,” Price adds. "And they are critically important at work and in business because perception is reality."

She says Friedrich Nietzsche was spot on when he said, “All credibility, all good conscience, all evidence of truth come only from the senses.”

“How others ‘sense’ or perceive you significantly impacts your success in the workplace,” Price explains. Otherwise brilliant people with great ideas and exceptional talent are often misjudged, mislabeled, and overlooked because of their ineffective nonverbal communication.

Because nonverbal cues are sent primarily from the “emotional brain” rather than the neocortex, they create more honest and revealing messages, Wood says. “Nonverbal cues can help business people determine others’ motivations and analyze business interactions with much more richness, depth, and insight than can come from simply relying on spoken or printed words.”

Professionals who understand nonverbal cues can evaluate what their clients, customers and co-workers are really telling them in order to know how to better meet their needs. “Employers can evaluate the messages their employees are sending to customers, clients or fellow workers and know whether that employee is hurting or helping business,” Wood says. “And employees can learn to read the subtle signals a boss is sending in order to adjust their behavior accordingly.”

In power-differential relationships, such as with superiors and subordinates, successful interactions depend on both parties being able to use and read body language, Wood explains. “Superiors need to know how to make their subordinates comfortable while communicating their desires in order to get results. Subordinates need to know how to read the boss’s subtle signals to discern the best way to approach professional situations.”

Effective nonverbal communication is critically important for career advancement, Price adds. “Among the top traits employers look for when hiring or promoting a candidate for management are confidence, professionalism and enthusiasm. Expressing these and other leadership traits requires sending the right nonverbal cues.”

[**In Photos: 10 Nonverbal Cues That Convey Confidence at Work**](http://www.forbes.com/pictures/efkk45egjkd/10-nonverbal-cues-that-convey-confidence-at-work/#gallerycontent)

You cannot avoid sending nonverbal messages to others; however, it is possible to train yourself to send the right ones. Here are ten nonverbal cues that convey confidence and credibility in the workplace.

**Good eye contact.** Eye contact is your primary tool for establishing nonverbal connections with others, Price says. “It communicates your level of involvement, interest and warmth. When speaking to others, ideally look directly into their eyes at least two to three seconds before looking away or moving to the next person. Merely glancing at someone for one second or less is known as eye dart and conveys insecurity, anxiety or evasion.” The next time you’re in a meeting or giving a speech, ask a friend to count how long you look at specific individuals and if you visually engage with everyone in the room.

**A confident handshake.** Communicating through touch is another important nonverbal behavior. “Always put your hand out to shake hands,” Wood says. “A classic good handshake is one with full palm to palm contact.”

In business, the handshake is often the only appropriate expression of touch so it’s critical to have a good one, Price adds. “A good handshake consists of a full and firm handclasp with palms embraced web to web. Shake up and down once or twice, coupled with a sincere smile and eye contact. Avoid the extremes of either a weak limp handshake or an aggressive bone-crushing one. Strike the right balance—firm enough to convey confidence yet matched to the strength of the other person. Treat men and women with equal respect when shaking hands. Gender makes no difference, and either may initiate the handshake.”

**Effective gestures.** A gesture is any physical movement that helps express an idea, opinion or emotion. “Strive to punctuate your words with movement that is natural, lively, purposeful and spontaneous,” Price says. “Be genuinely yourself and let your motions match your message. Avoid common distracting mannerisms such as finger-pointing, fidgeting, scratching, tapping, playing with hair, wringing hands, and twisting a ring.”

**Dressing the part.** Shakespeare asserts in Hamlet, “For the apparel oft proclaims the man.” For men and women, clothing speaks volumes in the workplace, Price says. “Make sure ‘business casual’ is not ‘business careless.’ Choose high quality, well-tailored garments that convey professionalism. Depending on your corporate culture, wear a business suit or at least a jacket for important meetings and presentations, especially with senior leaders and customers. Avoid showy accessories, busy patterns, tight garments and revealing necklines.” Dress for the job you want, not the job you have. If career advancement is your goal, convey a polished professional presence in the workplace.

To complement your business attire, take steps to control perspiration; avoid cologne or perfume due to others’ possible allergies and sensitivities to smell; ensure fresh breath; and keep nails and hands neatly manicured, Price suggests.

**Authoritative posture and presence.** “Take up space,” Wood says. Use the arms on the chair, or stand with your feet a bit apart. “A female leg stance in North America is with the feet typically 4 to 6 inches apart, and a male power stance starts with the feet more than 8 inches apart.”

Price adds, “When you stand up tall and straight, you send a message of self-assurance, authority and energy.” Whether standing or sitting, imagine a string gently pulling your head and spine toward the ceiling. Your weight is evenly balanced, feet solidly on the floor, arms and hands visible, relaxed and uncrossed. “Good posture creates a dynamic commanding presence and an attitude of leadership. Conversely, bad posture signals to others that you lack confidence and have low self-esteem or low energy levels.”

**Appropriate facial expressions.** “Each of the seven basic human emotions (anger, contempt, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness and surprise) has been scientifically proven to have a certain facial expression associated with it,” Price says. “Because your facial expressions are closely tied to emotion, they are often involuntary and unconscious.”

Imagine the mismatched message when a fearful pensive face describes the life-enriching benefits of a new healthcare product. “Become aware of what your face is revealing to observers, and choose the expression that matches your intended message,” she says. “For example, if you want to convey energy and enthusiasm, allow your face to become more animated. Practice in front of a mirror until it looks and feels natural. To show you’re paying attention while listening, hold a very slight smile, nod occasionally, and maintain good eye contact.”

**Initiating interactions.** “Be the first to make eye contact, offer your hand to shake, have an idea or solution, go into a room, and make the call,” Wood says. “You can only afford to wait and go last when you are in the C-suite and ready to retire.”

**Appropriate voice tone.** If your significant other has ever said to you, “It’s not what you said, it’s how you said it,” they were referring to your paralanguage, Price explains. “Separate from the actual words used, these nonverbal elements of your voice include voice tone, pacing, pausing, volume, inflection, pitch and articulation. Like facial expressions, choosing the appropriate paralanguage is critically important because it conveys emotional meaning, attitude and impact.” Consider recording your side of several conversations throughout the day. Listen to the recordings and identify what your voice tone communicates.

**Giving your full attention.** When speaking with a person, point your toes and square your shoulders toward them, Price says. “This conveys attentiveness and creates open body language.” Avoid angling your body away from them. Lean into the conversation; focus your eyes, ears and energy on them. “These nonverbal cues clearly convey you respect, honor and appreciate the opportunity to meet with them. Make sure your arms and legs are uncrossed. Also, avoid multi-tasking during the interaction. Don’t check e-mail, look at your phone, send a text, check the scores, or disengage in any way. It shows disinterest and disrespect.”

**Responding to others’ nonverbal cues.** When leading a meeting, speaking to a group, or interacting one-on-one, pay close attention to the other person’s body language and voice tone, Price says. “Listen with your eyes. Their nonverbal cues can tell you when they have a question, want to say something, agree or disagree, need a break, require more explanation, or have an emotional response.” By responding appropriately to others’ cues, you not only convey confidence in yourself, you show a high level of empathy, sensitivity and care for them which builds trust.

[**In Photos: 10 Nonverbal Cues That Convey Confidence at Work**](http://www.forbes.com/pictures/efkk45egjkd/10-nonverbal-cues-that-convey-confidence-at-work/#gallerycontent)

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