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Body Language for Successfull HR

Last post August 30, 2012 03:19 AM by mohanty_bm. 1 repiles.

June 2, 2008 05:38 AM 1
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Join Date: October 15, 2007
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Post Date: August 30, 2012
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Body Language for Successfull HR

Dear friends,

Even people, like the Prince of Wales, who are trained to deal with difficult situations can display the wrong body language when under pressure and ruin the message they hope to convey. Anna Burges-Lumsden reports on the importance of non-verbal cues.

Prince Charles’ body language said it all at a photo call in Klosters on 31 March 2005. With a forced smile through gritted teeth, a defensive posture and eyes desperate to avoid contact with Fleet Street’s finest, his distaste for the media could not have been clearer.

Prince William, by contrast, appeared relaxed, poised and confident of the image he was presenting. And so in one dramatic photograph the importance of body language was laid bare.

What the Prince of Wales really needs - apart from a lecture on the dangers of speaking near a microphone - is some serious body language coaching. Like thousands of other people in positions of responsibility he would benefit from expert help on non-verbal communication.

Words account for less than 10% of a message’s impact. The rest comes from non-verbal cues.

According to Mike Petrook, public affairs manager of the Chartered Management Institute, 90% of the messages we convey are through body language.

He said: “Half of what we communicate is transmitted through our bodily positions and movements, so understanding physical gestures and expressions can help us work more efficiently at all levels of the workplace.

“Being aware of people’s body language will help you learn more about your colleagues and how to work better with them,” he said.

Mary-Louise Angoujard, CEO and founder of Rapporta, who is specialist in executive communication and body language, believes body language is only part of the whole picture.

“Non-verbal communication not only includes body language, posture, facial expressions and eye contact, but also vocal expression, tone, pitch and pace.” And she said that to communicate successfully you must “ensure congruence with your words in all these areas”.

During negotiations or when you need to maintain authority in a meeting, Angoujard affirmed the importance of being clear of your objectives and the messages you want to communicate.

“Preparation is key,” she said. “And gathering all facts and documentation and pre-empting all possible difficulties or concerns will ensure confidence and a feeling of positive self-control. As so much of body language is unconscious on our part, this will help to ensure your non-verbal communication sends out the right signals.”

Angela Mortimer, who runs her own international recruitment consultancy, believes that maintaining good eye contact is also essential.

“People talk about eye contact and active listening, but staring someone out can be negative,” she said. “You can divert your eyes when you’re thinking and make eye contact again when you’re talking.”

When conducting interviews, Angoujard emphasised the importance of building rapport with the individual and establishing an environment where they feel at ease.

“This is the only way you will be best served in discovering their real strengths and skills and whether they will be a good match for the role and your organisation,” she said.

During difficult situations such as making redundancies, Angoujard recommended greeting the employee in an appropriately pleasant but serious manner.

She said: “Welcome with a pleasant expression, however maintain a demeanour that reflects the serious nature of the discussion and your respect for the situation and the individual.”

Angoujard also stressed the importance of the environment in which the redundancy takes place. She suggested that when possible, conduct the meetings on neutral ground such as a meeting or conference room rather than someone’s office, and that being seated around the corner of a round, oval or square table will be less ‘confrontational’ and more ‘collegiate’.

Petrook warned, however, that body language is hard to fake and even someone who has developed a good understanding of the importance of gestures and gesticulations cannot completely disguise their own thoughts.

“There are some elements of behaviour that will remain controlled by the subconscious and are involuntary,” he said.

Angoujard said that because so much of non-verbal communication is subliminal in nature, the best solution is to understand first your own attitudes, intentions and objectives and then speak accordingly.

This way, the messages you send involuntarily will be congruent with your conscious words, tone and gestures, she said.

“When you believe your own message, the impact is much greater and others are more likely to believe you mean what you say,” Angoujard said.

Body language for tricky situations

In negotiations

Prepare well
Control environment
Offer a warm greeting
Understand your position
Have an upright, confident posture
Open body language (relaxed not stiff)
Build rapport
Maintain good eye contact - no eyeballing
Ask good quality, open questions
Speak in a clear, measured manner
Show empathy
Display controlled energy.

Avoid

Unremitting eyeball to eyeball
Ignoring members of the group
Coldness or harshness in your voice
Closed body language (arms folded, head down, avoiding eye contact).

Making redundancies

Offer a pleasant but serious greeting
Provide a round, oval or square table and sit on the corner not opposite
Use an appropriate voice tone, pitch, pace
Display open, neutral body language
Give reasonable eye contact
Present a respectful attitude
Offer empathy but stay businesslike
Provide meaningful consultations
Use a calm voice at a slow pace
Use a businesslike demeanour
Supply third-party reference facts

Don’t be

Distant or intimate
Superior or inferior
Offensive or defensive
Maternal or paternal
Unfeeling
Maintain unbroken eye contact
Display overtly closed or defensive body language
Display too much joviality or friendliness

Conducting interviews

Use open body language
Present a straight, relaxed, confident posture
Maintain good eye contact so that you look pleasant and engaged
Offer a firm handshake
Show sincerity in voice tone
Speak a suitable pace
Explain expectations
Take charge
Express interest in person & their experience
Ask framed, contextualised questions
Listen attentively and nod occasionally

Don't

Give a flimsy or bone-crushing handshake
Sit across a table
Stand too close on arrival
Invade personal space
Say: “Tell me about yourself”

What is your say on this ??

February 25, 2010 10:222
k_vsingh@yahoo.com
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Re: Body Language for Successfull HR

Thanks for good suggestion, but I think the concept of transactional analysis should also considered.
March 17, 2010 08:073
vasudev.anu
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Re: Body Language for Successfull HR

congratulations a  very important  and sensitive  concept you have choosen here...

whtever you mentioned herein indeed is very crucial and if not handled properly can cost a professional alot. and in my view most of ppl even today are not really taking the imporatnce of non-verbal communication that seriously as they should...Be it in their conversations, meetings, negotiations...or even their appearance. i think your mode of dress also speak alot  abt your sincerity and professionalism.Managers seek effeicent employees but do they display traits of effective managers. i think the way you manage yourself and your time is also something tht counts for your non-verbal communication....n onemust learn this skill. For HR professionals the need for learning and dispalyong these characterstics in their conduct is much more important. as they are people's person. Before discovering right people for their companies they must first discover themselves..and then lead by example...

regards

anu vasudeva chandra

 

March 26, 2010 06:384
vishcs
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Re: Body Language for Successfull HR

A good one and very well drafted one..What u have mentioned here is absolutely relevant and important subject matter, which sholud be kept in mind while performing different task at different time.

Non-verbal communication is very critical part of communication which at times will coney unsaid and hide things. It plays a vital role while commuicating with others and all sholud master in it.  Without exchange of words it says many things about ppl and one can view oneof the  pillar of Human character through it.

July 11, 2010 01:435
venumadhav
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Re: Body Language for Successfull HR

true your body speaks for it self before you speak.
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