You have to be aware of what you are saying at all times if you are in the business world. However, you also need to know that it’s not just about what you are actually saying with your mouth and rather it can completely be about what you are saying with your body. Any individual gives off body language, and that is why you have to know exactly what types of things to do in order to make others more comfortable and make them agree with you instead of turn them off when it comes to securing their business.
Not Mimicking Their Movements
According to Business Insider, one of the things that anyone must do is to have the same movements. This is simply because psychology says that when you find people that you like, your instant response is to copy them and do the same things as them. Naturally this means that when people are not doing the same thing as you, your body will subconsciously pick up on it and will be able to sense that something is off. However, by continuing to mimic the movements of the people you are speaking with, they will subconsciously pick up on the similarities and it could lead them to like you more as well.
Paying Attention to Other Modes of Communication
One of the worst things that you can do while you are in a meeting is to pay attention to other forms of communication. If you are with others then you can pull out your phone once in a while. That being said, if you are trying to sit down for a business meeting with a client, you have to think about what you are doing. Do you really want to say how important they are and then just dismiss them by having a phone always available just in case someone else calls? The use of video conferencing in business by BlueJeans is just one great way to avoid appearing like you are always paying attention to everyone else around you instead of the client right in front of you. You can still have a face-to-face meeting, but in the process, you will also be able to have the freedom and flexibility of still responding to things without anyone seeing you.
Fail to Make Eye Contact
According to USA Today, one of the worst things that an employee of an organization can do in a business related meeting is to fail to make eye contact. Not only could this show a sign of disrespect because you don’t care who you are speaking with nor do you care about their time in general, but it could also show that you aren’t confident about your product or service so you could lose some bargaining power or even some influence when it comes time to negotiate. You need to show that you are not only an expert of your craft, but that you are also able to put the other party first and foremost.
Displaying and Maintaining Poor Posture
When you think about the specifics of posture, then you should be thinking about confidence (or a lack thereof) and how it relates to people in sales positions. When you are trying to find a potential client then one of the most important things you can do is to show them how you are the right person for the job, how you are able to meet their needs, and how your product or service is superior. If you can’t even get through a basic discussion or meeting without appearing unconfident, then how can you continue to provide them with excellent service each and every day?
Mismatching Your Nonverbal and Verbal Communication
If you are trying to tell someone how excited you are, but you do so in a monotonous voice, then you are simply causing confusion. If you wind up going the other route, however, and exclaim loudly and waive your arms but you say that the product or service is just all right, then you could also be confusing to the other party as well. The fact of the matter is that individuals need to get a concrete message so that they know how to proceed with what you are saying. By being able to keep everything at the same level and on the same page, you will actually have a much easier time communicating and you won’t need to play games with the rest of your sales pitch or selling process.
As you can see, communication is something that people do naturally, but it is also something that everyone can work on. The most important thing is that you need to simply take the time to clarify what it is you are trying to do and then follow it up as clearly as you possibly can in all aspects and facets of your communication ability.