Leadership and Body Language. 5 Keys to Communicating with Your Team

5 Keys to Communicating with Your Team

Leadership and body language. How are they related? A phrase we came across online caught our attention: "For others to see you as a leader, you have to act as if you believed it yourself." And it's true. At least, that's what experts on the subject say. It's not enough to have certain leadership skills or qualities to become a leader — you also need to know how to project that image to others, especially when it comes to your employees. And there are different leadership and body-language tips and guidelines you can learn that can help you achieve it.

5 Keys to Communicating with Your Team:

1.- Naturalness above all. Watch your posture and movements, because they say a lot about you. When communicating with your team or employees, it's best to adopt as natural a posture as possible, one that fosters a pleasant atmosphere and conversation. Pay special attention to your feet and legs — don't move them excessively, don't stand with your legs too far apart or put your hands in your pockets. In fact, the less you move them, the better. According to Carol Goman (a body-language expert), reducing your movements can help you gain authority. You need to project an image of someone confident, calm and self-assured, so maintain deep, steady breathing, with controlled movements.

2.- Your face also says a lot. Don't forget your expressions, of course. Just as body movement can express nervousness or calm, your face will be the main focus of attention. Experts recommend paying special attention to your gaze, which should convey confidence and decisiveness. It's important to always look the other person in the eye, hold their gaze, make an impression on whoever's in front of you. That conveys confidence in yourself and in the message you want to communicate.

3.- A tone of voice suited to your message. Voice is another element through which we communicate, reflecting our mood and personality. A tone of voice that's too low when addressing your team can convey insecurity in your words, even fear. A tone that's too loud can come across as excessive authority. Ideally, in a conversation with your team or in a negotiation, you should vary your tone as the conversation unfolds, raising it to emphasise certain points. Another good tip is to make your words more precise by separating certain syllables and pointing with your finger, to give your message more impact. Something quite common in politics, for example.

4.- Upright but relaxed. Maintain a straight posture, back straight and head held high (which will also make you look a few centimetres taller), without coming across as too arrogant, and trying to project a relaxed image. With your walking pace, you need to try to convey confidence, trust, and also authority.

5.- Answering questions, quite the science. As body-language experts recommend, you should avoid taking too long to answer a question, since that will convey insecurity. Nor should you give the impression of carefully choosing the exact words the other person wants to hear. As much as possible, avoid expressions like "Uhhh", "Mmmm", which can convey nervousness or even insecurity in your message. Before answering, experts also recommend looking upward, and avoiding looking sideways or down, since this can be interpreted as shyness or a lack of confidence.

This quote from American diplomat and politician John Quincy Adams describes very well what it means to be a leader:

Leadership and Body Language. What You Should NOT Do

• Avoiding the other person's gaze and avoiding eye contact.
• Hunching your shoulders up, since it can give the impression of being defensive.
• Keeping your fists clenched.
• Speaking in too low a tone, which can convey insecurity or fear.
• Moving your hands and fingers too much, touching your lips, nose or eyes excessively. All of this can convey nervousness and insecurity.
• Smiling too much. Of course, do smile when shaking the other person's hand upon meeting or greeting them, but smiling excessively can be counterproductive. Only smile when the situation calls for it.
• Avoiding greeting the other person.
• Keeping your arms crossed throughout the whole conversation. According to some experts, this gesture can convey the message that we're shutting down or ending the conversation.

And, above all, don't forget that everything can be learned, and there are corporate methods and activities and Team Building in Madrid and Barcelona to improve both your leadership and body language and your communication with your team. Ask us!