Running on autopilot can work for aeroplanes, but it won’t get you far as a non-native English-speaking professional.

You see, in today’s fast and ever-changing business world, most professionals work on autopilot.

Autopilot is about having a meeting with everyone’s laptop open, discussing an issue while watching your mobile phone, having one-on-one conversations without looking at each other.

Furthermore, if you are the presenter, meeting coordinator or speaker, the chances are you make the same mistakes as above, too.

You may establish no eye contact with your audience and overuse your body parts, signalling anxiety, stress, unease and, unfortunately, lack of confidence.

This is what running on autopilot means. These signs must warn you that most probably you can’t get your message across effectively or at all.

Your body language is flawed, and despite your best efforts to speak English like a pro and reach your goals, you can’t seem to get a breakthrough.

You usually realise or understand it much later when you can’t do anything about it.

Before elaborating on how to improve, let’s dive into science a little bit. No worries! No physics or chemistry knowledge is a prerequisite.

I will just show you some numbers, and you will see how bad it can be.

The science behind body language 

Did you know that only 7% of communication in English is verbal? The rest, 93% depends on your body language when speaking English.

Most professionals focus entirely on grammar and vocabulary, neglecting other sides of communication that can help them speak naturally & CONFIDENTLY.

I can’t stress enough the importance of confidence when speaking English at work. If you got it, you are almost there. If you don’t, things are getting harder.

How you use your body when you speak English signals various things to the person or audience you are talking to.

So, why miss out on the opportunity to rise and shine? 

Throughout my years on the job as an English coach for professionals, I’ve found there are 3 common mistakes that hold you back from communicating effectively at work.

Read on to discover them as well as handy tips to fix them on the go.

The 3 most common body language mistakes professionals make & how to fix them instantly

1. 𝗔𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘆𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁

Our eyes speak for ourselves, and they speak the truth in most cases.

If you don’t look others in the eyes when you talk to them, this signals a lack of confidence or shyness. Or even lack of TRUST. 

Are you hiding something? Of course not, so get your eyes up & face others with eye contact.

2. 𝗦𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴

A poor posture makes you look uncomfortable, to say the least. It may also indicate that you are disinterested or bored (which is not good when communicating with a client, your colleagues or your boss).

So, stand tall, keeping your arms open to the side. 🙋

If you are sitting, sit correctly without leaning towards the sides or the front. Make yourself look professional, open and accessible.🙌

3. 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆

This is another no-no in the communication game.

Moving your hands around all the time, rubbing your palms or fidgeting signal you feel uncomfortable or uneasy. They may also distract your audience. 💤

None of these facilitates effective communication. It’s not easy to stop doing it, of course, but as a first step become aware that you do it and start improving it day by day.

5 ways to improve your body language for good

Curious to find out ways to use your body the best way possible when speaking English at work? Coming up next!

Before that, let me explain what the 5 essential body language elements are. And guess what! They are linked to specific parts of your body.

Just like pronunciation is how you use your mouth muscles (lips, tongue etc.), body language is about how you use your

• Body as a whole
• Head
• Eyes
• Hands
• Legs & feet

If you manage to control them, you are almost there! Let’s say 90%. The rest is about what’s included in the last section of this article. (Be patient, you’ll get there within minutes).

First, let me share the 5 best ways to improve your body language significantly & nail it.

1. Show confidence in your body.

There is nothing worse than poor posture when speaking English at a meeting or presentation.  Avoid shrinking your body or hunching.  Stand (or sit) straight, with your arms to the side. Show you are open, calm and relaxed. Be expansive enough with your body language to signal confidence yet not arrogance.

2. Keep eye contact.

Avoiding eye contact signals, you may be hiding something, or you feel disinterested. Your eyes speak for yourself and can establish a powerful connection with the person you are talking to. Make sure you look them in the eyes and if it becomes uncomfortable, try the triangle trick: move your eyes from one eye to the other eye and then to the mouth to not stare awkwardly.

3. Control your hands.

Keep it cool with your hands. Don’t rub them during a meeting or when talking to others. Avoid excessive use of your hands, which shows you are uneasy, anxious or in a hurry. Use your hands wisely to highlight a point even more or to point to something that can reinforce your argument, like touching your heart if you want to spark emotion.

4. Focus on your head.

There is nothing worse than looking like you are wandering off or looking bluntly elsewhere in the room when speaking to someone. Pay attention to your head movements.  Show you are focused, interested and engaged in the conversation taking place. Keep your head up, and straight to the people you are talking to.  Show them an appreciation for their time and effort.

5. Ground your feet.

The legs are the furthest from your brain, so it’s harder to control them. Make sure you don’t fidget with your legs while talking. It shows you are uneasy and restless. Instead, keep a firm position with your feet on the floor to stay grounded. If necessary, move around the room at a confident, steady pace.

How mindfulness can help improve your body language when speaking English at work

Many professionals ask me if mindfulness can realistically help with their body language when speaking in a language other than their native one at work.

My answer is 💯. This is why I’ve introduced mindfulness into my work with clients, professionals like you who desire to speak English naturally and confidently. 

Being mindful can help you present yourself the right way, letting your 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 and 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 shine. 

You also become aware of others’ 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 when your talk to them, and learn how to become a 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 and get your message across.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗜 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀?

Mindfulness makes YOU choose how you want to present yourself & how to communicate your message while being aware of how your audience may feel or think so that you can influence them.

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝟯 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲

– 𝗕𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗧. Live the moment, appreciate the opportunity to be there and talk to your colleagues, clients or boss. Take an open and positive approach and let this reflect in your body language: stand tall and straight, keep your arms relaxed, look people in the eyes. All these signal a welcoming and trustful vibe.🤗

– 𝗔𝗖𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪𝗟𝗘𝗗𝗚𝗘 𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗗. Communication is an interactive process. Both you and your audience are equal parts of the process. Become aware of your message and goal and how others feel or might feel: keep your head straight without wandering off elsewhere mentally. Keep your feet to the floor and your legs straight. Use your hands to show emotions. Maintain eye contact.👀

– 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗔 𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗗, 𝗡𝗢𝗡-𝗝𝗨𝗗𝗚𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗟 𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗔𝗖𝗛. Don’t look away from the people you are talking to. Don’t slouch or cross your arms or cross your legs. Maintain an open-minded approach by keeping an open and confident posture. Don’t judge so others won’t judge you either. Kindness can relax your mind and body and show more confidence. 🙋

 (you can download the graphic below by double-clicking on the image and saving it. Keep it for future reference and/or stick it somewhere you can see it everyday for inspiration and action) 

In any case and on any business occasion where you need to speak English, keep in mind that body language is about your body and how you use it to your benefit, both to feel better yourself and to get your message across to others.

An open, positive and empathetic body language can help you start new meaningful conversations and build new relationships based on trust and empathy.

This in turn, will help you achieve your personal and professional goals faster and more sustainably.

It’s an open door to more opportunities and success. However you define the latter.

Check out the video below for 3 simple, yet super handy, tips for nailing your English in front of an audience with the help of mindfulness.

In any case and on any business occasion where you need to speak English, keep in mind that body language is about your body and how you use it to your benefit, both to feel better yourself and to get your message across to others.

An open, positive and empathetic body language can help you start new meaningful conversations and build new relationships based on trust and empathy.

This in turn, will help you achieve your personal and professional goals faster and more sustainably.

It’s an open door to more opportunities and success. However you define the latter.

~~~

Here at ProEnglish, this is my end goal. To empower non-native, highly-skilled professionals like you to claim what you deserve by breaking down the language blockage in a safe, kind and trustful environment.

I am Vera Daskalaki, your mindful English coach. You, being here and reading this, really means a lot to me. Let me know if anything above hits a nerve, and feel free to send me any questions.

If you want to talk about your goals and struggles in English and create a customised plan, just like I’ve done for dozens of professionals in the past, book a free Clarity Call by clicking below.

BOOK YOUR FREE CLARITY CALL

It’s a free 30-min call. No commitment, no obligation. We will talk about your challenges and needs for business English and lay out a path to achieve your goals. 

No catch. Let’s talk and take it from there.