5 Most Frequent Gestures That Give Us Away - Image

When going to an important meeting or interview, we are usually fixated on what we are going to say, what questions we want to ask and how to position ourselves. Maybe we’ll rehearse a few flashy lines to impress in the conversation and leave the rest for later. But research has shown that our words make up only a tiny fraction of our communication. For the most part, these are non-verbal (taking into account the tone of voice) and unspoken signals, gestures that can support or easily undermine our presentation during a conversation

What gestures can give us away?

Many of our non-verbal communications, such as gestures, posture, facial expressions, and eye contact, are closely related to the state of mind and may not always occur on a conscious level. This makes management difficult and unpredictable. Every part of our body says something (sometimes unintentionally), which means that we are constantly sending messages, even when we are not talking, and this can greatly affect how we are perceived.

1. Arms crossed on the chest

A classic, easily visible gesture, this gesture is often used when angry or impatient with another person or situation. It is also a gesture that conveys the need to establish a separation or barrier between us and others due to insecurity or even lack of interest.

2. Hands in pockets

Holding the hips with your hands can have two main meanings, and the opposite. The first and probably the most famous is the one associated with anger or impatience, but on the other hand, it can also indicate insecurity that makes us try to become "wider" in the eyes of others, with our elbows apart. In fact, both interpretations have something in common: they involve adopting a defensive posture and showing safety, which makes us more visible, whether we do it from a more aggressive point of view or use it as a method of self-defense.

3. Handshake

One of the common gestures that betray us, since shaking hands can provide more information about what happens when we shake someone's hand. Although this is a type of conscious movement, it includes aspects that may elude control, such as the level of force applied or whether it is accompanied by another type of physical contact. Formless contact or touching with only fingers usually expresses weak self-confidence, nervousness, rejection or lack of interest in the interaction itself. Conversely, squeezing too hard can convey the idea of wanting to suppress the other by taking a dominant and aggressive stance.

4. Shoulder direction

We often don't realize how expressive shoulders can be. Orienting and tilting these body parts forward usually suggests an interest (regardless of the type of interest) in the person you are interacting with or in what you are being told. On the other hand, if our shoulders move away from the interlocutor, this may indicate indifference, disinterest, or boredom.

5. Chest wheel

Puffing up the chest is a gesture that may be unconscious and may reflect an attempt to appear larger in order to impress or show strength. This is a defensive or even aggressive gesture. In a different context, in both men and women, regardless of sexual orientation, the fact of "inflating" the breast is used unconsciously in front of people who are arousing and attractive. In this sense, men inflate their breasts to show strength and increase their figure, while women tend to seek positions that accentuate their breasts.