On a recent rainy Sunday I had the opportunity to go see the movie “The Revenant” and it struck me that for all of the great screenplay and dialogue, the really gripping part of the movie was what wasn’t said – this great film was minimal in dialogue but conveyed a very powerful message. Actors know that body language speaks volumes, and the good ones use it subtly to persuade the audience. Poses, positions and postures tell the audience what to think about the character.
A job interview is no different, said Jodie Bentley, owner and co-founder of The Savvy Actor, a firm that coaches actors on the business of acting and teaches them how to market themselves. Your body language tells the interviewer things about you. Savvy job seekers know how important choosing the right words is when communicating with prospective employers. But what about nonverbal communication? You could be saying how great you are, but your body could be giving your true feelings away.
Mark Bowden, author of Winning Body Language, agrees with the highly regarded Mehrabian communication study, which found that if what’s coming out of your mouth doesn’t match what your body is saying, your audience is more likely to believe your body. Job interviews are notorious tightrope walks. You want to be confident, but not obnoxious; intelligent but not a know-it-all. Trying to find a balance and also explain why you deserve a job is hard enough. But what if your body language could help you out? The following article entitled “8 Great Tricks For Reading People’s Body Language by Dr. Travis Bradberry that appeared on Talent Smart recently might be just what you need to ace your next interview – or for that matter to help you get that next great raise or promotion when you have your next review!
You already pick up on more body language cues than you’re consciously aware of. UCLA research has shown that only 7% of communication is based on the actual words we say. As for the rest, 38% comes from tone of voice and the remaining 55% comes from body language. Learning how to become aware of and to interpret that 55% can give you a leg up with other people.
When you’re working hard and doing all you can to achieve your goals, anything that can give you an edge is powerful and will streamline your path to success.