Posture is a non-verbal communication.
There was not much scientific focus on non-verbal communication until 1969, when researchers Ploog and Melnechuk started a movement to study non-verbal communication patterns. They broadened the definition of communication to include all signals (not just verbal) organisms send each other. In 1972, researcher Albert Mehrabian made a bold statement -- that communication can be up to 93 percent non-verbal, under the right conditions. While in real life situations non-verbal communication does not dominate, enhanced use of non-verbal communication can add dimensionality, emphasis and influence to a conversation.
Posture
Straighten your posture to convey confidence.
Slouched posture conveys fatigue, poor health or low self-esteem. By contrast, a relaxed but straight posture conveys health, vitality and confidence. Note the posture of the person you are communicating with. To convey a positive message with self-assurance, straighten your posture. When applying for a job interview, for example, if you are the candidate that is sitting up straight, you convey interest and confidence. The candidate who is slouched looks like he does not care, and the candidate who is overly rigid looks like he might be rigid and unyielding in job performance duties.
Proximity
Relaxed posture with an open stance conveys interest.
Leaning forward and facing someone conveys interest, while the opposite behavior conveys that you are uninterested, offended or dissociating. An open stance with open arms is a good way to reinforce a message that you are engaged in what the other person is saying. If you are out on a date, for example, and you are interested in the other person, leaning forward with an open posture conveys this message. By contrast, if you are sitting far away from the person, not looking at them, and crossing your arms, you may, even inadvertently, be conveying that you are not interested in her, bored or even offended by what she is saying.
Eye Contact
Maintaining eye contact is a good non-verbal communication symbol.
Staring at a person can be intimidating, while failing to meet their gaze may convey deception or poor self-confidence. Maintaining eye contact while periodically looking away is thought to convey a message of interest, respect and openness. When you are pulled over by a police officer and you fail to meet their gaze, you may be conveying to them that you have something to hide. By contrast, staring at them may suggest you are aggressive. The middle response, maintaining eye contact without staring, may be interpreted as open and disclosing.
Mirroring
Richard Bandler, the founder of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, indicates that mirroring someone's non-verbal communication patterns is an excellent way to establish rapport. This technique works well if you are trying to get the other person to disclose information to you. Mirroring means reflecting what the other person is doing. If the other person is sitting with their legs crossed, cross your legs. If their head is tilted to the left, tilt your head to the right in mirror image of them. The theory is that these non-verbal messages will send covert signals to the person that they are similar to you and they can trust you.
