How Others May Misinterpret Your Body Language

In business it's always important to present yourself in the best light possible, but do you realize when you talk you aren’t just communicating with your words? In fact, you are communicating with your whole body.

Human beings are genetically programmed to look for facial and behavioral cues and to quickly evaluate their meaning. Nonverbal signals play a key role in helping us form quick impressions. But, as innate as this ability may be, not all of our impressions are accurate.

For example: In our prehistory, it may have been vitally important to see an approaching person’s hands in order to evaluate his intent. In a business meeting today, with no logical reason to do so, we still instinctively mistrust someone who keeps his hands out of sight — in his pockets, below the table, or behind his back.

That’s why your nonverbal signals won’t always convey what you intended them to. In fact, when people read your body language, you can count on them making five major mistakes.

Watch the video below then read more on that topic at Forbes.com