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Education

• Head motions: Starting when they are very young, than that. Your posture shows where you are hold-
we teach children to use head motions to commu- ing tension in your body, and it can say a lot about
nicate. However, most adults fall into the habit of you in a workplace setting.
using them without thinking, and this can send the
right message—or the wrong one. Slouching is a universal signal for disengagement,
often giving the impression that you are bored or
Nodding along while someone is talking can show not interested in the topic. If slouching is a constant
that you are listening and approve of what they are habit, you might even come off as lazy or disinter-
saying. This is a great motion to use during meet- ested in your job as a whole.
ings and conversation, and it can have a positive
impact. However, too much nodding can make you A rigid body is the opposite of slouching. It is a vis-
seem uncertain or like a people pleaser (see https:// ible tension carried throughout the spine and shoul-
tinyurl.com/mry5zftj). ders. It is another posture option that often sends
the wrong message. When you are rigid, you can
Shaking your head, on the other hand, can convey seem inconvenienced, rude or even angry.
negativity and disapproval. Using this during a
meeting can make you seem unhappy, argumenta- Having a casual posture that includes being taught
tive or even lead you to make the speaker feel less and relaxed can help you to strike a better balance.
confident. The takeaway
• Eye contact: Maintaining eye contact is a universal When you can see body language at work in others, you
indicator that you are paying attention, but how you can better understand how they feel beneath the surface.
do it matters. Although general eye contact can help However, when you can control it for yourself, you gain
show engagement and interest, sharp eye contact the ability to make sure that there is a clear alignment in
can make it seem like you are unhappy or disap- all of your communication methods. To start practicing,
proving. Be sure to soften your gaze and keep your observe the people around you or try filming yourself to
eye contact neutral to avoid intimidating the indi- see what kind of messages you are sharing.
vidual you are speaking with.
• Hand gestures: There are many popular hand ges- In part three of this series, I'll discuss mirroring body lan-
tures, and most of us use them without thinking. guage and how it can help you to be a more effective com-
This can be a good thing, but it can also be a very municator.
bad thing depending on which gestures you choose.
Nicholas Cucci is the co-founder and COO of Fluid Pay LLC. Cucci is also a
Clapping or the "fist pump" motion can convey posi- graduate of Benedictine University and a member of the Advisory Board
tive emotions and show support or excitement. In a and Anti-Fraud Technology Committee for the Association of Certified
lot of cases, this is a great way to show positivity in Fraud Examiners, as a CFE himself. Fluid Pay is the ONLY 100 percent
the workplace. However, hand gestures can just as cloud-based Level 1 PCI Payment Gateway processing transactions
quickly be negative.
anywhere in the world. Contact Nick at Nick@FluidPay.com. Benefits of
Fidgeting, throwing your hands out, or making a crypto for the underbanked
fist can all communicate negative messages. Fidg-
eting can be perceived as nervousness or boredom.
Throwing your hands out or making a fist can Call me today!
seem aggressive and unhappy (see https://tinyurl. Let me help you
com/46ekk9s8). with your
Holding your hands in a comfortable position is a advertising
great neutral option that can demonstrate a sense of success.
calm and awareness.

• Personal space: Chances are that you don't try to get 707-284-1693
too close to your co-workers, but the distance you
share does matter. A large distance, for example,
is likely to give the impression that you don't want
someone near you. A shorter distance, conversely,
can tell your coworkers that you feel comfortable
with them. These simple factors can influence your
relationship with others. R R
• Posture: We often think of posture as slouching ick Aston
or not slouching, but it actually goes much deeper Senior Media Partnership Specialist
Rick@greensheet.com
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