Navarro wrote a follow up to what Every Body is saying called The Dictionary of Body Language. We haven’t read it, but it is advertised as an encyclopedia of body language. Rapidly tapping fingers or fidgetingcan be a sign that a person is bored, impatient, or frustrated. And businesses can use it to train employees in effective sales techniques and customer service strategies.

You Say More Than You Think: A 7-Day Plan for Using the New Body Language to Get What You Want – Janine Driver, Mariska van Aalst Montgomery KJ, Isenberg N, Haxby JV. Communicative hand gestures and object-directed hand movements activated the mirror neuron system. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2007;2(2):114-22. doi:10.1093/scan/nsm004 Louder Than Words: Take Your Career from Average to Exceptional with the Hidden Power of Nonverbal Intelligenceby Joe Navarro Think for a moment about how much a person is able to convey with just a facial expression. A smile can indicate approval or happiness. A frown can signal disapproval or unhappiness. Hall described four levelsof social distance that occur in different situations. Intimate Distance: 6 to 18 inches

How to Use it: Make sure to mirror subtly. If someone nods their head vigorously in agreement, and you do the same, you may come off as too obvious—this can lead to suspicion or decreased rapport. To Increase Engagement: If you want someone to listen to something you are about to say, raise your eyebrows right before you deliver. Have you heard of the old Japanese maxim of the Three Wise Monkeys? You know, the picture of the three monkeys covering their eyes, ears, and mouth? This book demands you to pay attention to your interactions with others. You’ll notice their body language, whether or not they are nervous, how comfortable they are, and more. Keeping objects (like phones, bags, or glasses) out of the way when talking signals that you are fully present and open to the interaction.

All the lies that have ever been told or ever will be told fall into three categories, or strategies: lies of commission, lies of omission, and lies of influence. Presence | Amy Cuddy

How to Use It: Having a hard day at work? Try closing your eyes in a safe space and gently rubbing your eyelids while taking a breath. I’ve found just 30 seconds of this helps immensely and gives a sense of calm during a stressful day. Fidgeting with Objects And just like how they sound, these 2 broad categories of cues signal just how open (or closed) someone is from their external environment. Whether at a networking event talking to a random stranger you’ve just met, giving a presentation or speech or on a first date, knowing how to read these cues is key to knowing how receptive others are to you or the situation. You want to control as much of your body as possible. Your breathing, your body language(posture) your emotions, etc. A good rule of thumb is to only shake hands when you know the other person will warmly reciprocate it. Otherwise, a head nod is a good option—or wait for the other person to initiate the handshake.