Your Body, Your Language

You are judged in an instant. We all do it unconsciously. Either you connect with someone, or you do not. What you wear, what you say, and also what you do not say. Body language is so critical. You literally have 3 seconds to make that critical connection. Here are a few tips I've learned from the experts over my comms and TV career. Most important you have ben yourself. People can sniff inauthenticity a mile a away.

• Smile. Broadly.
• Direct eye contact.
• Face the person directly. Turn your body completely in their direction.
• Greet a person with your exposed wrists facing up. In old times this showed that you had no weapons and you are not a danger. In modern times, it shows you have no agenda. Think about politicians rolling up hair sleeves, exposing their wrists. It's communicating to us, this person is open, no agenda here.
• Do not touch your face, or hide your mouth. It shows lack of confidence, insecurity, or worse, you have something to hide.

If you play with your hair, or stroke it, you are signaling to the other person that you are interest in them. Long eye contact, more than 3 seconds, is telling them... hello ....