Kinesics
By Tan Wei Heng, Toh Wei Chuan,
Khor Yuk Liang, Ch'ng Liyang William
Even if the first impression does not work out, now is your time to change it. Now, true body language enters the picture. The persons brain is now processing your rate of approach, facial expressions, handshake, proximity and other detailemto formula an impression.
While the amygdala register the immediate impression of you, affecting the persons reaction to you, the rational neocortex will soon come in and evaluate you comprehensively.
Studies have shown that job interviews are basically decided within the first few minutes, and are based how much the interviewer likes the applicant, instead of the applicants background.
Projecting Confidence
Insecurity makes other people question your ability, credibility and even your likability.
Due to the mirror neurons in our brains: when you project confidence, the other person will absorb them and reflect it back to you
Smile
As they say, ‘the eyes are the window to the soul’. Your eyes play a very important role when trying to project confidence. A hand full of people tend to look at their feet when they are nervous. When we are intimidated, a sign of lacking in confidence is looking away. By looking away, we are looking for options of escape from the person or situation. Hence, making eye contact will show confidence. If you are afraid to look directly at the eyes of someone you can instead look at their foreheads. From their point of view, you are making eye contact.
We can identify a smile more easily compared to other expressions. When you smile to another person, his mirror neurons light up, causing him to mimic that smile. Through smiling, his body will release neurochemicals of happiness. Through smiling, we send the message of trust and sincerity.
So smile XD
Stand or sit up straight
Many emotions 'leak' through your feet. When talking to someone, if your feet is pointed at the exit, it implies that you do not want to talk to the person and is not interested. Subconsciously the person will pick it up and feel that there is something wrong about the conversation.
Thus remember to point your feet in the direction of your interest.
Whether you are standing or sitting, maintain a good posture. If you have to lean, make it slightly forward, that way it will give the impression that you appear more interested.
Pull your shoulders back and down, keep your chest high and elongate your neck.
Keep your feet pointed in the direction of who you are talking to
Arms at your side
If you cross your arm, it will be seen as a defensive gesture. On the other hand, if you put your hands behind you, it can be seen as a power stance.
The ideal method is to put your arms by your side. Although you might see this as meaningless, it might be pleasing to others as its symmetrical.
Strike a good impression
