Eye contact is an essential aspect of communication, as it helps gauge interest and serves as a mechanism to help a conversation flow. Those who make eye contact during conversations and brief interactions can seemingly create a sense of ease amongst the individuals they are interacting with and open the dialogue into other areas without much force. During public speaking, it is beneficial for the presenter to make frequent eye contact with his audience, to not only communication with confidence, but also assert his own credibility. Avoiding eye contact portrays nervousness, self-consciousness and insecurity.
Human expressions cross cultural boundaries: All facial expressions carry identical meanings across cultures. Because of this, the face has the power to transmit countless messages in all parts of the world without saying a word. For example, a smile is a facial expression that can send a message of joy, closeness, affection or comfort. Anyone seeing a smile can sense these meanings and may perceive the person to be comfortable, friendly, approachable and/or inviting and is likely to be engaged during an interaction. The opposite is true with a scowl or a frown. These expressions transmit messages of irritation, frustration or anger which can make interacting with others difficult, as they may expect a short, inattentive and hostile interaction.
The way a person walks, stands, leans and sits can tell a lot about his level of comfort in a particular situation. Consider your perceptions of an individual that is rigid, rocking back and forth and won't look you in the face. You can sense his nervousness or insecurity. On the other hand, a person that stands tall, looks you in the face and has a relaxed demeanor communicates his confidence and interest in interacting with you. These subtle movements carry not-so-subtle messages that communicate vital information to others.
Many people can become uncomfortable if the person with whom they are interacting stand too close or too far away. A comfortable distance is important to maintain during everyday conversations to minimize discomfort and not invade another person's space. Intimate interactions. however, may dissolve if there is too much space between those communicating. A close proximity can also indicate aggression if the individuals are close to each other, trying to tower over one another. Because of these implications, physical space can communicate many feelings including warmth, friendliness, power and authority.
Whether an individual consciously thinks about it or not, he generally communicates several times a day using touch. Handshakes, fist pounds, high fives, hugs and pats on the back are used everyday, mostly as greetings or to communicate a job well done. A great deal of information is communicated in these actions. A firm handshake demonstrates confidence, while a weak handshake can communicate insecurity. A hug with wide arms conveys warmth, while a one-armed hug doesn't express as much openness or comfort.