Body Posture
The way we hold ourselves, our body posture , makes a big contribution to our body language and conveys our level of self-confidence. By orienting our body towards someone, we show attentiveness. By falling away from them or leaning back, we show a lack of interest and some level of reserve. When we are feeling low in confidence and want to hide away, we hunch our shoulders and keep our heads down. When we are feeling aggressive or are trying to defend our space, we puff ourselves up.
Our posture gives signals about our interest in something, our openness, our attentiveness and our mood. For instance, a lot of people feeling sad will give that information by the way they hold their shoulders. Not only do we see it in their body posture, shoulders sagging and head down, but also in the way they have very little eye-contact. They say to the world in fact that they are not interested in their environment nor the people in it. Our body posture often reflects quite well how we feel.
Another feeling we can communicate with our body posture is one of respect for someone else. Turning our body to someone when they are talking to us indicates that we are interested in hearing what they have to say. It is an act of friendliness and respect and often rewards itself when we get it back from the other person. A small effort in this way can make the difference between being accepted by others or not.
A body posture can be closed or open. Someone who does not feel too comfortable when they are with someone else will often assume a closed position. He or she will possibly have crossed arms or legs or will hold an object such as a bag in front. The bag as well as the crossed arms and legs provide a bit of a barrier and protection for feeling vulnerable. Trust has a lot to do with it and it is often natural to begin the contact with someone we do not know with a bit of a closed body position until we have established some level of trust and comfort that goes with that.
All things considered, standing erect, but not rigid, and leaning slightly forward communicates to students that teachers are approachable, receptive and friendly. Furthermore, interpersonal closeness results when the teacher and the students face each other. Speaking with the back turned or looking at the floor or ceiling should be avoided; it communicates disinterest to the class.
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