Although anthropologists, linguists and social psychologists have been studying body language and its interpretation for many years, it was only really when Desmond Morris’ famous book ‘Manwatching’ was first published in 1977 (an updated version was later published under the title of Peoplewatching in 2002) that the general public began to take a closer interest in the subject.
 
A few years before this, in 1971, Albert Mehrabian identified three key elements to face-to-face communication – words, tone of voice and body language, and suggested that, in situations where feelings and attitudes are being expressed, the non-verbal elements are particularly important.  His studies showed that where the words that a person is saying and their non-verbal communication do not match up, the watcher/listener is more likely to trust the stronger message, ie the body language.  According to Mehrabian, words account for 7%, tone of voice for 38% and body language for 55%.  Now, while his findings can only be applied to particular communication situations, they do give a good indication of the importance of body language in modern day society.
 
When we prepare for a job interview, most of us, understandably, tend to concentrate on the words.  It is through these that we hope to communicate our suitability for the role and our match with the employer’s requirements.  Our body language is something that we just tend to accept as being part of who we are, and so we do not usually give it much consideration.  Are we missing something important, however?
 
Imagine for a moment that you are an interviewer, and that the interviewee sitting in the chair opposite you is fiddling with his fingers and staring at the floor while answering your questions.  What impression would you have of this person?  Would he seem confident?  Would he even seem trustworthy?  Probably not.  Or how about if you ask him his reasons for leaving his previous job and he begins to explain that he did not find the position challenging enough, but stares at you boldly and barks his response?  Would you interpret his body language and aggressive tone of voice as defensiveness?  Would you feel that perhaps he was trying a little too hard to convince you of something that is not true?  Perhaps.
 
Whether it is the way that we enter a room, the way we shake hands, the level of eye contact, our posture or our tone of voice, these, often unconscious, signals say a lot about us.  Are we just stuck with these behaviors, however, or is there anything we can do to improve our non-verbal communication?
 
The answer is yes, we can do something to improve it, but the key to this is being aware of it in the first place.  Now, while you could try checking out your own body language in front of a mirror, you are likely to become a little distracted by watching over your shoulder for the men in white coats, or worse still, the kids!  A better method is to enlist the help of a friend – a friend with a video camera.  Role-play a job interview and then ask your friend for feedback.  When you watch the recording back, look for clues as to your subconscious behavior, paying particular attention to:
 
·         Eye contact – Did you look your interviewer directly in the eyes when you met and shook hands?  Was it just a look, or were you trying to stare him out?  When you were asked a question that made you feel uncomfortable, did you look away when you replied?
 
·         Movement – When you came into the room, did you march up to the interviewer in a way which might be interpreted as aggressive or threatening, or were you cautious and reticent?  Did you tap your feet or drum your fingers on the arm of the chair?  
 

·         Voice – How quickly did you speak?  Did it sound as though your tongue was running away with you?  Did you sound like you were shouting, or were you mumbling to yourself?  Was there any point where your tone of voice sounded defensive, aggressive or sarcastic even?
 

·         Gestures – Did you use your hands reasonably to express yourself, or were your arms flailing about like a demented windmill?
 

·         Posture – Did you sit upright in your chair, or were you slumped like a sack of potatoes?  Were you facing the interviewer or turned away from him? 
 

·         Touch – How was your handshake?  Was it all loose and sloppy?  Was your grasp so tight that it made the interviewer wince?  Or was it firm and confident?

The messages we send out through our body language can be powerful.  They can demonstrate whether we are insecure or self-confident.  They can give an indication as to whether we are lying or telling the truth.  They can show whether we are stressed, amused, confused, interested or sincere.  Watch closely next time you see President Obama on the television.  Now there is a man who does not need to shout to get his point across, or to point his finger aggressively at his audience.  He displays friendliness, sincerity and confidence, not just by what he says, but by the way that he says it, and his body language.  He walks with his head held high and his shoulders back, he shakes hands firmly but not forcefully, and he uses his hands appropriately to express himself.  He believes in himself, and this comes across.
 
Compare this to Bill Clinton when he testified in the Monica Lewinsky case.  His hands covered his mouth and he constantly clenched and unclenched his jaw.  Almost the whole time that he was speaking his gaze was towards the floor and what little eye contact there was with anybody was only fleeting. 
 
While positive body language will not help to get you a job that you are not qualified for, it will strengthen your case in a situation where you are qualified.  Not only this, but in all walks of life it will help you to feel self-confident and in control, so be aware and practice.  Walk tall and you will feel tall! 

Sourced: http://www.integritycareertransitions.com/blog/?p=61