Communication is far more than the words that come out of your mouth; in fact, most communication is non-verbal and silent. These are the myriad traits, behaviors, and features that convey a message to those around you, and they can be very powerful. You should always be cognizant of your own non-verbal communications to improve and enhance interactions and public speaking.

Consider these eight examples of non-verbal communication in your own interactions to communicate confidently and enhance your spoken message.

1. Eye Contact

The value of making solid eye contact cannot be overstated, and when you don’t or can’t make eye contact some may perceive you as shifty or untrustworthy. There is a fine line, however, between making good eye contact with another person and seeming like you are staring them down. This gets a bit more tricky in a large crowd. Who do you make eye contact with? What is the appropriate time to make eye contact before looking away? There are no hard and fast rules, but a good practice in crowds is to make your glances fleeting from face to face. In one-on-one situations, do what feels comfortable and be sincere. It helps to make eye contact whenever someone is speaking to you directly to show that you are paying attention. We teach some useful rules about the length of eye contact when presenting. Toastmasters recommends 3 to 5 seconds on an individual.

2. Facial Expressions

When it comes to non-verbal communication, facial expressions are immensely powerful. Your face can betray you when you are trying to say something that you don’t fully believe or endorse. For instance, some people roll their eyes whenever they hear something ridiculous even if they don’t admit that they feel this way. Smiles can indicate happiness or joy, while frowns suggest disappointment, sadness, or disdain. As for non-expressive, blank expressions, these may symbolize boredom or disinterest. Stoic or stone-faced expressions can be interpreted in a variety of different ways, so other cues may give away what you are feeling, such as how you are standing or the tone of your voice. Be aware of the expressions that you are sharing with the world and evaluate if they project with how you are actually feeling. Paul Eckman has developed extensive research on the minute facial expressions that can immediately be read as happy, angry, or confused across cultures, and regardless of what an individual is saying. There is nothing more off-putting than your words contradicting the expression on your face during an interaction with someone else, and it can be very confusing.

3. Posture

Good posture and standing tall can demonstrate confidence, so you should hold your head up high. Walking with shrugged shoulders or humped over can give the impression that you are unsure or lack self-esteem. You will want to not to fidget, shake, or move in a manner that shows you are feeling nervous or uncomfortable. If you are in a professional situation, like a job interview for example, try to mirror the physical mannerisms of the person interviewing you. Don’t do this in a weird or awkward way, but merely follow their lead as a way of unite yourself with their culture, and fostering a sense of familiarity with the person conducting the interview. After all, you may end up working for or with them.

4. Attentive Listening

Show that you are authentic and sincere with attentive listening skills, including a nod in acknowledgment when listening to someone else speak. Common courtesy dictates that you don’t speak until others are done, and that you don’t interrupt. Make sure that you listen, really listen to what others say, rather than feign listening while thinking about what you are going to say next. It is a very common behavior that can communicate a lot about you.

5. Tone

Another way that you are conveying a message or attitude is through the inflection and tone of your words. The voice that you use with others, or the Paralinguistics, which actually is related to how your voice communicates beyond the words that you use. Some examples of this include the volume of your voice, pitch, and inflection. Think about how someone may inflect whenever trying to be sarcastic or show disapproval, these types of voice fluctuations can add a whole other layer to the words that you are saying.

6. Handshake

There is a lot that can be communicated through a handshake, in fact many business schools and seminars focus on how to pull off the perfect, confident handshake. Engaging someone else through touch, such as the handshake, is about the only instance that you should touch someone you are not familiar with. Make sure it is a good one, firm, dry, and not too aggressive. Men and women should both be treated with respect and a handshake when meeting or making acquaintances, most particularly in professional situations.

7. Personal Space

Everyone needs personal space, and everyone’s necessary space depends on a lot of influential factors. Social norms, culture, personality, situation, and familiarity all play a role in how close we get or want others to get to us when engaging with us. For example, you may speak closely to an old girlfriend or grandchild, as close as 18” away, while you may stand four-feet from a neighbor from a comfortable distance during a friendly conversation. Standing further away may convey less of a casual relationship.

8. Appearance

What you wear when you get up in the morning, whenever you get ready for an important appointment, or even when you are hanging out at home, often says a lot about you. If you want to exude a sense of authority and confidence, consider dressing the part. You have probably heard that “clothes make the man” or to “dress for the job that you want, not the job that you have.” These common sayings both refer to the fact that making an outward impression can go a long way toward how you feel about yourself, and how you hold yourself. Demonstrate a put-together appearance whenever you are engaging with clients or colleagues, or when you are seeking employment and meeting with prospective hirers. This can communicate a lot to prospective employers. Don’t completely change who you are, you can still communicate your personality through your clothes, but think about fine-tuning and polishing your sense of style to suit the environment that you will be working in.

Perfecting Your Non-Verbal Communication

Create the image that you want to convey to the world with these suggestions, and with the style insights and information at London Image Institute. Learn from top consultants the latest trends and tips from industry insiders. Visit London Image Institute to learn more.

There is a lot more to communicating than mere words; use these tips to make a point, without saying a thing. Pay attention to what you are saying in the way that you dress, stand, think, and act in your interactions with others, both professionally and personally. Also, visit the London Image Institute for style and trend tips that will enhance your own confidence and communications with the world around you, and that may teach you to consult others in the field.