Stay Tuned With Work Colleagues
It was Tejashree’s first day at work. She really liked the culture in this new company and was eager to gel in. She knew her work would speak of her dedication and proficiency but her colleagues would be forming an impression of her long before she got substantial work to do and perform. Also, creating the correct rapport was going to be essential not only with her counterparts but also with her boss.
Mastering the basic body language gestures can be useful for new comers at work like Tejashree. It can also be used on an ongoing basis to maintain a healthy channel of communication with people you work with. Here are a few basic ways to start creating positive rapport.
Eye contact:
It is important to maintain atleast a few seconds of eye contact with people you meet or greet. Saying a hello with a smile and looking them in the eye will let you connect with people on a personal level.
Handshake:
The handshake is normally offered during formal introductions, especially during meetings with clients or salesmen. It speaks volumes about your confidence and sincerity. The handshake has to be brief and firm, matching the pressure of the other person’s handshake. Limp or wet handshakes will put people off. For people like Tejashree, one good handshake can suffice for hours of trying to build a positive impression.
Listen carefully to others: It is a good practice to nod once in a while when listening to someone else talking. Keep an open posture, without folding or crossing your arms during meetings and discussions. Open postures will help you aquire an open attitude and signify the same to the person you are conversing with.
Speak with confidence:
Use a smooth pitch and open arm gestures when you communicate. Don’t slouch when you speak. It will definitely not make you appear confident.
Be aware of your own gestures and expressions:
The best way to improve your gestures is to be aware of them in the first place. Till the time you can master techniques to positively influence people, learn to keep checking on things like how often you smile, how firm your handshake is, whether you actively listen to someone, whether you use open arms to communicate, etc.
Learn to read others’ signals:
People are always communicating, one way or the other. So if someone is liking what you are saying, you will see it in their body language. If your argument is not reaching across to your colleagues or your boss during a meeting, they will be gesturing the same to you in different ways. With practice, you can learn to decipher these signals.
To conclude, you might be a little apprehensive when joining a new place and getting a fresh chance to build a good impression. Don’t let it bog you down so much that you forget to focus on your work. Tejashree will assure you these few basic tips went a long way to help her sail through. And remember to always keep brushing on your inter personal skills, be it your ability to communicate, or to work alongside with colleagues.
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