Introduction Body language has always fascinated human beings. We have always wanted to understand the message behind the words; we have always wanted to know what people really mean by a glance, a blush or a gesture. Now we've realized not only that we can use body language to interpret other people's actions, but that we can also use it to give ourselves increased effectiveness in life. Now body talk can help us succeed in life, in love and at work. Humans have probably always known instinctively that our non-verbal communication is just as vital as our verbal communication. How many of us were told when young to 'stand up straight' because our parents realized that would make us look more intelligent, attractive or impressive. Now research has shown that if we alter the way we present ourselves to the world -- with friends, at work and in love -- we stand a much greater chance of success. This book explains how to improve your body language, and the specially commissioned illustrations show you what works and what doesn't. It encourages you to analyze and interpret others' bodytalk so that you can tell in advance how to respond to them, and then adapt your own bodytalk for maximum impact. Speechless The first chapter of the book explains what body language is and how to use it. It also includes the basic 'vocabulary' you need in order to read the book, and introduces the vital signs and essential guidelines for using body language in your life. Face to face By reading non-verbal signs you can be extremely accurate in analyzing what people are thinking and feeling, and even in reading their personality. How can you use body language to make initial contact with someone? How can you build friendship -- and how can you tell when friendship is fading? How can you make an impact socially, at parties, in small and large groups? The second chapter also explores different kinds of relationships you can have with others, personal and professional; how to get time alone and how to respect other people's need for solitude through your own body language; and finally, how to use body language to survive in public. Love signs The body language of intimate relationships is explored in chapter three. It first looks at what draws people to each other and how you can use this knowledge to create and build attraction. How can you move a relationship forward, both sexually by using passionate body language, and emotionally by understanding your partner and communicating your feelings to him or her? This chapter looks at relationship problems and how body language can be used to trouble-shoot. What happens when you argue? Is it possible to tell if a partner is having an affair? How can you use body language to develop a more honest relationship? What are the signals of a committed and long-term partnership? Office life chapter four takes non-verbal communication into the workplace. Coping with colleagues, making friends, maintaining status and surviving workplace affairs are all covered, as well as management issues -- how to handle your boss, and then how to cope when you become a boss yourself. Also discussed are interview tactics, and -- once you've gained your promotion -- how to use body language to lead your team. Reading the clues The final section of the book is a visual dictionary of body language. The illustrations show signals, movements and expressions, and the text provides interpretations. One expression or gesture can mean many different things -- it is only when bodytalk is read in context that you can really interpret it accurately. How to use the book This book is designed so that you can read it from cover to cover and get a comprehensive overview of what body language can do. But you can also dip into it, reading different sections for guidance on a particular situation such as an interview, a party, a date. If you do this, however, be sure to read chapter one first, as it gives you some basic ground rules for using body language. Study the pictures as well as the words. Even the captions can't tell the whole story, though; look at the illustrations again for yourself, and try interpreting every signal in them, not just the ones the text mentions. Finally, use the book as a starting point, adding to it from your own experience and learning what works for you and what doesn't. When it comes to bodytalk, given knowledge and practice, you can be your own expert. Excerpted from Body Language by Susan Quilliam All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
