Why is this important?
A large part of our communication is done through non-verbal communication. What that is? Researcher define it “as the transfer and exchange of messages in any and all modalities that do not involve words.”*
Aspects like paralanguage, voice, tonality, speaking rhythm and intonation, gestures, mimics, body posture, physical appearance and many more play a role.
What’s the tricky part with this? Every single person communicates with body language, but 1) it is up to each person how you interpret it, 2) this interpretation is culturally related, context dependent and unconsciously done, and 3) only very few people are consciously aware about their non-verbal communication habits.
It is essential to have awareness about your own perceptions: As body language is to a great extend employed unconsciously, the interpretation of such is as well, as we are looking at the world through our own eyes (to read more on this, please visit Culture-Why does it always start with me.) It behaves the same with body language: crossed hands and leaning back in a chair may not automatically mean disinterest or dismissal. The more we understand the role socialization plays in this, the less likely it makes us feel frustrated or confused when these situations occur.