Politicians, lawyers, and speakers face the challenge of communicating a message that makes a memorable impression on an audience. Needing to be likable and credible, they often hire experts to show them how to speak with confidence and use body language to be more effective communicators. But they aren’t the only ones who have to sway an audience to their way of thinking. You interact with people daily. Whether it’s your spouse, child, colleague, or customer, you need them to like you and listen to you.

Many people believe that these captivating, influential qualities are out of reach for them. But the truth is that everyone has their own unique characteristics that make them shine. It doesn’t matter what your occupation is; how you present yourself heavily influences whether leadership takes notice of you, which clients hire you, and what type of person dates you.

From the moment a person lays eyes on you, a perception of your character and temperament begins to take shape. This is because before you’ve introduced yourself, your choice of clothing, the pace of your walk, the expression on your face, and your hand movements announce the type of person you are likely to be. This is your persona.

If the feedback you received indicates that you’re being misjudged, then you aren’t transmitting the message you think you are. There is accuracy in what people see. Therefore, you have to make adjustments to get your nonverbal message in alignment with the impression you want to have on others.

Gain control of your image by doing the following:

1. Get clear on who you want to be and what you want to say. The only way to confidently walk into a room and be certain about the message you’re communicating is to be deliberate about your nonverbal communication in addition to what you want to say and how you say it.

2. Manage your emotions.  Fifty-five percent of your nonverbal message is communicated through your facial expressions. This means your thoughts, opinions, and feelings initially show up where people look first for clues about you—your face.

3. Maintain eye contact. Eye contact is the entry to connection with others. Your eyes are a big factor of your facial expression. Eye contact is a persuasive tool that helps you strongly communicate your message. You use eye contact to communicate attentiveness, agreement, and appreciation.

This is an excerpt from my book, 5 Steps to Assertiveness How to Communicate with Confidence and Get What You Want.  Click the link to order now.

Copyrights 2018 S. Renee Smith, www.srenee.com. For speaking or coaching services call 888-588-0423.