Body language is something that is very important during communication, and it speaks volumes. Through body language, a person conveys ideas and impressions that he or she doesn’t do by speaking. By observing and understanding someone’s body language, you can understand what is actually going on in a person’s mind and what someone really feels about the topic that is under discussion.

The parts of the body that should be observed while trying to understand body language are: hands, face, head, arms, and legs. It has to be kept in mind that you have to observe all these parts in order to understand the meaning correctly.

One cannot master the art of understanding body language quickly, as it takes some experience. Evaluating body language is a skill that can be acquired over a period of time through interaction with different kinds of people.

The first and most important thing in understanding body language is observation and alertness. In order to correctly understand the signals conveyed through body language, it is important to know exactly when a change occurred in a person’s body, and what was it to which he reacted this way. Whether you are doing the talking or listening, it is important to keep an eye on the other person’s body gestures and facial expressions.

Face is a part of the body that usually gives away how a person is really feeling. The important things about the face are the skin colour, expression of the mouth and most importantly, the eyes. If there is a smile on a person’s face, it means that he is open to whatever is going on. The nature of the smile also matters a lot. You have to see if the smile is a forced one, or one that is natural and spontaneous. Another important thing is the facial colour.

The expression in someone’s eyes can be really useful as they have the ability to reflect feelings like anger, fear, envy, sadness, interest, happiness, boredom and many others. The movement of hands and arms should also be observed.

Feelings of frustration, excitement and defensiveness are portrayed in the gestures of arms and hands. A person who is excited would wave his hands and move his arms and hands in quick gestures. The crossing of arms usually indicates that the person is closed and being defensive. If the arms are crossed loosely, it indicates ease and a relaxed manner. Propped up elbows also indicate a relaxed manner.

The movement of the head also conveys many meanings. A lowered head usually means surrender or embarrassment, a tilted head shows that the person is interested. The nodding and shaking of the head can be taken as a yes and a no. Nodding can also indicate emphasis on a point and people also shake their heads when in a state of disbelief. A slight movement of the head is usually used to point in someone’s direction.

If you understand body language, you are able to see through people and you can tell when someone is lying to you. It also gives you an insight about what is going on in someone’s mind.