Reading Body Language with Emotional Intelligence

Studies show that your body language communicates up to 50 percent of what you want to say. Paying attention to a person’s body language can help you begin to understand what he or she might really be feeling. Here are some important body-language signs to watch for:

• Anger: Hands on hips posture or arms folded, pounding heart, sweating and rapid breathing, fists clenched, eyes staring

• Happy: Relaxed body, smiling, open arms and legs, relaxed and prolonged eye contact

• Anxious: Restlessness, pounding heart, rapid breathing

• Interest: Leaning forward

• Fury: Cold focused stare, loud and rapid speech

• Sadness: Drooping body, downcast eyes, mouth turned down

• Surprise: Eyebrows up, wide eyes, mouth open, movement backward

• Embarrassment: Red or flushed face, looking away from others, avoiding direct eye contact, false smile or grimace