Cultivating and maintaining relationships is a cornerstone in creating and retaining success in the business world.  Business is personal, and it will always be so.  Therefore it is important to thoroughly understand the nonverbal cues you encounter from customers, vendors and fellow employees.  Body language cues can be subtle and confusing, so refresh your understanding with these telltale signs.

Open Body Language means a person is receptive to your ideas or message.  Such signs include:

• Eye contact that is relaxed but maintained for slightly longer periods of time.  For some, their pupils may even dilate as their interest grows,
• Leaning inward or closer to you as you talk,
• Subtle head nods while you talk, 
• Touching your hand, arm or shoulder when making a point in conversation.

Closed Body Language generally entails a tense or defensive posture.  Some of those signs include:

• Eye contact is avoided and the person may continually look around the room; occassionally the person may alternate with short periods of agressive or intense staring,
• Staying perfectly still, freezing their body to help them hide their negative feelings towards you,
• Defensive postures such as curling their shoulders inward slightly and pointing their chin downward,
• Leaning away from or physically moving away from you as you speak.

Experts believe that less than 10% of information exchanged in a typical conversation comes from conversation.  make sure you understand how you are verbally communicating, and use this information to adjust your message to the other person;s interest level.