It never ceases to amaze me how people react to the topic of “body language”.  Everyone knows it is important but yet so few do something about it.  Event the simplest changes can make a world of difference.  Here are 5 simple tips from a post I saw on CEO.com.  Again, this is simple stuff…to learn more about how to improve your influence, check out this video http://www.followrene.us/solutions/professional-influence/

Effective communication is critical in any business and it’s not always necessary to use words. Here are some body language techniques that work.

Industrial psychologists and others can give you statistics on verbal and non-verbal communication, but I have been led to believe that as much as 60% of communication is body language. That seems a little high but I can tell you from experience it’s pretty close to the mark.

In my experience body language can shift a conversation much more quickly than the spoken word. Here are some examples and how they might be used.

Symmetry

Symmetry is basically your position to the person you are communicating with. Let’s say you and the other person are sitting in chairs. They are facing toward you, but you are facing 45 degrees from them. Your symmetry is off. If your head is cocked to one side, or one side of your body does not match the other then the symmetry is off.

By shifting to face the other person and leaning forward with an open posture you can indicate acceptance and interest and encourage the other person to follow this line of conversation. By turning away and closing your posture you can get them to shift the focus and communicate your lack of interest in this line of communication.

Height

Some executives use height to demonstrate their dominant position buy raising their chair higher while making the chairs on the other side of the desk lower. This is wrong because during open communications you want to be at the same height as the person with whom you are communicating.

I frequently use height to politely end a conversation. We have all worked with someone who frequently interrupts and drones on. When they entered my office and sat down, I would stand up. This generally ended things pretty quickly so I could get on with my day.

Posture

Posture can convey interest or disinterest. You can slouch or sit up straight. Each of these actions conveys something to the other person.

Open and closed positions

If you fold your arms across your chest it is generally viewed as a closed posture. You are communicating that you are not listening. Arms at your sides communicate a willingness to listen.

Facial expression

I love this one. Many of you that are parents use this on a regular basis.  One of my children will ask a question or make a statement and they can read my face like a book. A scowl, squinting the eyes in an “I don’t understand” way or just shaking the head can convey much more than the spoken word.

I have heard people coach on body language. They say sit up straight to maintain an open position and use positive body language always. I think that’s like signalling a landing aircraft on a carrier with all positive signals. Bad idea. Sometime you need them to do something different. So the next time you speak with someone, use the information here and gauge the response. You might be surprised.

To learn more about how to improve your influence, check out this video http://www.followrene.us/solutions/professional-influence/

source:  Inc. Magazine http://www.ceo.com/flink/?lnk=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.inc.com%2Fglen-blickenstaff%2Fget-your-message-across-with-body-language-5-tips.html&id=277521&ceoid=nldy168

Glen Blickenstaff is the CEO of The Iron Door company, which makes high-end doors and windows. Glen has a track record of turning around and managing retail, building and financial companies.

BY EXPERT BLOGGER ETHAN HALE | 03-28-2012 |

reposted from: http://www.fastcompany.com/1826497/strategic-thinking-why-most-small-business-owners-don-t-do-it-enough

As a business owner or manager, there are basically two ways in which you can spend your time. The first is working within the business. This includes every level of operations, from customer service to sales to production to accounting. The second option is strategic thinking–high level analysis, thought, and planning. Examples of strategic thinking include creating a business development plan or developing new systems of production and fulfillment. Read more »

This event has passed but feel free to click the link above to view the pre-conference video… Read more »

The Mortgage Technology Conference, taking place November 14-16, 2011 at the Doral Golf Resort, Miami, FL, has assembled influential presenters in mortgage technology to empower lenders to make the most informed technology decisions. Learn how to use the newest technology solutions to address the most pressing issues lenders face in the current market.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

New Horizons — New Opportunities

Join hundreds of top MLOs—the best of the best—for Mastery Business Plan, LIVE in Las Vegas November 16-18, 2011.

Your future is now. Right here — right now. Now is your time. Step up!

The economy has changed. The housing market has changed. The mortgage industry has changed. But have YOU changed?

Read more »

Stories can make or break your presentation.  One comment I hear a lot after I speak is “Rene, I loved the story you shared about ____. I could really relate to it.” And if you want to impact people, share with them stories they can relate to. If you want to have an impact on a lot of people when you speak, share a lot of stories.

The greatest orators, speakers and comics of our time, ALL TELL STORIES.   For years we have worked with our clients in helping them develop their stories and work on the skills on delivering them in an effective manner.  Here is an article that I found written by Doug Stevenson which I believe captures the elements necessary to make an impression on your audience through the art of signature stories.

Read more »

What if you could build trust, raise morale and generate measurable business results – fast?

The Change Simplifier Plan is a revolutionary program that makes it easier for organizations to grow and change quickly.

The Plan developed over 20 years of field work and includes the tools that work best during hard times, engaging everyone from the most cynical to the most eager and diverse.

The Change Simplifier provides leaders with low cost, proven approaches specifically designed to create work cultures that reduces stress, align everyone, promote implementation of change strategies and speed performance improvement.

The Change Simplifier is guaranteed to build trust, raise morale and generate measurable business results through broad engagement – regardless of current challenges.

Imagine easier change.

Last week I had the pleasure of speaking to a conference of Women of Color and Native Women. It was a wonderful, joyful experience. Today it dawned on me that I have never written about how indigenous practices have helped turn low energy or failing businesses around. This blog post will probably require several segments, as one would be too long to write in one sitting.

How can Indigenous ways help?

By demonstrating the importance of each person.

For example, the circle practices of Native Americans encourage each person to speak what is in their hearts. In a healing ceremony, they pass the peace pipe and listen to the prayers of each, no matter how long they may take. I had heard before my first ceremony that some people pray for every blade of grass while they hold the pipe, implying that they take a long time. But when it came time for the long winded ones to speak, no one interrupted them. I was inspired by the courtesy given to them in spite of impatience to move on. Interestingly, the same person did not feel the need to speak overly long the next time. I wondered if hearing them once all the way through actually healed the pain of not being heard before?

By using Peacemaking Methods

I define Peacemaking as the ability to bring order out of chaos. Peacemaking methods are tools for reducing tension, fear and disruptive emotions. Such tools were common in the old Native American tribes.

Once again, the circle ways helped reduce anger by ensuring an order to speaking and a chance for all to have their say. This method has been a blessing in places where employees have felt deprived of a voice, feeling that their managers did not care what they had to say and would not listen. Versions of the simple circle and order for speaking helped calm down many a group enough to restart dialogue and begin a true problem solving. Indigenous people can teach us about working together after experiencing great trauma. It inspires me to see the wisdom and compassion of people who remember the hurt, speak of it without blame and still ask for what is important to do next.

I just wrote this in HousingWire…what do you think? Please post your comments.

“Extra! Extra! Read all about it, Mortgage Bank wins customer service award!”

Sadly, that is a headline we rarely see in the mortgage industry. Banks in general and the mortgage industry in particular have a questionable record when it comes to customer service.The ever present, antagonistic relationship between volume and service plagues organizations as they try to grow. It’s like clockwork, as volume increases, service decreases. It used to be the case that you could just throw money at service issues. Well, those days are gone…at least for now. Read more »