TL;DR: Fix body language mistakes to appear more confident and boost professional credibility
Your body language significantly influences how others perceive your confidence and competence. Common pitfalls include avoiding eye contact, slouching, fidgeting, and weak or overly firm handshakes. To improve, practice maintaining good posture, use deliberate gestures, and align facial expressions with your words.
• Eye contact conveys engagement; aim for 60-70% during conversations.
• Power poses and recording yourself can build awareness and confidence.
• Open and controlled body language enhances trust and influence.
Take action today by developing self-awareness and small habits to project authentic confidence. For deeper insights, explore more tips here.
10 Common Body Language Mistakes that Make You Look Less Confident than You Actually Are
As a serial entrepreneur, I’ve spent years attending meetings, pitching to investors, and navigating the complexities of human interaction in business. While confidence is something many entrepreneurs cultivate, it’s shocking how often our body language betrays us. In fact, studies show that up to 93% of communication is non-verbal, which includes body language, tone, and other cues. How you stand, move, and interact can completely contradict the confident persona you’re trying to project, even if you believe you’ve got it under control.
These common body language mistakes don’t just hurt your confidence, they can affect how others perceive your competence, credibility, and authority. For founders, freelancers, and business leaders, projecting confidence is vital for building trust with investors, clients, and teams. Let’s explore the ten most frequent body language blunders that could be undermining your confidence and, crucially, how to fix them.
What are the most common body language mistakes, and how can you fix them?
Below are ten frequent body language errors that may signal a lack of confidence, even if you don’t feel that way on the inside. I’ll also share practical solutions to help you radiate self-assurance in every interaction.
- Avoiding eye contact: Lack of eye contact communicates distrust or disengagement, while too much can feel aggressive or intense. The sweet spot is maintaining eye contact 60-70% of the time during a conversation. Keep it natural, look away briefly to reduce any discomfort.
- Slouching: Poor posture not only makes you appear insecure but also affects your energy levels and mindset. Always keep your back straight, shoulders relaxed, and feet evenly planted to convey confidence.
- Fidgeting: Playing with your pen, your hair, or your phone distracts people and signals nervousness. Practice keeping your hands still or use deliberate gestures to convey a sense of control.
- Crossing your arms: This can make you look defensive or closed off. Instead, try resting your hands on a table, at your sides, or lightly clasped in front of you.
- Weak or overly firm handshakes: Both extremes can send the wrong message. Aim for a firm yet moderate grip, paired with eye contact and a polite smile.
- Speaking too quickly: Rapid-fire speech often signals that you’re nervous or trying too hard. Take deep breaths and slow down slightly to appear calm and thoughtful.
- Nodding excessively: While nodding signals agreement, overdoing it can make you look overly eager to please. Nod sparingly to show you’re engaged, but not overly deferential.
- Standing or sitting too rigidly: Overly stiff posture can make you seem anxious or unapproachable. Balance is key, stand tall, but don’t forget to relax.
- Facing away from others: Facing someone directly when speaking shows you’re fully engaged. Angling your body away might signal disinterest or unease.
- Inconsistent facial expressions: Your face tells a story. If your expressions don’t match your words, people might question your sincerity. Stay mindful of your emotions and let genuine expressions shine through.
Fixing these mistakes takes time and self-awareness. Start by implementing one or two of these tips at a time. For example, if slouching is your tendency, set reminders to check and adjust your posture regularly, or record yourself during a presentation to assess your body language.
How does body language affect your professional relationships?
In business, perception is everything. Whether you’re pitching to investors, leading a team, or closing a deal, the impression you leave often depends more on your non-verbal behavior than your words. According to Sarah Mitchell, weak eye contact, poor posture, or fidgeting during a meeting can unintentionally make others doubt your capability or commitment.
For instance, imagine you’re selling your startup idea to a room full of investors. You might deliver a flawless pitch, but if you keep avoiding eye contact or using nervous gestures, it’d give the impression that you’re unsure of what you’re saying. This is particularly critical in high-pressure environments where confidence can directly translate to credibility.
- Leaders with strong body language are seen as more decisive and persuasive, studies suggest. Good posture and controlled gestures make people feel you know what you’re doing.
- Team influence: Open, confident postures foster trust and inspire productivity. Closed-off or defensive body language discourages collaboration.
- Networking: First impressions are formed in just seconds. Positive body language ensures that your first meeting leaves others thinking, “I want to work with this person.”
How can you improve your body language?
Improving your body language involves becoming more self-aware, practicing consistently, and implementing small behavior changes. Let’s look at how you can take actionable steps to improve.
1. Record and analyze yourself
Record yourself during a presentation or simply while practicing your pitch in the mirror. Review the recording to observe your movements, expressions, and posture. Are there signs of tension or habits that appear distracting?
2. Practice power poses
Research from Amy Cuddy’s TED Talk on body language suggests that adopting “power poses” for two minutes can enhance confidence. Stand with your feet apart, hands on your hips, and chest out, your body will naturally respond to this position by feeling more powerful.
3. Create accountability
Ask a close friend or mentor to observe your body language in meetings or practice sessions. Honest feedback from someone you trust can accelerate your progress.
4. Breathe and slow down
Maintain a calm and steady pace when you speak. If you notice you’re rushing, pause briefly. Deep breaths are grounding and can work wonders during tense situations.
5. Focus on your environment
Disorganized or cluttered spaces can impact your body language. Ensure your workspace or meeting environment promotes focus and calmness, which naturally reflects in how you present yourself.
Why mastering body language is your ultimate leadership tool
As a business leader, your body language is more than just a personal quirk, it’s a tool that directly influences your success. According to Business Insider, body gestures can determine how confident, competent, and trustworthy you appear to others. These three qualities are crucial for any leader, especially in high-stakes scenarios like fundraising or scaling a business.
Start with small but impactful changes. Stand taller, engage with your team and stakeholders through eye contact, and use moderate gestures to underline your points without overwhelming your message. Over time, these adjustments in body language will not only improve how others perceive you but also enhance your genuine self-confidence.
Your non-verbal cues speak louder than your words. Don’t let simple habits sabotage your credibility when the fix lies within your control. Make confident, clear communication a part of your leadership identity, one step at a time.
For detailed insights on professional and personal development as an entrepreneur, check out the full article on Silicon Canals. Implement these tools today, and elevate your confidence game to new heights in your entrepreneurial journey!
FAQ on Common Body Language Mistakes and Confidence
What is the most common body language mistake that indicates lack of confidence?
Avoiding eye contact is one of the most common signs of low confidence in a professional or personal setting. Lack of eye contact often makes you seem disinterested, distant, or even untrustworthy, while excessive eye contact can be perceived as intimidating or overly aggressive. The ideal approach is to balance your eye contact by maintaining it for around 60-70% of the conversation. Breaking eye contact naturally, such as looking briefly away to think, ensures comfort without losing engagement. Practicing in front of a mirror or with a friend can help refine your confidence in maintaining appropriate eye contact. Discover more about balancing eye contact on Silicon Canals
How does your posture affect how others perceive you?
Poor posture, such as slouching, can weaken not only how others perceive you but also how you perceive yourself. Confidence is projected through strong yet relaxed posture that aligns your back straight, shoulders slightly back, and feet evenly planted on the ground. According to Amy Cuddy’s research, adopting “power poses”, standing tall with hands on your hips, chest out, can increase feelings of self-assurance. This small adjustment sends signals of confidence and authority to both your brain and those around you. Learn more about Amy Cuddy’s research on body language and confidence
Why is fidgeting seen as a sign of nervousness?
Fidgeting with pens, hair, or objects distracts others and signals insecurity or nervous energy. It can also make your interactions seem less focused, which undermines the confident image you want to project. One solution is to keep hands relaxed or use intentional, deliberate gestures during conversations or presentations. Practicing mindfulness techniques to identify moments of excessive fidgeting can help redirect nervous energy toward maintaining calm and composed body movements. Explore tips to minimize fidgeting and improve body language
Does crossing arms during conversations appear defensive?
Yes, crossing your arms often communicates a defensive or closed-off mindset, even if that's not your intent. People tend to interpret this posture as disinterest or discomfort, leading to weaker rapport and trust. Instead, you can position your arms by resting them on a table, keeping them loosely clasped in front, or allowing them to hang naturally at your sides. These adjustments create an open, approachable style that invites conversation and connection. Regular practice of open postures can transform your body language over time. Dive deeper into body language strategies to improve confidence
What’s the right way to master handshakes in a professional setting?
The handshake is a crucial aspect of first impressions. A weak handshake can make you appear timid, while an overly aggressive one can seem dominating or insincere. The ideal handshake involves a firm grip accompanied by making eye contact and offering a polite smile. Remember to align the web of your hand with the other person’s hand and aim for about 2-3 seconds in duration. Practicing this balance with colleagues or friends can ensure natural execution that conveys professionalism. Read about handshake tips for building confidence
How does speaking too quickly affect perceptions of confidence?
Fast speech often signals nervousness, a lack of certainty, or poor thoughtfulness. Slowing down your speaking pace immediately boosts your perceived confidence and ensures clarity in communication. Additionally, using brief pauses can underline your points and make your tone appear intentional. If you struggle with rushing through sentences, practice deep breathing techniques before speaking to maintain control. Effective communication stems from both pace and tone, as they complement your body language in projecting confidence. Discover tips to improve your speaking pace in professional settings
Is it problematic to nod excessively when interacting with others?
Excessive nodding is often interpreted as overly eager to please or lack of assertiveness. While nodding can be a great sign of attentiveness or agreement, overdoing it might detract from conveying self-assurance. Using nodding sparingly at key moments instead reinforces engagement and allows for balanced communication. Practice moderation during meetings or conversations by being conscious of your responses, both verbally and non-verbally. Find more advice on mastering balanced body language practices
How can you improve facial consistency during conversations?
Inconsistent facial expressions often create doubts about sincerity or interest. For example, nervous smiles during serious discussions or blank expressions during exciting points can confuse others about your mood or intentions. Genuine facial expressions that align with your words and emotions build trust and confidence. To fix inconsistencies, practice observing your expressions in recorded practice sessions to identify and adjust habits. Let your emotions drive your non-verbal cues naturally. Explore facial expression tips for building credible interactions
How does body orientation signal engagement?
Facing away, such as angling your torso or feet from others during a conversation, might unconsciously express disinterest or discomfort. To appear engaged, always aim to align your torso and feet directly toward the person speaking or interacting with you. This creates an impression of full attention and confident presence. Regular practice combined with conscious adjustments during conversations can help make facing others your default posture. Learn more strategies to signal engagement and confidence through body language
Can subtle changes in body language improve leadership influence?
Absolutely! Confidence-driven body language is vital for leadership, as it affects team trust, decision-making, and perception. Leaders who adopt open gestures, relaxed postures, and steady eye contact are seen as more approachable, assured, and dynamic. Power poses during challenging tasks, maintaining calm through controlled breaths, and monitoring nervous habits foster leadership charisma. As body language speaks louder than actions, mastering these small adjustments can elevate your overall influence significantly. Check out Silicon Canals’ guide to using body language for leadership success
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the “gamepreneurship” methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the point of view of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.