Body Language In A Body SalonJuly 22, 2019Our bodies speak a language that may have different dialects across the world but the fundamentals remain the same across all populations. It is a language stronger than the words we use and conveys more efficiently than speech. Albert Mehrabian’s 7-38-55 rule is not new to the world of business. This professor from University of California has introduced the ratios of speech, tone and body language that cumulatively sum up our communication. As stated, the words used or the content of your speech accounts for only a meager 7%! Much to our surprise, Mehrabian’s studies have revealed that a considerable proportion of communication constitutes of your tone: 38%; while the majority of it is swept clear by the body language which delivers 55% of your message across. These statistics comprehensively clarify the distinction between the three parts of communication. It is very clear, thus, that body language monopolizes a larger part of our communication, in business and casual conversations alike. In communication, with only a small percentage dedicated to verbal speech and the rest being dependent on body language, it becomes clear what needs to be prioritized. While the importance of body language is incessantly emphasized in business communication courses and tutorials, people still tend to pick the wrong cues and implement them incorrectly in their conversational styles. With body language, the key lies in creating a balance between doing too less and doing too much. But a balance can only be created once you are educated about the basic principles of body language, what factors influence effective communication and which ones hinder conversational flow. What Is It? Body language is what constitutes as non-verbal communication and consists of everything apart from words which contributes towards the conveyance of your message to another party. This can include hand gestures, arm movements, body posture, and facial expressions. A large validation for the significance of body language can be derived from various forms of performance art that depend entirely on body language. Dance is a form of communication that heavily borrows from body language and relies on acting out what needs to be said. The same explanation goes for communication in business. People comprehend messages much faster just by the tone of voice and bodily gestures without mulling over what has actually been said. A good example of this is set in an examination hall where the invigilator eyes a student who is cheating, and uses eye contact to instruct them to look downwards on their exam sheet. The entirety of this communication is done without uttering a single word! The same can be seen in business meetings when an approving smile or a nod can be enough appreciation of your performance. When it comes to salon services which cater to clients coming in to seek hair and skin treatments, communication is the license to entering a customer’s good books. Here is how to become your favorite clients’ go-to stylist. How Does It Work? Body language is quite often used to supplement your verbal speech with non-verbal cues that help in clarifying your meaning. Even though in business it is not used much in isolation, it is quite frequently used when delivering messages that need to be aided with something more than just words. It largely reduces chances of miscommunication and lessens the risk of failing to comprehend what has been said. Not only this, body language can also add a much-needed emotional boost to statements that connote urgency, passion or emergency. Additionally, it also aids in providing a sample implementation of complex procedures to ensure quality of performance. Native Dialects of Body Language Just as languages and dialects differ within the radius of a few hundred kilometers on the map, interpretations and meanings of different gestures also change from place to place. What may be acceptable in one culture may be looked down on in another culture. Meanings also change depending on the geographical region you are located in. Progressive cultures may promote forthright communication without discrimination on any grounds. More traditional and conservative setups may be involved with the propriety of such behavior and maintain a reserved attitude, that too in selective environments. It is important to keep your practice appropriate to various norms when dealing with clients from ethnically diverse backgrounds. Constituents Of Body Language Eye Contact It is a norm to maintain intermittent eye contact during a conversation. In fact, it is considered crucial to communicating interest and eagerness while making business deals. Not holding your contact person in direct line of sight and maintaining eye contact gives off the impression that you are not paying careful attention to the matter. A stylist explaining a procedure to a client while maintaining eye contact frequently will give the client a reason to trust them. It also shows concern and care which the salon has for its customers. Hand Gestures Using your hands to aid what you are saying is an important part of communication. Gestures can either enact what is being said by making motion suited to the speech or be generally used to convey greater degree of engagement and dedication to the client. A salon stylist may depict how a massage is carried out by making hand gestures to give the client a clear idea or indicate the length of hair that will be chopped off, by a show of hands. Overall, it improves the level of client’s comprehension. Arm Placements The best place to rest your hands when not using them is by your sides, or casually holding something. Folding arms tightly over your chest may indicate a defensive attitude which may intimidate the client. The best way to use your arms in body language is by keeping arm movement balanced. Flinging them in the air may give off unprofessional and ill-composed vibes whereas keeping them idle may express rigidity. Posture The posture of your body adds value to your personality. It cannot be denied how much importance body postures hold in non-verbal communication. A slouched or hunch-backed posture is the sign of an inactive, lazy or dull person whereas a firm, straight-backed posture displays authority and professionalism! Keeping your head too high with an upward tilt of the nose is not recommended as it can make one seem egoistic and arrogant. Head Movement Nodding at intervals when a client pauses for approval or just to motivate them to go further is a positive signal to give using body language. A slight tilt of the head shows you are keenly interested in what the client has to ask or say. It acts as a way to deepen your gaze into the eyes of the person you are talking to in order to make the conversation seem more deep and exclusive. It is an excellent way to make a client feel special if accompanied with a gentle smile as well. Mouth Expression Keeping a soft smile on your face lightens up the contours of your facial features and removes any harsh-looking frowns from your face. It also shows that you as a salon owner have a welcoming attitude toward your clients and are aware of common courtesies. Things that put clients off include biting your lips or grinning too much or too widely. The former is a sign of nervousness and lack of confidence. No client wants to be treated by someone who is not an expert in what they do. The latter becomes disconcerting and makes it hard to focus because the wide smile may feel out of place and unneeded. Distance The space that you allow to exist between yourself and your client when having a conversation says a lot about your intentions as a stylist. Standing too far becomes symbolic of a distant attitude and goes on to show that the stylist wants to get rid of the client fast. Whereas standing too close to a client is also uncomfortable because it seems intrusive and disrespectful of someone’s privacy and personal space. The safest distance to keep is which allows personal space of both individuals to exist without compromise on either end. Salon Income Booster is an online source offering professional advice to salon businesses about the basics of running a successful business. We specialize in helping our clients discover potential means of salon income generation and marketing solutions to boost revenues. Our support also extends to businesses with management challenges, making suggestions on optimizing retail displays, merchandising, and sales. If you want to deliver your message across to potential clients, we are your route to success!