The TV drama Lie to Me stars Tim Roth as a body language expert who helps his clients determine if someone is lying. The show has inspired a good deal of interest in the subject, and according to the experts, you don’t need to be an expert to use body language to your advantage.

Achieving Success through Your Body Language

According to “Body Language on a First Date,” at Smart Dating UK, understanding your body language is vital to making that first date a success. With body language determining at least 50% of the first impression one makes, this article offers helpful hints on posture, smiling, mirroring (the art of subtly mimicking your companion’s gestures and moves) and making eye contact.

Here in Business Week’s “The Silent Language of Success,” the author looks at common mistakes and winning techniques for one on one interviews or public speaking, and explains to the reader how to build charisma, as well as how to make others feel special.

Another aspect of body language is the connection between body and mind. At Thinking Meat, in “Reading your own Body Language,” the author explores how your body language may be sending unconscious signals to your brain, affecting the way you think and feel about yourself.

And watch a fun interview with body language expert Mark Bowden, who discusses body language at work and in social situations, and what your handshake may say about you:

Reading Others’ Body Language

This article, “‘Glass Hold’ Reveals Personality,” explains a study in which 500 drinkers were divided into eight personality types – all based on how they held their glass. Types include the flirt, the ice-queen and the playboy, and the reader is told how best to approach each one at a party.

But how accurate is body language? According to “Five Mistakes People Make Reading Body Language at Work,” it’s easy to misread the other person’s cues – for example, by not considering the situation’s context. Trying to interpret a single gesture, rather than looking for what are called “gesture clusters,” is another mistake, as is forgetting to take account of cultural differences. For instance, the author explains that there is one hand gesture that means at least four completely different things in four different countries, and therefore reading its significance would require knowledge of the person’s country of origin.

Learn to Change Your Body Language

Finally, there’s a brand new weekly video series by body language expert Steve Chambers. Each segment will introduce a different aspect of the subject, such as body language for business or dating, or how to tell if someone is lying. You can see the series introduction here and subscribe to the weekly video.

Perhaps most important to remember is that whatever your body language is saying now, with a bit of practice, you can improve your body language and start impressing the people around you with your charisma.

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