What Body Language Shows Confidence?

Our body language communicates a lot of information to other people. While we all may recognize confident body language when we see it, in those situations where it is important to present ourselves as confident, such as in a job interview, paying attention to our body language is crucial.

One feature of confident body language is eye contact. We do not want to stare at the other person, but we often want to look at the person. Along with this, keeping our head up rather than staring down at the ground or objects in front of us conveys confidence. It can be helpful to lean slightly forward. We should also watch what we are doing with our hands. Are we especially fidgety? If we cross our arms, we could show that we are feeling anxious and reserved. If we touch our faces, that could show that we feel vulnerable or that we are untruthful. It may be best to place our hands down by our sides but never in our pockets. Try to have a relaxed posture rather than tensing up your muscles.

Along with body language, talking clearly and slowly can be helpful. When anxious, many people talk more quickly than they realize, so slowing down and pronouncing each word expresses confidence. It can also be helpful to smile warmly and show that we are listening actively to others.

What may be more helpful than focusing on appearing confident is actually to help yourself feel less anxious. Before an important event, you could take a few deep breaths, breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth (generally out through your nose two seconds longer than you breathed in). You could also remind yourself of your strengths and skills as well as what you have already accomplished. You could use pleasant imagery, picturing yourself getting the job or confidently walking out after the end of the interview. Make sure you drink enough water and avoid caffeine, which could make you more anxious.

However, there are a couple of other thoughts to consider. One is that appearing anxious in a setting such as a job interview is not always received as a sign that you are unqualified for the position. You may be better served by accepting that you are anxious and perhaps even communicating that to the interviewer. What you most want to avoid is lacking confidence and, as a result, overcompensating to a point where you appear arrogant or disingenuous.