Inside The Workplace

The following article is one I wrote  about 7 years ago for the Upstate Business Journal in Chico, CA and I feel the information is still pertinent in todays workplace.    It doesn’t  focus on bullying in particular, but it does give some insight as to what you might do to recognize someone who could or is a bully.  I think it falls into the category of ”preventive bullying methods.”

Article:

If it’s true that a picture is worth a thousand words then our body language speaks volumes, especially in the workplace.  It is what managers of large corporations and owners of small businesses fail to see that often kills a business a little at a time.

Being able to understand and recognize body language is becoming more necessary and useful in today’s workplace.  It can make the difference  between getting a client or not.  It provides information that should never be ignored because in the end , it could damage the performance of a company.  For example:  if during a presentation you notice the client is drumming a pen on the table (a sign of boredom), or his feet are crossed (a sign his mind is closed), you aren’t following the cues.  Not knowing what your clients or others are thinking could seriously damage your business and future business relationships.  Knowing when to change strategies is the lynch pin to securing an account.

“During a negotiation meeting with union leaders, a manager whispered to his colleague that an agreement was about to be reached and hence they need not relax their conditions any further.  He was proven right within five minutes.   A calculated guess that just turned out to be lucky?  No, the manager had seen one of the main union leaders unbuttoning his coat…a sign of openness, friendliness or willingness to reach an agreement.”  Anil Bhatnagar

Body language tells it all.  It’s the successful business person’s secret weapon.  It can even set the tone of the workplace.  Employees are not always truthful with you.  They can be standing there smiling, agreeing with what you are saying, but if they fail to look you in the eye, they are not on board.  Body language is the most reliable indicator of actual behavior.

You want a staff that is energized and willing to fall into line with company objectives.  You have to know how to detect dissatisfaction and discreetly manage it for change.

The biggest problem with leadership communication is the illusion that positive change has occurred.  Many corporate leaders resort to commands, not communication.  It’s the old because-I-said-so form of leadershop and it does not work. This form of communication creates toxic emotions that can quickly spread and cause conflicts between people and departments, increase absenteeism, lower productivity, and add stress or even result in a mass exit of employees.  A good manager will lead his team by asking questions to get them to express themselves, share ideas, feel valued, and solve problems.  Instead of being powerful over his employees, an excellent manager will empower his team to be part of the decision-making process.  Managers and CEO’s can avoid conflict if they are tuned into what is not being said.

Learning how to detect body language is imperative in all aspects of business.  With signs and signals, people are nonverbally telling you what they need.  If you do not learn this unspoken language, you most certainly will lose out.

The same rules apply to employees who represent your company.  It’s not safe to give employees free reign with customers if they cannot effectively “read” them.  Intention detecting is necessary when it is important that every effort and every dollar pays off.

If you can detect what people are thinking through reading their body language, you will always be a winner.