The Secret Language of Business: How to Read Anyone in 3 Seconds or Less

Chapter 1. The Secret Language of Business

Cool title.

Best part is that it's a pretty perfect description of nonverbal communication.

You might notice that I use the phrases "nonverbal communication" and "body language" almost interchangeably in this book at times. So let's define each of these right away.

The fact is that body language is a subdomain of nonverbal communication.

Body language refers to body position, gestures, eye contact, and ... the body!

Nonverbal communication includes those things but also includes how people dress, societal norms on dress and behavior, the jewelry people wear, the tattoos people reveal, the distance people stand from each other, the way people use time, the way people use space ... even the tone and pitch of people's voices.

And it is at this level of nonverbal communication that The Secret Language of Business occurs.

The vast majority of all that is communicated is nonverbal. Everything in nonverbal communication has a significant impact on you and me. Most people, however, live very randomly or live intentionally and then send messages they believe to say one thing but are received as something else.

And that is why so few people are influential. Almost no one communicates clearly. Misunderstandings abound.

Why?

People were never taught how to use the environment, their desks, the color of their homes, their jewelry, their necklines, skirt length, low rider pants, tattoos, and so forth to influence.

And when you think about it that is a shame because ...