15 Negative Gestures to Avoid!

Body language says more about us than we can imagine. Any gesture we make is subconsciously interpreted by those around us, which can backfire on us (sometimes) depending on the body language we express.

Negative gesture: Holding certain objects in front of our body.

A cup of coffee, an agenda, a bag, or any other object held in front of our body when we interact with someone indicates shyness and acts as a "wall" of separation between us and our interlocutor, a psychological effort of withdrawal. Instead of doing this, we can, when communicating, put these objects aside (if space allows).

Negative gesture: Inspecting your nails or checking your watch.

These two signals are an unconscious symbol of boredom. So we should avoid inspecting our nails as much as possible or looking at the clock when interacting with someone so as not to transmit negative energies to that person.

Negative gesture: Collecting imaginary lint on clothes.

If in a conversation we start picking up imaginary lint on our clothes, especially looking down, our interlocutor may assume that we do not agree with his ideas or we are unable to express our opinion sincerely about the topic being discussed.

Negative gesture: "Hitting" the chin when looking at a person.

"Hitting," the chin says, "I'm judging you!" People often hit their chin when they make important decisions or think deeply about a problem. If we hit our chin while looking at a person, he may think of us as weighing his words in our minds or judging his opinions too harshly.

Negative gesture: Invading a person's personal space.

When, in a discussion, we get too close to the person we are interacting with, we do nothing but invade his personal space, that intimate area and cause him a state of discomfort. The invisible border can be crossed only when we are close to our dear friends or family members.

Negative gesture: Looking down.

Most of the time, looking down during a discussion shows disinterest. There are situations in which it can be interpreted as a form of arrogance. It is advisable that when we interact with a person we keep our eyes forward and do not avoid eye contact.

Negative gesture: Touching the face during a conversation.

Touching the face, especially the nose, is commonly interpreted as a sign of a lie. Likewise, covering your mouth with your hand is also a common gesture of lying. Try to keep your hands away from your face when having a conversation with someone to remove any signs of psychological cunning.

Negative gesture: Crossing the arms.

The crossing of the arms is a sign of defense, of withdrawal from communication. But some people interpret it as a sign of selfishness. When interacting with a person, try to be open in nonverbal behavior, keeping your arms out to the side.

Negative gesture: Scratching the neck or neck.

Scratching the neck/neck is a classic sign of doubt. In some contexts, it can also be considered a sign of lying. So try to keep your hands away from the back of your neck or neck when interacting with a person.

Negative gesture: Bringing the shoulders forward.

Posture with the shoulders brought forward indicates low self-esteem. We must remember that, in general, people associate straight shoulders, even a little brought back, with strong confidence in their strength. In interaction with your peers, always pull your shoulders back. Not only will you look confident in them, but you will begin to feel that way.

Negative gesture: Simulation of a smile.

The simulation of a smile is a common sign of lying. We know that a genuine smile creates wrinkles in the eye area and changes the expression of the whole face. To build a fake smile we use only the mouth, the lips. Therefore, it is somewhat easy to distinguish between the two. Tip: don't force yourself to smile unless you do it for the camera!

You can learn more about the real smile from the article Body language: the smile and its extraordinary benefits!

Negative gesture: Blinking too often.

Frequent blinking is a sign of anxiety and is associated with increased heart rate. Since most of us always try to look our interlocutor in the eye, this sign is very easy to notice. So, try to control your emotions when you interact with a person and they look you in the eye.

Negative gesture: Sitting on the edge of the chair.

This is a typical sign of psychological discomfort and not only does it reveal that we do not feel good in the company we are in, but it also makes those around us feel uncomfortable. So try to sit comfortably in a chair when you are in a discussion, and if you need to lean forward, do so only by peeling your back off the back.

Negative gesture: Moving the weight from one leg to the other.

Moving the weight from one leg to the other in less than 1 minute is a sign of discomfort or boredom. Upon perceiving this nonverbal gesture, the interlocutor may think that we want to leave the conversation, especially if we do not have the face directed towards him. Try not to do this gesture more than once every 4–5 minutes.

Negative gesture: Wiping sweaty palms on clothes.

Wiping your sweaty palms is a clear sign of emotion. If your palms are sweating, let them sweat. Take a deep breath and try to relax. The discussion will be completely different after that.