If you’re like most people, you spend a lot of your time traveling. Whether it’s for business, recreation, or visiting friends and family, chances are you’ll be spending some time in a new city or country. And while most people would tell you that one of the best ways to enjoy a trip is to avoid taking the whole “tourist” thing so seriously, the reality is that you can’t escape being a tourist. And that’s why it can be helpful to know how to read body language cues. For example, most people understand that smiling is a sign that someone is happy and that when someone is sitting with their arms crossed, they are closed off. But did you know the same holds true for body language cues?
Traveling can be scary – especially if you have to fly for the first time. So, how do you overcome fear, and, most importantly, how do you prevent yourself from embarrassing yourself? Well, the answer is in your hands. By learning how to read your body language, you can learn how to act and speak in front of a crowd without sounding nervous or awkward.
Here Are the Body Language Cues for Better Travel
Aside from eyebrow raise, which is considered a social cue, there are universal body language cues that you can use when traveling.
- The Head Tilt
The head tilt cues can be a very useful tool when it comes to deciphering a potential relationship. Even though they are relatively simple, they can highlight some key behaviors such as honesty, generosity, interest, and trustworthiness.
- Fronting
Fronting is a nonverbal communication technique involving a person planning to deceive or mislead others. With fronting, a person will project a particular image that is different from his actual personality or emotional state. Fronting, also known as the false self, happens when people project an image that is socially acceptable but does not match their true feelings and intentions.
- Open Palms
The open palm gesture is a friendly gesture and means “I accept you” or “I like you.” Open palms are a friendly gesture when you give someone a hug or shake hands. Different cultures use open palms in different ways. The gesture is commonly known as a “high five” in Western culture. The open palm gesture is a handshake. You can open your palms to show how happy you are, or you can do so to signal friendship.
- The Smile
A smile can be one of the most empowering ways to communicate a message. For example, when you smile, your cheeks may arch. This conveys contentment, excitement, and even happiness. It also tells others that you feel secure with yourself, which makes them more comfortable around you. But if you smile while feeling frustrated or angry, your cheeks may drop. This communicates that you are feeling nervous or uncomfortable and can make others uncomfortable around you. Having a good smile can help you out a lot where languages fail. However, some people may be awkward or too conscious of their smile and end up putting people off. But that can be fixed by going to a clinic that offers smile design alexandria or a similar clinic near you. After all, if you’re going to be a frequent and serious traveller, then you need to be able to use every tool in your arsenal, which includes a confident and charming smile.
- Fidgeting
Fidgeting is a common behavior that we all have at times. But when it becomes repetitive or compulsive, it can have a negative impact on your well-being. Fidgeting usually refers to repetitive body movements, like tapping your feet, turning in circles, or tapping your fingers. It may even happen while you’re standing still.
- Neck Rubbing
The means neck rubbing is a body language tool used to encourage generosity and cooperation. By rubbing your palms together and placing them on the backs of your neck, you show people you want to share, want to collaborate, and want to build connections.
- Mirroring
Mirroring is a social technique that bonds two people together and helps them communicate. It’s a great tool to use when traveling and can help you feel more relaxed in a foreign land.
- The Wave
The Wave is a smartphone app that teaches travelers to read better and interpret body language. The app uses identifying markers and characters to convey seven types of non-verbal body language. The Wave helps travelers take the first steps in understanding body language before interacting with others, learning to read and interpret nonverbal cues and body language.
- The Distancing
The distancing measure for body language is a term that is used by professional tour guides and travelers to explain how you may behave on your trip. This is a term used any time traveling abroad or traveling domestically. With the existence of social media and constant news alerts, it is very easy to get nervous and anxious about your trip.
While some people may assume that body language just means your posture or that you only use your facial expressions, the truth is there are subtle cues you can use to change the way someone perceives you.