Body Language and the Online Persona

body language

I won’t always be writing about online techniques. The Job Lure works best when paired with offline techniques as a comprehensive package. Here’s just one element of that in-person program:

Your offline communication skills (verbal and nonverbal) support or contradict your “job lure” in face-to-face situations. Speaking confidently about your area of expertise is how you win offline supporters who can validate your knowledge of that subject matter. These people can help convince others that the abstract online persona is based in reality. But remember, 80% of communication is nonverbal–you must also be on top of nonverbal cues!

Body Language At Work

The most important group of people whose support you need to gain is people you’ve worked for and worked with. This is because these are the people who can speak to skills you’ve demonstrated on the job, and because the easiest place to get your next role is with your current employer!

Second to that group is the group who you speak with about your area of skill, but who can’t personally attest to your skills. They can attest to your ability to speak confidently about that topic, and they can help open doors for you. (and if they like you…but that’s a topic for another post!) Whether they open doors for you is influenced by your confidence, often communicated through body language.

This is why it’s vitally important that as you think about how to build your online persona–your job lure–that it is weighted towards skills and knowledge you actually have, rather than weighted towards skills and knowledge you want. While you can certainly learn as you post, you’ll know if you’re faking it, and your body language will reveal that to others. Therefore, it pays to make sure your movements support the impression you’re trying to portray: mastery of your subject matter.

Consider Toastmasters

Toastmasters is a great organization to consider if you’re looking to boost your public speaking – or just to boost your confidence in interpersonal communications. I can personally attest to the great benefits I’ve gotten from being a member. Here is a useful Toastmasters video that discusses some of the elements of body language: