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Non-Verbal Communication - MAC106

Managing A Career

Release Date: 08/26/2025

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Managing A Career

Welcome back to Managing A Career, the podcast that helps you put yourself on the fast track for promotion. I’m your host, Layne Robinson.   Today’s episode is all about a concept I’m calling the Career Speedrun. If you’re into gaming, you probably know what a speedrun is: it’s when players try to beat an entire game as fast as possible, skipping unnecessary parts, using shortcuts, and optimizing every move.   Now, when it comes to your career, you can’t literally warp-jump from your first job straight to the corner office—but you can learn to recognize what slows...

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Managing A Career

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Has your career quietly veered off course—not with a dramatic crash, but with a slow, almost imperceptible drift? One missed opportunity. One unchallenging role. One “maybe next year” that turned into five. Then one day, you look up and realize you’re nowhere near where you thought you’d be. Here’s the good news: every detour has a reentry point. You won’t fix it overnight, but you can start with one small, intentional correction. And that shift—however minor—is how momentum begins.   How Did We Get Here? Before we talk solutions, let’s rewind. Career drift...

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Managing A Career

In last week’s podcast episode of the podcast, Episode 105 – Communication Etiquette (), I talked about how seemingly small, everyday actions can shape how others perceive you at work. While these habits may not directly earn you a promotion, they quietly build your reputation with the very people who influence those decisions. This week, I want to take that conversation further by focusing on something even more subtle but just as powerful: non-verbal communication cues.   Why Non-Verbal Communication Matters Whether you’re in a casual hallway conversation, presenting in a...

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Managing A Career

On other episodes of the Managing A Career podcast, I tend to focus on the big-picture strategies that can propel your career forward—things like building influence, earning visibility, and positioning yourself for future opportunities. But advancement isn’t just about the major moves. Sometimes, it’s the subtle, everyday actions that shape how others perceive you. This week, I want to zoom in on one of those seemingly small details that won’t directly earn you a promotion, but will absolutely impact the impression you leave on colleagues, managers, and executives: communication...

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You Need to Be in the Room Where It Happens — But How? You’ve heard the phrase before: “You need to be in the room where decisions happen.” It sounds powerful—exclusive even—but no one ever hands you the playbook for getting in that room. Working hard isn’t enough. Being the best at your job isn’t enough. The truth is, opportunities to sit at the table where decisions are made don’t simply appear—they’re earned, often through deliberate actions, strategic visibility, and building the right kind of influence. So the real question becomes: how do you earn that seat at the...

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Managing A Career

What You Prioritize Is What You Grow In your career—just like in life—whatever you prioritize is what takes root, grows, and ultimately defines your trajectory. Whether you’re intentional about it or not, your attention acts like sunlight and water: it nourishes certain parts of your professional life while leaving others to wither. Even worse is when you don’t make a conscious choice at all—when your career just “happens to you.” That passive approach can lead to years of drifting, missed opportunities, and invisible ceilings. So take a moment to reflect: what are you truly...

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We've recently gone through a reorganization at my job, and with that change, I now have several new team members reporting to me. In my one-on-one meetings, I like to focus on more than just status updates—I emphasize career development. One of the tools I’ve consistently found to be effective is the Individual Development Plan, or IDP. If you’ve been following this podcast, you may remember Episode 37 () where I broke down the Vision and Roadmap section of the IDP. It’s a framework I believe in deeply.   But here’s the thing: many of my new team members are struggling with...

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Managing A Career

“Being a leader isn't an assignment that is given to you, but an assignment that you TAKE.” Let that sink in. Leadership isn’t about waiting for permission. It’s about stepping up when others step back. In today's episode of the Managing A Career podcast, we’re diving deep into what it really means to TAKE leadership.   Anyone can be a leader—because leadership is a quality you demonstrate, not a job title you hold. Sure, some roles come with authority baked in, but real leaders don’t wait for the title. They lead because they choose to. If you have ambitions to advance...

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There’s a common misconception the corporate world: to get ahead, someone else has to fall behind. It’s the old zero-sum thinking — that career advancement is a competitive, cutthroat race. But today, I want to challenge that notion. Whether you're managing a team or just stepping into a leadership role, the truth is that investing in the growth of others doesn’t slow you down — it accelerates your own career trajectory. Helping others succeed is one of the most powerful, and often underestimated, ways to grow yourself.   This zero-sum outlook is rooted in fear and...

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More Episodes

In last week’s podcast episode of the podcast, Episode 105 – Communication Etiquette (https://managingacareer.com/105), I talked about how seemingly small, everyday actions can shape how others perceive you at work. While these habits may not directly earn you a promotion, they quietly build your reputation with the very people who influence those decisions. This week, I want to take that conversation further by focusing on something even more subtle but just as powerful: non-verbal communication cues.

 

Why Non-Verbal Communication Matters

Whether you’re in a casual hallway conversation, presenting in a meeting, or connecting over a video call, the way you carry yourself sets the tone for how others receive both you and your ideas. Confident posture, purposeful hand gestures, and aligned facial expressions signal credibility and invite trust. On the other hand, shrinking into your chair, avoiding eye contact, or trying to make yourself small often leads people to unconsciously dismiss not only your presence—but also the value of your message.

 

Confident non-verbal communication isn't just window dressing—it’s the foundation of trust. Behavioral researcher Vanessa Van Edwards underscores how our brains are wired to interpret nonverbal cues before we're even consciously aware of them—it’s a silent language louder than words ( https://www.mickmel.com/notes-from-cues-by-vanessa-van-edwards/?utm_source=chatgpt.com, https://singjupost.com/unlocking-the-hidden-power-of-body-language-vanessa-van-edwards-transcript/?utm_source=chatgpt.com). In her work, she breaks down the “Cue Cycle”: Decode → Internalize → Encode—illustrating how we interpret signals, let them reshape our mood and behavior, and then respond with our own cues ( https://www.mickmel.com/notes-from-cues-by-vanessa-van-edwards/?utm_source=chatgpt.com). She also highlights powerful patterns showcased by leaders—like open body posture, leaning in, purposeful gaze, and respectful use of space—as the “secret weapons” of nonverbal power ( https://www.mickmel.com/notes-from-cues-by-vanessa-van-edwards/?utm_source=chatgpt.com).

 

Studies show that when nonverbal signals align with our words, they reinforce our message; when they conflict, they’re often the signals people believe ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Mehrabian?utm_source=chatgpt.com, https://www.scienceofpeople.com/body-language-percentage/?utm_source=chatgpt.com). This is why a confident stance, expressive gestures, and aligned facial cues ground your message—while shrinking into yourself, folding your arms, or avoiding eye contact sends the opposite. Vanessa’s work isn’t theoretical—it’s backed by hundreds of thousands of observations, experiments, and real-world applications via her site Science of People (https://www.scienceofpeople.com).

 

Non-Verbal Cues in Action

Non-verbal communication looks different depending on the situation. Let’s break it down with a few concrete examples you can use right away:

1. Casual Conversation

  • Keep your hands visible – Open palms signal openness.
  • Angle your body toward the person – facing them directly shows genuine attention.
  • Use micro-expressions – smiles or raised eyebrows signal engagement.
  • Mirror their energy – subtly matching tone or gestures builds rapport.
  • Maintain comfortable eye contact – balance is key.

2. Participating in a Meeting

  • Sit tall and lean in slightly – it shows investment in the conversation.
  • Keep gestures intentional – emphasize points without fidgeting.
  • Nod strategically – builds trust and collaboration.
  • Claim your space – avoid shrinking into your chair.
  • Manage transitions – signal readiness to contribute with subtle gestures.

3. Video Calls

  • Position your camera at eye level – mimics natural eye contact.
  • Use the “triangle of visibility” – head, shoulders, and hands visible.
  • Avoid multitasking cues – no typing or looking away.
  • Lean in when speaking, lean back when listening – shows engagement rhythm.
  • Use lighting to your advantage – well-lit face communicates openness.

 

Common Non-Verbal Mistakes to Avoid

1. Casual Conversation

  • Hands in pockets or crossed arms
  • Looking over someone’s shoulder
  • Weak or limp gestures

2. Participating in a Meeting

  • Slouching back in your chair
  • Overusing filler gestures (tapping, clicking)
  • Avoiding visibility (sitting out of sight)
  • Interrupting without signals

3. Video Calls

  • Camera pointing up or down at the wrong angle
  • Constantly looking at your own image
  • Distracted body language (typing, phone, darting eyes)
  • Blank or frozen expressions

 

Why It Matters for Your Career

Mastering non-verbal cues has a measurable impact on your career trajectory. People form judgments about competence, confidence, and leadership potential within seconds of meeting you. Leaders who use intentional body language are often perceived as more competent and persuasive—even if they’re junior in tenure.

 

Strong non-verbal communication helps you:

  • Gain credibility quickly
  • Build stronger relationships
  • Enhance visibility
  • Accelerate career growth

 

Five Simple, High-Impact Strategies You Can Implement Today

  1. Check Your Posture – Stand or sit tall to project confidence.
  2. Make Your Hands Count – Use visible, intentional gestures.
  3. Lean In, Listen Actively – Subtle forward leans signal engagement.
  4. Camera Confidence – Position at eye level with good lighting; keep hands visible.
  5. Mirror & Match – Reflect the energy and tone of others to build rapport.

 

Wrapping Up

Non-verbal communication is a critical tool in your career toolkit. By paying attention to posture, gestures, facial expressions, and virtual presence, you can dramatically influence how others perceive you, build credibility, and accelerate your professional growth.

 

If you found these insights useful, subscribe to the Managing A Career podcast (https://managingacareer.com/follow) and never miss an episode.  Each episode is packed with practical strategies to help you advance. And if you know someone who could benefit from leveling up their professional presence, share this episode with them—your recommendation could be the nudge that helps them get noticed and get ahead.

 

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