In his book Emotional Intelligence 2.0, Dr. Travis Blackberry outlines some of the most common body language tendencies and what they communicate to your audience. Slouching: a sign of disrespect. Exaggerated gestures: stretching the truth. Turning yourself away from others: uncomfortable and distrustful of the person speaking. Crossed arms/crossed legs: not open to what the other person is saying. Exaggerated nodding: feeling anxiety about approval. Fixing your hair: anxious, self-conscious, and distracted. Avoiding eye contact: hiding something or lack confidence. Sustained eye contact: communicates confidence, leadership, strength, and intelligence. Eye contact that’s too intense: perceived as aggressive, or an attempt to dominate. Getting too close (nearer than 18 inches): low self-awareness and understanding of personal space. Since more than 50% of the information in a conversation is passed nonverbally, great communicators make sure to use it to their advantage.