Even the best look that took forever to create can be ruined by bad body language. This instinctual nonverbal “messenger” is still the main factor that influences how others perceive us and can make people like you or, on the contrary, make you totally unattractive. Here's a quick guide to some gestures you should avoid to always look your best. Gripping your arm behind your back sends a strong negative signal to those around you. The higher you grab your arm, the angrier you seem to people. Hiding your hands in your pockets means a lot of things, which is why it’s important to interpret body language as a whole. But in most cases people put their hands in their pockets when they're nervous. Clasped hands resting on the table is a mini-version of crossing your arms over your chest. Sitting with your fingers laced together and your hands raised off the table sends the same message: “I’m shutting myself off, and I don’t want to talk to you.” Instead of slouching, straighten your back, look ahead of you, and pick your feet up when you walk. These tips will improve your appearance even more than a new suit or a stunning dress! While we usually put our hands on the lips simply because we don’t know where to put our hands, it’s still a pretty intimidating pose to see on a conversation partner. We unconsciously touch our mouth when we're lying and many people know this. Also, when you cover your mouth, it can be hard to understand what you're saying. Clinching your hands looks like you’re literally about to punch someone in the face or you’re ready to defend yourself. Eye contact could be the most important part of communication. If you tend to maintain too much eye contact or you simply want to avoid doing so, try to fidget with something every once in a while, maybe lint on your pants or something in your salad. Just don’t overdo the fake distractions because you’ll seem impolite. There have been a lot of cool psychological studies on this topic, but to keep it short: we copy people who we like, and we like people who copy us.
