I was doing a podcast with Cody Gough at Curiosity.com yesterday, and body language came up.

We talked about how when you hug people and they stiffen up, this makes everyone feel uncomfortable — and want to get away from each other as soon as possible.

If that’s the case, then what can we do to draw people to us instead?

Research shows that, in face-to-face encounters, people get 55% of their information about us from our body language.

When we choose body language that’s similar to the people we’re with, this builds rapport.

It’s not that you’re changing who you are or being fake. You’re doing this to help others feel more comfortable with you, and increase the chances they’ll want to pay attention to what you say. Give it a go!

Want to know more about how to overcome the biggest mistakes people make in the messages they share in meetings? Check out this fast read.