10 Common Body Language Mistakes Professionals Make & How to fix?

Your Body Speaks Louder Than You Think

In every meeting, interview, or business conversation, you send messages even when you are silent.

Your body language communicates confidence, interest, honesty, and authority, or the opposite.

Research shows that over 90% of communication is nonverbal, meaning gestures, facial expressions, and posture often determine how others perceive you.

Even the most skilled professionals can unintentionally send the wrong signals, appearing defensive, distracted, or unsure without realizing it.

This blog reveals the 10 most common body language mistakes professionals make and, more importantly, how to fix them so you can communicate with confidence and presence.

Want to master nonverbal cues and influence with confidence? Explore our Master Nonverbal Communications Course and learn from global communication experts.

Common Body Language Mistakes Professionals Make & How to Fix Them?

1. Avoiding or Overusing Eye Contact

Eye contact is one of the strongest forms of non verbal connection. However, many professionals either avoid it completely (appearing disinterested or nervous) or overdo it (which can seem confrontational).

The Mistake: Looking away too often or focusing elsewhere such as your notes or laptop breaks trust. Conversely, constant staring can make the other person uncomfortable.

How to Fix It:

Maintain eye contact for about 60–70% of the conversation. When speaking, look into the person’s eyes naturally, then glance away briefly to think or reset. During video calls, look into your camera lens instead of the screen to replicate real eye contact.

2. Crossing Your Arms or Legs

Crossed arms may feel comfortable, but subconsciously, it signals defensiveness, disagreement, or insecurity. In group meetings, it can make you seem closed off or resistant to feedback.

The Mistake: You might cross your arms out of habit, but others interpret it as a barrier.

How to Fix It:

Adopt an open posture. Keep your arms relaxed at your sides or lightly on the table. When listening, use small gestures like nodding or open palms to show engagement. This instantly makes you appear approachable and receptive.

3. Slouching or Leaning Back Too Much

Posture silently conveys your confidence and interest. A slouched back or drooping shoulders show fatigue, disinterest, or low confidence even when you are paying attention.

The Mistake: Leaning too far back or slumping in your chair can give off an “I do not care” impression. It reduces your executive presence.

How to Fix It:

Sit or stand tall with shoulders slightly back and spine straight. When someone is speaking, lean forward slightly to demonstrate attentiveness and respect. A confident posture radiates professionalism and authority.

4. Blank or Inconsistent Facial Expressions

Your face mirrors your thoughts. When it does not, people may misread you as cold, uninterested, or insincere. Some professionals focus so much on words that they forget to express emotions through their face.

The Mistake: Keeping a poker face throughout discussions makes your communication feel robotic or disengaged.

How to Fix It:

Use facial expressions to match your message smile genuinely, raise your eyebrows to show curiosity, or nod when agreeing. In interviews or client calls, this makes your interaction more human and trustworthy.

5. Fidgeting and Restless Movements

Constant movement – tapping your pen, playing with jewelry, adjusting your tie can signal anxiety, impatience, or distraction.

The Mistake: You may not notice you are doing it, but your audience does. These micro-movements steal focus from your message.

How to Fix It:

Practice stillness. Take slow, controlled breaths, and keep your hands relaxed on the table or in your lap. If you need to move, do it intentionally for example, use hand gestures to emphasize a point.

6. Weak or Aggressive Handshake

Your handshake (or greeting gesture in virtual meetings) forms an immediate impression. A weak handshake signals hesitation, while an overly strong one can feel dominating.

The Mistake: Not balancing your handshake strength with the context and person.

How to Fix It:

Keep your handshake firm but not forceful, maintain eye contact, and smile. In virtual contexts, your “digital handshake” is your tone, posture, and smile on camera so sit straight and greet warmly.

7. Lack of Gestures When Speaking

Some professionals avoid gestures out of fear of appearing dramatic. However, limited hand movement makes your speech seem flat or detached. Gestures enhance understanding and show confidence.

The Mistake: Standing stiff or holding your hands together while speaking gives a mechanical impression.

How to Fix It:

Use purposeful, natural gestures that match your words. For example, use open palms when explaining, or small hand movements to illustrate ideas. This adds warmth and credibility to your communication.

8. Standing Too Close or Too Far

Personal space varies by culture, but invading it can make others uncomfortable, while standing too far can appear disengaged.

The Mistake: Getting too close during conversations or stepping back excessively in group settings.

How to Fix It:

Maintain about an arm’s length distance when talking face-to-face. Watch for cues if someone steps back, mirror them subtly. Respecting boundaries shows emotional awareness and professionalism.

9. Checking Your Phone or Watch

In a fast-paced world, many professionals multitask, but glancing at your phone during meetings sends a strong signal of disrespect or disinterest.

The Mistake: Looking at your phone, smartwatch, or laptop notifications during important interactions.

How to Fix It:

• Keep devices silent and out of reach when speaking with someone. 
• Give your full attention, it shows respect and helps build stronger professional relationships. 
• Your focus makes a greater impression than your phone ever could.

10. Not Mirroring Others’ Body Language

Mirroring is a subtle way to show connection and empathy. 

When you naturally reflect someone’s tone, gestures, or posture, they feel understood.

The Mistake: Not matching the other person’s energy or posture, which can make you seem detached or uninterested.

How to Fix It:

• Observe how the other person sits or gestures and mirror them subtly. 
• If they lean forward, do the same after a moment. 
• If they are calm and composed, reflect that energy. 
• When done naturally, mirroring creates instant rapport.

Why Fixing These Mistakes Matters?

Body language mistakes may seem minor, but they have a powerful cumulative effect. In professional settings, these cues shape how others perceive your competence, trustworthiness, and authority.

By mastering non-verbal signals, you:

• Build stronger relationships at work
• Present with confidence and charisma
• Lead teams with greater influence
• Earn respect without saying a word

Ready to master these skills for life? Learn practical, science-backed nonverbal strategies in our Master Non-Verbal Communications Course, designed for professionals who want to lead, influence, and connect more effectively.