Organizational Body Language

Have you ever thought about body language of an organization? We often say that body language can tell more than thousand words. When someone talks to you, you might feel something is not matching the words. Their body language is saying something else than what comes out from their mouth. Our human body language consists of how we move our physical body when communicating with other people. In a discussion it shows the other person if we understand, if we are interested and if we are really present. Clothes, jewelries, haircut and makeup could also be part of the body language since they say something about how we understand ourselves.

The body language of an organization also consists of physical things that tell us something about how they see themselves and the values they work from. It contains houses, offices, furniture, pictures etc. A large jacaranda table breaths prosperity and power. An open landscape could say that “we have no secrets here”. It could also say “we want to see that you are really working all the time”.

That the organizational body language consists of principles, protocols, control systems and unwritten rules might be quite obvious, but it also consists of the way they arrange their furniture, the way they hold their meetings and how they handle their budget. When an organization say “our staff is our greatest asset” and then put in a new control system and cut the budget for training, do you believe them? It is a little bit like when you tell your teenager that he is doing fine, with your arms crossed over your chest, a raised eyebrow and tapping your foot. He knows for sure that he has done something you don´t like.

Walk your talk is as important for organizations as it is for us human beings. Our body language will show when we do as we say. We will be calm, grounded and successful in achieving our goals. Most of all, our honesty will allow people around us to use all their wisdom and be the person they truly are.