Monday Morning Meeting: Body Language

Monday Morning Meeting: Body Language

Most of a dental office’s interaction with patients is face to face. Improving your body language can make a big difference in your people skills, attractiveness to patients, and your general mood. The biggest tip there is for improving body language is to improve your awareness of how you sit, stand, and use your hands and legs to communicate. Here are some helpful tips:

Body Language:

1. Try not to cross your arms or legs and certainly don’t cross both at once! This position conveys a defensive, guarded, or annoyed tone that you do not want patients picking up from you. Instead, keep arms and legs loose and open.

2. Keep eye contact but don’t stare the patient down. You do not want to be on the extremes of eye contact: either staring anywhere but at the person you’re talking to or staring at them to the point of discomfort. You do want to make eye contact but you don’t want to creep them out. 

3. Respond to the patient when they’re speaking to you. It may seem obvious but for some, responding can be difficult. You don’t want to nod and say “uh huh” too much but not doing anything is awkward. A simple nod or verbal acknowledgement lets the speaker know that you’re on the same page!

4. Your mom told you to sit up straight for a reason, and she was right! Slouching is the best way to convey insecurity and laziness to a patient. Instead, make sure you’re standing or sitting up straight to convey competence and confidence!

5. You work at a dentist’s office… Don’t be afraid to smile! It’s okay to smile and laugh when someone says something funny. In fact, it’s okay to chuckle a bit even when what they say isn’t that funny. People will be more inclined to feel comfortable with you if you seem like a positive, fun person.

6. You are not in a race. Slow down a bit. This goes for everything from walking to talking. Many patients are already nervous enough to be at the dentist’s office; speeding around the office is not going to help them relax. This will also help you feel less stressed.