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Silent Signals

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Lesson Plan

Session 1: Body Language Basics

Introduce adults to the fundamentals of body language—including posture, gestures, and personal space—to help them decode non-verbal cues in professional interactions.

Understanding body language helps adults interpret unspoken messages, build rapport, and improve communication effectiveness in personal and professional contexts.

Audience

Adult Learners

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Presentation, observation exercises, and feedback.

Materials

Body Language Basics Slide Deck, and Body Language Observation Worksheet

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Introduction

2 minutes

  • Greet the learner and present the session objective.
  • Explain why understanding body language is crucial in professional settings.

Step 2

Present Key Concepts

5 minutes

  • Use the slide deck to define posture, gestures, and proxemics.
  • Provide real-world professional examples for each concept.

Step 3

Guided Observation

5 minutes

  • Display images in the slide deck depicting various postures and gestures.
  • Ask the learner to identify and note cues on the observation worksheet.

Step 4

Assessment & Feedback

3 minutes

  • Review the learner’s worksheet responses.
  • Provide targeted feedback and clarify any misconceptions.
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Slide Deck

Body Language Basics

• Today’s focus: decoding non-verbal cues in professional interactions
• Key components: posture, gestures, personal space
• Goal: boost rapport and clarity using body language

Welcome the learner and introduce the session objective: decoding posture, gestures, and personal space to improve professional communication.

What Is Body Language?

• Signals conveyed through posture, gestures, facial expressions, and proximity
• Can complement or contradict spoken words
• Critical for building rapport and interpreting unspoken feelings

Define body language and emphasize its impact. Mention that up to 70% of communication can be non-verbal.

Open vs. Closed Posture

• Open posture: uncrossed arms, relaxed shoulders
– Signals confidence and approachability
• Closed posture: crossed arms, hunched shoulders
– Signals defensiveness and unease

Explain what open and closed postures are and why they matter.

Adopting an Open Posture

• Uncross your arms and relax your shoulders
• Square your stance and keep feet hip-width apart
• Benefits: projects confidence and builds rapport

Guide the learner to practice adopting an open posture to improve professional presence.

Illustrators & Emblems

• Illustrators: accompany speech (e.g., pointing to highlight information)
• Emblems: stand-alone symbols (e.g., thumbs up to signal approval)

Introduce gesture categories with clear professional examples.

Adaptors & Affect Displays

• Adaptors: self-touch gestures (e.g., rubbing neck) that reveal stress
• Affect displays: express emotions (e.g., shoulder shrug for uncertainty)
• Recognition helps interpret speaker intent accurately

Cover other gesture types and explain how to read them.

The Four Personal Space Zones

• Intimate (0–18 in): close relationships only
• Personal (1.5–4 ft): friends and coworkers
• Social (4–12 ft): business and formal interactions
• Public (12+ ft): presentations and speeches

Detail the four proxemic zones and when they apply.

Applying Proxemics

• Being aware of proxemic zones allows you to respect personal boundaries by adjusting your distance to match the context.
• Step forward to demonstrate engagement.

• Step back to give others space.

• Using these strategies leads to clearer and more comfortable interactions.

Explain how awareness of personal space improves communication.

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Worksheet

Body Language Observation Worksheet

Instructions: For each image shown during the session, observe and record the non-verbal cues you notice. Focus on posture, gestures, and personal space. Use the space below each prompt to write your observations.

1. Posture Observation

a) Describe the person’s overall posture (open or closed). What signals does this posture send in a professional context?







b) How might you adopt a more open posture in your next meeting or conversation? Explain why this change could be effective.







2. Gesture Observation

a) Identify one gesture the person is using (e.g., pointing, self-touching). What emotion or message does it convey?







b) Describe a professional situation where you could use a similar illustrative or emblem gesture. Why would it help?







3. Personal Space (Proxemics)

a) Estimate the distance between the person and the other individual(s). Which proxemic zone does this represent (intimate, personal, social, public)?







b) In your workplace, when is it appropriate to move closer or step back? Provide an example.







4. Reflection

Considering all the cues you’ve noted, how could better awareness of non-verbal signals improve your professional interactions? Provide two concrete strategies to practice.












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Lesson Plan

Session 2: Facial Expressions

Introduce adult learners to the six basic facial expressions and micro-expressions, enabling them to accurately recognize and interpret emotions in professional interactions.

Facial expressions convey critical emotional information that can enhance rapport, prevent misunderstandings, and improve negotiation and teamwork in the workplace.

Audience

Adult Learners

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Presentation, analysis exercises, and feedback.

Materials

Facial Expressions Slide Deck

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Introduction

2 minutes

  • Greet the learner and state today’s objective: decoding facial expressions.
  • Explain how reading expressions supports clearer, more empathetic communication.

Step 2

Present Key Concepts

5 minutes

  • Use the slide deck to define the six basic emotions (happiness, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, disgust).
  • Introduce micro-expressions: brief, involuntary facial movements revealing true feelings.

Step 3

Guided Analysis

5 minutes

  • Display several facial expression images from the slide deck.
  • Ask the learner to identify each emotion and note key cues (e.g., raised eyebrows, smiling mouth).
  • Discuss cultural variations and context where relevant.

Step 4

Assessment & Feedback

3 minutes

  • Review the learner’s identifications and reasoning.
  • Provide targeted feedback on any misinterpretations.
  • Offer two strategies for practicing facial-cue recognition in daily interactions.
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Slide Deck

Facial Expressions Basics

In this session, we'll explore how facial movements convey emotions, focus on the six basic expressions, and learn about micro-expressions that reveal true feelings.

Welcome the learner and introduce today’s objective: decoding facial expressions to recognize emotions accurately.

The Six Basic Emotions

• Happiness: raised cheeks, crow’s feet wrinkles, smiling mouth
• Sadness: drooping eyelids, downturned mouth corners
• Anger: lowered eyebrows, glaring eyes, pressed lips
• Fear: raised inner eyebrows, tensed lower eyelids, lips stretched horizontally
• Surprise: raised eyebrows, wide eyes, open mouth
• Disgust: nose wrinkling, upper lip raised

Define and illustrate each basic emotion. Point out the universal muscle movements associated with each.

Micro-Expressions

• Last only 1/25 to 1/5 of a second
• Often leak true emotions when someone is trying to mask feelings
• Key to detecting hidden discomfort, insincerity, or stress

Explain micro-expressions—brief, involuntary facial movements—and their role in revealing concealed emotions.

Practice: Identify Facial Cues

  1. Display a series of photos showing different expressions.
  2. Ask the learner to name the emotion and point out key facial features.
  3. Discuss any cultural or contextual variations that may affect interpretation.

Guide the learner through image analysis. Encourage noting eyebrow, eye, mouth, and cheek cues.

Applying Your Skills

• Observe colleagues or friends in low-stakes settings.
• Match your observations to the six basic emotions and micro-expression indicators.
• Reflect daily: record one moment when reading a facial expression improved your interaction.

Summarize key takeaways and suggest daily practice strategies.

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Lesson Plan

Session 3: Gestures & Posture in Depth

Deepen the learner’s understanding of advanced gestures and posture strategies, enabling them to apply purposeful non-verbal signals that enhance clarity, confidence, and rapport in professional interactions.

Gestures and posture convey credibility, regulate conversational flow, and express emotions non-verbally. Mastering these cues helps adults project authority, build trust, and interpret colleagues more effectively in workplace settings.

Audience

Adult Learners

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Interactive presentation, demonstration, and applied practice.

Materials

Gestures & Posture Deep Dive Slide Deck

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Introduction

2 minutes

  • Greet the learner and restate today’s objective.
  • Explain how advanced gestures and posture can reinforce spoken messages and influence perceptions.

Step 2

Present Advanced Gesture Categories

5 minutes

  • Use the slide deck to define illustrators, emblems, regulators, adaptors, and affect displays.
  • Provide professional examples (e.g., nodding to regulate dialogue, open palms for sincerity).

Step 3

Demonstration & Role-Play

5 minutes

  • Display images or videos in the slide deck.
  • Ask the learner to identify gesture types and posture cues.
  • Invite the learner to mimic a short gesture sequence to feel the impact.

Step 4

Application & Feedback

3 minutes

  • Have the learner deliver a one-minute professional introduction using purposeful gestures and posture shifts.
  • Provide targeted feedback: highlight effective cues and suggest refinements.
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Slide Deck

Gestures & Posture Deep Dive

In this session, we’ll explore advanced gesture categories, posture strategies for influence, and hands-on practice to intentionally use non-verbal signals that support clarity and confidence in workplace interactions.

Welcome the learner and introduce today’s objective: a deep dive into advanced gestures and posture strategies to enhance professional communication.

Advanced Gesture Categories

• Illustrators: accompany speech (e.g., pointing to highlight an object)
• Emblems: stand-alone symbols (e.g., thumbs up for approval)
• Regulators: manage conversation flow (e.g., nod to invite someone to speak)
• Adaptors: self-touch gestures revealing emotion (e.g., rubbing hands when stressed)
• Affect Displays: express feelings (e.g., shoulder shrug for uncertainty)

Define each gesture category with professional examples. Emphasize how choosing the right gesture can reinforce your message.

Posture Strategies for Influence

• Power Pose: open chest, shoulders back to project authority
• Anchoring: firm, balanced stance to convey stability
• Leaning: forward to show interest, slight retreat to respect space
• Mirroring: subtly match another’s posture to build rapport
• Micro-adjustments: small shifts (e.g., weight transfer) to signal attentiveness

Discuss posture strategies and how subtle shifts communicate confidence, engagement, and rapport.

Practice: Identify & Mimic Gestures

  1. Display short video clips or images of speakers using varied gestures and postures.
  2. Ask the learner to categorize each gesture and note the posture strategy.
  3. Have the learner mimic one gesture + posture combination, then discuss how it felt and what it communicated.

Guide the learner through identifying gesture types and practicing them to feel their impact.

Applying Your Skills

• In meetings, use open illustrators to emphasize key points.
• Adopt a power pose before presentations to boost confidence.
• After interactions, reflect on which non-verbal cues you used and their effectiveness.
• Set a weekly goal: apply one new gesture category in a real-world conversation.

Summarize application strategies and encourage reflection and regular practice.

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Lesson Plan

Session 4: Integrating Signals

Enable adults to integrate posture, gestures, facial expressions, and proxemics to decode and apply non-verbal signals holistically in professional interactions.

Holistic integration of non-verbal cues improves accuracy of interpretation, builds stronger rapport, and enhances overall communication effectiveness in the workplace.

Audience

Adult Learners

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Integrated review, analysis exercises, and applied practice.

Materials

Integrating Signals Slide Deck

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Introduction

2 minutes

  • Greet the learner and state today’s objective: integrating body language, facial expressions, gestures, and personal space cues into a unified interpretation.
  • Explain how combining signals offers deeper insight and improves response accuracy.

Step 2

Review of Key Signals

4 minutes

  • Briefly revisit each non-verbal component: posture, gestures, facial expressions, proxemics.
  • Highlight one key professional example for each (e.g., open posture + smile to convey approachability).

Step 3

Integrated Analysis Exercise

5 minutes

  • Display 2–3 composite images or video clips from the slide deck showing multiple cues.
  • Ask the learner to identify and interpret all simultaneous signals.
  • Discuss how each cue reinforces or contradicts the others and what the overall message is.

Step 4

Application & Reflection

4 minutes

  • Have the learner role-play a short workplace interaction (e.g., greeting a new colleague) using integrated non-verbal signals.
  • Provide feedback on cue consistency and suggest improvements.
  • Encourage the learner to journal one integrated cue observation in their next real meeting.
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Slide Deck

Integrating Non-Verbal Signals

In this session, we’ll combine our knowledge of posture, gestures, facial expressions, and proxemics to decode multi-layered cues and apply them cohesively in workplace scenarios.

Welcome the learner and introduce today’s objective: integrating posture, gestures, facial expressions, and personal space into a unified interpretation. Emphasize how this holistic approach deepens understanding and improves responses in professional interactions.

Review of Key Cues

• Posture: open vs. closed to signal confidence or defensiveness
• Gestures: illustrators, emblems, regulators, adaptors, affect displays
• Facial Expressions: six basic emotions + micro-expressions
• Proxemics: intimate, personal, social, and public distance zones

Provide a concise recap of each non-verbal component. Use this summary to anchor the upcoming analysis and practice.

Practice: Integrated Analysis

  1. Display a scenario combining posture, facial expression, gesture, and spacing.
  2. Identify each non-verbal element and its meaning.
  3. Discuss how the combined signals shape the speaker’s true intent.

Guide the learner through an analysis exercise using a composite image or video clip. Model how to note each cue and infer the overall message.

Practice Scenarios

• Scenario A: Welcoming a new team member (open posture + smile + handshake distance + nod)
• Scenario B: Delivering difficult feedback (firm posture + controlled gestures + neutral expression + appropriate space)

Ask: What does each combined signal convey?

Transition to active practice. Encourage the learner to apply integrated cue reading in real time and reflect on interactions.

Applying Holistic Awareness

• Role-play one integrated interaction daily and note outcomes.
• Journal one example per week where combined cues guided your response.
• Seek feedback: Which signals did others pick up? How did they align with your intent?

Conclude with actionable steps for ongoing development. Encourage journaling and peer feedback as reinforcement.

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