bodylanguage 　　debbieandsimonhavepart-timejobsatatravelagency.itissaturdaymorningandtheyaresittingintheoffice.debbieandsimonlookedupasawell-dressedladyentered.theladyglancedatthemboth,thenwalkedovertodebbie.debbiegreetedhercheerfully."hello,"theladysaid."iwanttogobytrainfrom..."simonsighed.mr.young,asenioremplyee,wasstandingbesidehim."what'sup,simon?youdon'tlookveryhappy.""thecustomersalwayspreferdebbietome.idon'tunderstandwhy.""ido.it'sthewayyoucommunicate.""howcanthatbe?"simonasked."idon'tevengetachancetospeaktothem.""speechisnottheonlymethodofcommunicathion.yourbodylanguageisimportant,too.""whatkindoflanguageisthat?""it'sthewayyoustandandsit.it'syourgesturesandtheexpressiononyourfaceandinyoureyes.yourwholeappearancecommunicatesthings.youoftenrestyourheadonyourhand.youdontlookup.youneversmile.soyoudon'tmakeagoodimpressiononpeople.""butlookatdebbie.shemakeseyecontactwiththecustomers.she'sholdingherheadup.shesmiles.that'swhythecustomersgotoherandnottoyou."afterthat,simondecidedtoimprovehisbodylanguage.hesatupandsmiledatpeople.minuteslater,averybeautifulgirlentered.shelookedatdebbieandthenatsimon.withouthesitation,shewenttosimonandgavehimabigsmile.afewmomentslater,shelefthappily.mryoungcameoveratonceandsaid,"youmadeagoodimpressiononher.""thatwasmysister,"simonsaid."shewantedtoremindmethattommorowisherbirthday." 　　Eyecontact 　　Throughoutthehistoryofmankind,peoplehavecommunicatewithbodylanguage.Inmanysituations,thewayyousomethingisfarmoreimportantthanwhatyousay. 　　Eyecontactissometimesthekeytocommunication.Itcansignalfriendlinessorhostility,interestorboredom,andunderstandingorconfusion. 　　InWesterncultures,maintaingeyecontactinconversationsisnecessary.Asamatteroffact,awesternermightconsideralackofeyecontactasalackofintert.InSpain,ItalyandGreece,wherepeoplestandclosetogethertalkingtoeachother,eyecontactismorefrequentandlastslonger. 　　InmanyAsiancultures,avoidingeyecontactshowsrespect.Itisdonewhentalkingwithanyoneinauthorityorwithanyoneolder. 　　Habitslikethiscancauseproblemswhenpeopledonotunderstandthem.Forinstance,anAsianmightclosehiseyesinconcentrationorlookdownwhilelisteningtoaspeaker.AWesternspeakermightthinkthemanisnotintereted. 　　Eyecontactisasubtlething.Avoidingeyecontactmightbeconsideredimpolite,butstaringatothersisalsoconsideredrudeandshouldbeavoided.