- Ari: what does body language say?
| Type of Body Language | What it Says | What Can Go Wrong |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Smile | Shows friendliness, openness, and approachability. Makes guests feel welcome and comfortable. | Smile too little → seem cold or unfriendly; smile too much → seem fake or nervous. Avoid forced smiles. |
| 2. Eye contact | Shows attention, respect, and interest. Guests feel heard. Maintain natural eye contact when speaking or listening. | Look too little → appear rude or distracted; look too much → seem intimidating or uncomfortable. |
| 3. Posture (stand straight) | Signals confidence, professionalism, and respect. Helps guests trust you. | Slouch [to sit or stand with your back and shoulders bent forward] → seem lazy or uninterested; too stiff → appear nervous or unfriendly. Avoid leaning backward too much. |
| 4. Open hands | Indicates honesty, transparency, and readiness to help. Guests feel safe and welcome. | Hands hidden → appear secretive or closed; hands too open or waving → seem careless or distracting. |
| 5. Gestures | Enhances explanations and makes communication clear. Small gestures make you appear natural and friendly. | Too few gestures → appear stiff or boring; too many → distract guests or confuse them. |
| 6. Nodding | Shows understanding, agreement, and encouragement. Makes the guest feel heard and validated. | Too little → seem uninterested; too much → appear fake or sarcastic. |
| 7. Leaning slightly forward | Demonstrates interest and engagement in the conversation. | Lean too much → invade personal space; lean too little → seem bored or distant. |
| 8. Respecting personal space | Shows respect for guest comfort. Makes interactions pleasant. | Stand too close → guests feel uncomfortable; stand too far → seem cold or distant. |
| 9. Mirroring gestures | Builds rapport subtly, showing understanding and connection. | Copy too much → seem mocking or unnatural; copy too little → lose the positive effect. |
| 10. Facial expressions (other than smile) | Shows emotion and understanding (e.g., raising eyebrows, nodding slightly, attentive look). | Expressionless face → seem uninterested; exaggerated expressions → seem fake or dramatic. |
| 11. Tone of voice & pacing | Calm, friendly voice complements body language. Shows patience and respect. | Speak too fast → seem rushed or stressed; speak too slow → seem unsure or bored. |
| 12. Handshake (if culturally appropriate) | Shows respect, confidence, and professionalism. | Weak handshake → seem weak or unsure; too strong → seem aggressive. |
| 13. Head position | Slightly tilted head shows interest; upright head shows confidence. | Head down → seem insecure; head too high → seem arrogant. |
| 14. Seated posture | Leaning slightly forward, hands on lap or table, feet flat → shows attentiveness. | Leaning back, arms crossed → seem closed or uninterested. |
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1. Smile
A smile is very important. When Ari smiles, people feel happy and welcome. A smile shows that Ari is friendly and kind. Guests feel comfortable when he smiles. Smiling also makes conversations better. Ari can smile when he meets guests, when he talks, or when he says goodbye. A small smile is enough. Too little smile can look cold. Too much smile can look not real.
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2. Eye contact
Eye contact is very important in tourism and hospitality. When Ari looks at people in the eyes, it shows he listens and cares about them. Guests feel respected and welcome. Eye contact helps Ari understand the guest and show interest. But Ari must be careful. If he looks too little, guests may feel he is rude. If he looks too much, it can feel uncomfortable.
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3. Posture (stand straight)
When Ari stands straight, it shows he is confident and polite. Guests see that he is professional and ready to help. Standing straight makes Ari look friendly and serious about his work. If he slouches, guests may think he is lazy or bored. If he is too stiff, he can look nervous or unhappy. Good posture helps Ari feel confident and make guests feel comfortable.
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4. Open hands
Using open hands is very important. When Ari shows his hands, it tells people he is honest and friendly. Guests feel safe and welcome. Open hands can be on the table, in front of the body, or when explaining something. Do not hide your hands in pockets. Do not wave them too much. Open hands show respect, honesty, and that Ari is ready to help.
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5. Gestures
Gestures are movements we make with our hands, arms, or head when we speak. Gestures help people understand what we say. They make communication more clear and friendly. Small gestures show that we are natural and polite. Too many gestures can be confusing or distracting. Too few gestures can make us seem boring or not interested. Using gestures in the right way helps guests feel welcome and comfortable.
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6. Nodding
When Ari nods his head while someone speaks, it shows that he understands and listens carefully. Guests feel that he cares about what they say. Nodding also shows agreement and makes the conversation friendly. Ari should nod sometimes, but not too much. If he nods too little, guests may think he does not listen. If he nods too much, it can look fake.
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7. Leaning slightly forward
When Ari leans a little forward, it shows he is interested in the person who talks. Guests feel that Ari listens carefully and cares about them. Leaning forward makes the conversation friendly and warm. But Ari must be careful. If he leans too much, it can make the guest feel uncomfortable. If he leans too little, it can look like he is bored or not interested.
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8. Respecting personal space
Respecting personal space is very important in tourism and hospitality. Ari should keep a little distance from guests. This shows that he respects them and wants them to feel comfortable. Standing too close can make guests feel nervous or unsafe. Standing too far away can seem cold or unfriendly. By keeping the right distance, Ari can make guests feel welcome, relaxed, and respected during all interactions.
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9. Mirroring gestures
Mirroring gestures means Ari copies small movements of the guest. For example, if the guest moves a hand or nods, Ari can do the same. This shows that he listens and understands the guest. It makes the guest feel comfortable and happy. Ari must do it slowly and gently. If he copies too much or too fast, it can look strange or fake.
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10. Facial expressions (other than smile)
Facial expressions show how Ari feels. He can raise his eyebrows to show surprise or interest. He can nod slightly to show he understands. Small expressions make guests feel that Ari listens and cares. If he has no expression, guests may think he is bored. If he makes big or strange expressions, it can look funny or fake. Facial expressions help Ari communicate without words.
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11. Tone of voice & pacing
Tone of voice is how Ari speaks. It can be calm, friendly, or nervous. A calm and friendly voice makes guests feel welcome and comfortable. Pacing is the speed of speaking. If Ari speaks too fast, guests may not understand him and feel stressed. If he speaks too slow, guests may feel bored or think he is unsure. A good tone and pace help guests feel happy and respected.
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12. Handshake (if culturally appropriate)
A handshake is a way to show respect and confidence. When Ari meets a guest, a handshake can say “Hello” and make the guest feel welcome. It is important to do it gently and not too strong. A weak handshake can look unsure, and a very strong handshake can seem aggressive. Ari must also check if a handshake is okay in the guest’s culture.
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13. Head position
Ari’s head position shows how he feels. If he keeps his head straight and upright, it shows confidence. Tilting the head slightly to the side shows interest in the guest. Looking down too much can show shyness or insecurity. Looking too high can show pride or arrogance. Guests notice the head position. A good head position makes Ari look friendly, respectful, and professional in tourism and hospitality.
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14. Seated posture
When Ari sits, his body shows if he is polite and interested. He should sit straight, with his back not too bent. Hands can be on his lap or on the table. Feet should stay on the floor. Leaning slightly forward shows he listens. If he leans back too much or crosses his arms, he can look bored or not friendly. Good posture makes guests feel comfortable.
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