Would a person with shifty eyes, who mumbles, grimaces and fidgets, bring out the best in you and your team? The answer is likely to be no. It is hard to have confidence in a person who shows no confidence in himself.

Though many of us are not aware of it, good body language is a crucial managerial skill. Psychologists say that a shocking 55 percent of what people perceive of others comes from body language and facial expressions, 38 percent comes from tone of voice and only 7 percent is based on the actual words people use.

Gregory Okun, partner and director of Antal International, stresses that the executive search firm pays serious attention to body language — and especially eye contact— when interviewing executives. So much so, in fact, that a section of the “candidate front sheet” that the interviewer fills out is dedicated to body language.

Okun goes so far as to say that, on 80 percent of occasions, he can tell whether or not someone is fit for the job in the first few minutes of an interview, by their handshake, eye contact, a smile — or lack thereof — and even the way the candidate sits in their chair. He advises that openness, friendliness, good eye contact, an air of decisiveness and relaxation all create a good impression.

Body language, like any other, is one that the interviewer, interviewee, leader and follower can all learn and use to their advantage. Improve your fluency and watch your success grow.