On The Side

If you want to appear to be really, truly listening to someone else, angling the head to the side is a move you'll want to add to your bag of body language tricks. When you employ this gesture, you appear to be lifting  an ear, as though to say, "I'm doing everything I can to take in each and every word that comes out of your mouth." It doesn't matter which way you angle your head - left or right works equally well. And keep in mind, this is just a slight angling of your noggin; you're not trying to touch one ear to your shoulder in an effort to prove that you can hear just fine out of the other one.

Although this gesture is used to emphasize listening skills, it's also employed when people are expressing sympathy. You might see someone say, "I'm so sorry" as her head tilts to the side. What's this all about? Are these people offering - nonverbally- to listen to the other person's troubles? Sort of, but in this case, the head tilt is more a way of showing that you feel for the other person's pain without making it your own.

The head tilt can also come in handy if you want to appear innocent. Let's say your husband has accused you of scratching his beloved motorcycle. You honestly had nothing to do with the damage to his bike. You're upset and feeling more than a little defensive - two emotions that could easily lead to you throwing your head back in an effort to appear rather dominant. While you're well within your rights to express your indignation, your real goal is to end the fight before it goes too far. To defuse the situation quickly, try angling your head to the side while you stick to your story. You'll appear much more innocent (which you are, after all), and this might be all it takes to convince your mate that he's got it all wrong.

Angling your head to the side is another way to play the cutesy, coy card with a member of the opposite sex. Not only does this gesture make you appear innocent and harmless, it's also a good way to show that you're a good listener.

Slightly tilting your head to the side indicates that you're absorbed in a conversation and are listening intently to the other person.