By: Anthony Balderrama, PrimeCB.com writer

Remember when your parents told you to always tell the truth? And then one day you answered the phone and the annoying neighbor asked to talk to your dad. He whispered to you, “Tell them I’m not here.” Thus began a series of contradictory behavior by your parents that led you to wonder why they weren’t following their own advice. By now you’ve probably realized no one is immune from this behavior, which can best be summarized as, “Do as I say, not as I do.”

This phenomenon still manifests itself in our daily lives, though we might not realize it. Look no further than your interactions at work. Someone enthusiastically says “yes” but is sporting a frown. You try to act calm when you talk to the CEO, but you can’t stop tapping your pen against the table. Our body language gives us away every time, and being able to decode it would benefit you and your career, says Dennis Kravetz, author of the book “Relating Effectively.”

“Nobody can control their body language for more than a few moments at a time,” Kravetz says. “This is why it is so powerful to read body language. People can control the words that they say, but they cannot mask their body language and true feelings for more than a few moments.”

The problem isn’t whether or not we can read body language, he explains. We all read it, but not everyone does anything about it or knows what to do about it.

“For example, a guy may see his spouse or co-worker walking around and slamming doors and cabinets and putting the heels of her shoes right through the carpeting. He asks his wife or co-worker, ‘Is something wrong?’ She says, ‘No.’ So he goes about his business,” Kravetz says.

What to look for
Nick Morgan, president and founder of the communications organization Public Words, has spent enough time researching body language that he has identified certain clues for body language giveaways, and you’ll recognize each of them in the workplace:

· “Beyond the eyes and face, look for the torso to be turned away (lying) or toward you (truth).”
· “If the voice is carefully controlled or a little higher pitched than usual, the person may be attempting to conceal something.”
· “Most of us, when we lie, turn our head away or tip it up or down so as to move it away from the other person.”
· “I’ve seen people in a meeting lean back and put their hands behind their head in order to express their superiority over the rest of the room. It’s arrogant but effective.”
· “Powerful people also take up more space: They splay their legs out, or their arms, or hog more space in the room. It’s why important people get bigger hotel rooms than lesser folk, and it’s why tall people are statistically more likely to rise higher in their professions than shorter people. The alpha dog strikes again.”
· “What is [the hand] doing? Is it clenched or nervously kneading the other hand? Is it twitchy or attempting to conceal itself in a pocket?”

What can you do
Author and speaker Selena Rezvani says that body language often overshadows what people say, so she recommends that professionals learn how to convey the right message through their actions.

· Project your voice
The right volume can enhance your message. “When you are speaking, project your voice at a level that sounds assertive and confident,” Rezvani explains. “Practice speaking confidently — no matter what you are saying — by projecting your voice and finding your perfect volume.”

· Find the right posture
“Posture is conveyed from the way you sit to how you walk and carry yourself,” she says. “When attending a meeting, sit upright with an open torso, which shows both comfort and confidence. If standing or presenting, keep your posture open with your torso facing your audience and maintain strong eye contact with the audience. When in group settings, avoid the common mistake of having side conversations, which tend to alienate others.”

· Eye contact matters
“Make strong eye contact with everyone from the receptionist to the chief executive of your company. Resist the urge to look down or look away if you are nervous. Being mindful about keeping strong eye contact can help build your confidence and send the message that you are interested in others, engaged and self-assured,” she says.

· Shake with a purpose
“A strong, firm handshake communicates to those you are meeting that you are someone to be taken seriously,” Rezvani says. “A firm handshake is best executed while making full, friendly eye contact.”

Of course, body language varies from culture to culture, so always know your audience. Whether you are visiting another country or are dealing with professionals from a different background, do your research so you know whether your for eye contact and handshakes are going to be read similarly or if you’ll be offending anyone.

Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/abalderrama.