UNDERSTANDING NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
Before you can improve your non-verbal communication skills, you must first understand the different functions and forms of these silent messages. Once you perceive this knowledge, you will be more aware of non-verbal communication cues and gestures around you and then you can use it to your advantage at work.FUNCTIONS:
There are at least five ways communicators use non-verbal communication skills:
- To complement and illustrate. Non-verbal messages can enhance, change, complete or provide details for a verbal message.
Example: Speaker shows how grand his idea is by using his arm
- To reinforce and accentuate. This function conveys your important ideas in a verbal message.
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| Example: A neat and well-equipped office reinforces professionalism |
3. To replace and substitute. Using gestures instead of words.
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| Example: Index finger in front of closed lips gestures 'be quiet'. |
4. To control and regulate. Non-verbal messages can tell speakers when to continue, to repeat, to elaborate, to hurry-up or to finish.
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| Example: Audience has no eye contact with speaker-message says 'boring'. |
5. To contradict. Actions of a person show the opposite of their verbal message.
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| Example: Person rubbing forehead indicates headache, but tells you they are not feeling well. |
FORMS:
The following different forms of non-verbal communication range from facial expressions to body language and even clothes. I found that learning these messages can help me positively in my career. As you go through the messages sent by eye contact, facial expressions, posture, and gestures, as well as the use of time, space, territory, and appearance think about how they can help you in your career.
Eye Contact. How you look at someone or how someone looks at you can determine true feelings and attitudes. Most people cannot look at someone straight in the eyes and lie. Think about how many times you believed a speaker that didn't look at you directly. When you maintain direct but not prolonged eye contact, this suggests trust and admiration. In various cultures, eye contact have different meanings. Keep this in mind when you are doing business outside of your culture.
Eye Contact. How you look at someone or how someone looks at you can determine true feelings and attitudes. Most people cannot look at someone straight in the eyes and lie. Think about how many times you believed a speaker that didn't look at you directly. When you maintain direct but not prolonged eye contact, this suggests trust and admiration. In various cultures, eye contact have different meanings. Keep this in mind when you are doing business outside of your culture.
Facial Expression. The human face can display many different expressions. Some people can control these expressions and hide their true feelings, whereas most of us display our emotions openly. Swallowing nervously, raising or lowering the eyebrows and frowning can entirely replace verbal messages. In the workplace you should maintain an inviting expression including smiles.
Posture and Gestures. In the workplace, controlling your posture and gestures sends out a good impression. Standing up straight shows confidence and strength. Leaning back & slouching in the audience shows lack of interest. Practicing good posture and relevant gestures in presentations are key non-verbal communicators to use to keep an audience listening. Later on I will also talk about using non-verbal communication to improve your presentations.
Time. Being on time for meetings, work and interviews shows how a person's personality and attitude is. When you are always on time for work, it shows that you are dedicated and respect your company. This can go a long way for you when you want to advance in your career. Even for meetings, whether you are attending one or holding one, punctuality will send a positive message in your workplace.
Space. The design and grouping of furniture within a work space tells us how a person and their objective. For example, a formal design would suggest a more formal and closed communication environment. To show a more open environment, try arranging chairs informally in a circle. You would normally want to do this to encourage an open discussion and unrestricted flow of communication.
Territory. There are four different space zones for social interaction. Intimate Zone, Personal Zone, Social Zone and Public Zone. People in North America only intimate friends and family can stand closer than 0.45 metres. If anyone else steps that close to us, we normally take a step back to regain our space.
Appearance. How you look from what you wear, grooming and even how you stand can send a non-verbal message about you instantly. Observers will judge you based on what they see so try to keep this in mind when you think about what you are going to wear to work. Based on what they see, a quick judgement can be made. For example, if your clothes are untidy and your hair doesn't look combed, your workplace can perceive that you did not have time to get ready for work or worse, you don't care about you look like. This can also mean that you don't respect your company and your boss will not like this.
Thought for the day...
Is this what your workplace looks like? Comment and tell me what you think.
Posture and Gestures. In the workplace, controlling your posture and gestures sends out a good impression. Standing up straight shows confidence and strength. Leaning back & slouching in the audience shows lack of interest. Practicing good posture and relevant gestures in presentations are key non-verbal communicators to use to keep an audience listening. Later on I will also talk about using non-verbal communication to improve your presentations.
Time. Being on time for meetings, work and interviews shows how a person's personality and attitude is. When you are always on time for work, it shows that you are dedicated and respect your company. This can go a long way for you when you want to advance in your career. Even for meetings, whether you are attending one or holding one, punctuality will send a positive message in your workplace.
Space. The design and grouping of furniture within a work space tells us how a person and their objective. For example, a formal design would suggest a more formal and closed communication environment. To show a more open environment, try arranging chairs informally in a circle. You would normally want to do this to encourage an open discussion and unrestricted flow of communication.
Territory. There are four different space zones for social interaction. Intimate Zone, Personal Zone, Social Zone and Public Zone. People in North America only intimate friends and family can stand closer than 0.45 metres. If anyone else steps that close to us, we normally take a step back to regain our space.
Appearance. How you look from what you wear, grooming and even how you stand can send a non-verbal message about you instantly. Observers will judge you based on what they see so try to keep this in mind when you think about what you are going to wear to work. Based on what they see, a quick judgement can be made. For example, if your clothes are untidy and your hair doesn't look combed, your workplace can perceive that you did not have time to get ready for work or worse, you don't care about you look like. This can also mean that you don't respect your company and your boss will not like this.
Thought for the day...
Is this what your workplace looks like? Comment and tell me what you think.
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| Figure 1 Professional Image |
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