286 / COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR TEAM
Understanding nonverbal
communication
Most of the meaning transferred from one person to another in a
personal conversation comes not from the words that are spoken, but
from nonverbal signals. Learning to read, understand, and use these
wordless messages isn’t easy, but is essential for effective communication.
Using nonverbal signals
Reading nonverbal signals
The movement, positioning, and
use of the human body in various
communication settings serves
a number of functions:
•
To highlight or emphasize some
part of a verbal message
•
To regulate the flow, pace,
and back-and-forth nature
of verbal messages
•
To reinforce the general tone
or attitude of a message
•
To repeat what the verbal
messages convey (holding up
three fingers to indicate the
number three, for example)
•
To substitute for, or take the place
of, verbal messages (such as
giving a “thumbs up” gesture)
Nonverbal cues are often difficult
to read, especially because there
are few body movements or gestures
that have universally agreed-upon
meanings. A colleague who looks
tired or overworked to one person
may appear disinterested or
Body language can
contradict the verbal
messages being sent
US_286-287_Und_Nonverbal_Comm.indd 286 31/05/16 5:29 pm
UNDERSTANDING NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION / 287
Most of the meaning transferred from one person to another in a
personal conversation comes not from the words that are spoken, but
from nonverbal signals. Learning to read, understand, and use these
wordless messages isn’t easy, but is essential for effective communication.
of a message may be conveyed
by facial expression, according
to some psychological studies
55%
WATCH YOUR APPEARANCE
Make sure that your clothing and grooming are appropriate to your
audience, your reasons for communicating, and the occasion.
RESTRAIN YOUR MOVEMENTS
Small gestures, close to your body, will convey an image of
confidence and authority. Keep your voice low but audible and
your posture relaxed.
TAKE CARE WITH TOUCH
The rules on touching others in a business context vary from
culture to culture. Make sure you know and respect local customs.
WATCH YOUR EYE CONTACT
Eye contact usually reinforces trust; however, in some Asian
cultures, looking a superior in the eye as you speak can be
considered disrespectful.
USE VOCAL DYNAMICS
Tone, volume, rate, pitch, forcefulness, and enunciation all
convey meaning about a subject, and how you feel about the
people in the room.
Using nonverbal signals
indifferent to another. While
looking for meaning in a particular
movement, position, or gesture, be
careful not to miss more important
signals that reveal the true feelings
of a speaker. Body language can
sometimes contradict the verbal
messages being sent. Tears in a
person’s eyes, for example, might
involuntarily contradict a message
telling you that the speaker is fine.
US_286-287_Und_Nonverbal_Comm.indd 287 30/05/16 3:05 pm
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