Verbal and nonverbal communication in the workplace
Nonverbal Communication Adds to the Message Spoken In-person. Jacom Stevens
- Body language: The way a person sits; stands; moves arms, hands, and feet; other subtle movements.
- Facial expression: Human faces are incredibly expressive including the eyes, eyebrows, mouth, and any other movement. Emotions such as anger, happiness, hurt, and boredom are all easily expressed with facial movements.
- Posture: How you carry yourself including bearing, stance, rigidity, uprightness. Whether you are leaning back comfortably, sitting rigidly on the edge of your seat, or leaning back with your eyes close, you convey a message via your posture and positioning.
- Eye contact: People often attribute trustworthiness to people who speak while maintaining good eye contact and vice versa. Eye contact is also used to convey interest and emotions, and to promote rapport with the receiver of the message. It is also used to feign interest, mislead, and fake interest.
- Gestures: Especially hand gestures are rich conveyors of communication. They punctuate the spoken word and add meaning. Less conscious gestures such as scratching your nose, stroking your hair, tugging on your clothes, placing your hands on your hips, and waving communicate messages advertently or inadvertently.
- Signs: Signs and other articles with words, pictures or symbols are considered to be nonverbal communication.
- Clothing and other appurtenances such as brief cases, safety glasses, and so forth: Types of clothing and your appearance send powerful nonverbal messages. Some of the messages are intentional as when the employee wears a shirt with her favorite athletic team emblazoned on the back or the employee that wears a conservative, business-like suit every day.
Other messages may be unintentional. The wearer of the conservative suits may appear unapproachable when that was not his intention. The wearer of a low cut blouse may or may not want her coworkers to find her sexy. At best, however, she sends a mixed message.
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The Nonverbal Advantage: Secrets and Science of Body Language at Work (Bk Business) Book (Berrett-Koehler Publishers)
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