Non Verbal Communication

Bus 205: Business Communication Lecture 3

Why is non verbal communication important?

Non verbal communication is, in many cases is more important than verbal communication. We tend to believe in actions rather than words. Non verbal communication says a lot about an individuals personality than verbal behaviour.

Situations where non verbal communication is relevant

In just about in any communication situation, non verbal communication is relevant and should be considered: Presentation Interview Negotiaton Telephone conversations

Types of Non Verbal Communication

Eye contact: important during presentations and when giving a speech to a large group of people. In many cultures maintaining eye contact shows respect. In Asian cultures, not maintaining eye contact, especially with your boss is considered respectful.

 Gestures: This is the movement of your hands when you are trying to prove a statement. I.e: Italians use their hands a lot when in conversation. Some of your lectures may naturally use their hands when lecturing and trying a prove a statement to their students.

Make sure this is natural and not forced. Otherwise, it will look strange.

 Posture: This is the way you stand and deliver your body to the audience. Make sure to stand tall with chest out showing confidence. A slouched body shows a lack of confidence.

 Proxemics: This means distance both physical and mental. Physical distance means literally the distance between two people while they are communicating. There is a set distance when an interview is taking place. A boss sits on the 4rth floor while the employees sit on the lower floor showing a company which is run on command of the authorities and the employees are in the lower level of ranking in the organization.

 Touch- In many cultures, touch is a way to show affection, love, compassion and to show that you care. A simple touch on the arms while talking to a person close to you shows intimacy. In other cultures, people must be careful when applying touch when conversing with others who are close to them as it may be rude and untrustworthy.

 Chronemics: This is the study of the usage of time. The concept of time in a country like Bangladesh is flexible but Time is money in a country like America and Europe. Appearance- Your appearance is another indication of your personality. Your appearance shows what type of person you are and if you are dressed to impress. In interview situations, you must wear appropriate clothing suitable for the situation.

 Voice- The pitch, tone and volume of your voice shows the level of emotion within you. If you are nervous, your voice will be shaky and words will be unclear. If you confident, your voice will be loud and clear.

 Silence- In many cultures, the usage of silence is valuable. You can have a situation to your advantage if you use silence in your conversations and confuse your ally.