Nonverbal Communication

We’ve already employed a little bit of nonverbal communication with the active listening skills we’ve previously discussed: nodding, facial expressions, leaning toward the speaker to show interest—all of those are forms of nonverbal communication. Body language can reinforce your spoken message or it can contradict it entirely.

There’s a myth that says that when you speak, only 35 percent of your communication is verbal and 65 percent of it is nonverbal. That’s not entirely true because so much depends on the context and situation. It is, however, absolutely true that nonverbal communication can significantly enhance or undermine your message.

Here are some types of nonverbal communication and the effects they can have on the success of your communication:

• Facial expressions: Your boss may have told you that your presentation was good, but their unenthusiastic facial expression may have communicated different information. Facial expressions—happy, sad, angry—help you convey your message. Be aware of your facial expression when you talk and particularly when you listen, which is when it’s easy to forget.
• Gestures: When you speak, a gesture can make your message stronger. Pointing out something you want your listener to look at more closely is an example of nonverbal communication that makes your message understood. Motioning warmly toward a coworker who deserves special recognition, making a fist to show frustration or anger, such gestures help further engage your audience when you speak.
• Proximity: How close you are to your audience when you speak sends a nonverbal message. If your size is imposing and you leave a very small distance between you and your listener, nonverbal communication may be perceived as a bit threatening. On the other hand, giving someone too much space is an awkward nonverbal communication that might confuse your listener.
• Touch: Touch can communicate affection as well as power. Think about what kind of messages a job applicant may send through a weak handshake versus a firm one after having a job interview. While shaking an audience member’s hand can convey your appreciation for their attention, it’s important to exercise caution with physical contact, such as placing your hand on someone’s shoulder, to avoid conveying unintended messages or making others uncomfortable.
• Eye contact: Making and maintaining eye contact with an audience when you’re verbally communicating or listening communicates to the other party that you’re interested and engaged in the conversation. Eye contact often conveys the trait of honesty to the other party.
• Appearance: Your appearance and attire are also a part of nonverbal communication. If you put a cat pin on your collar each morning because you have a pet cat, that says something about you as a person. Similarly, the condition of your clothing, how it fits, the style—all of these things speak nonverbally about you as a communicator.

Nonverbal communication reveals a lot about you as a communicator and how you relate to other people. It pays to be aware of the elements of your nonverbal communication so you can maximize the impact of your message.