Nonverbal Communication: 8 Ways to Interact Without Speaking
Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2024 10:57 am
Nonverbal communication is part of our daily lives, but few people are aware of its existence and its effects.
In fact, academics estimate that only 7% of our interactions are conveyed through words . The rest is made up of gestures, facial expressions, tone of voice, and a host of bodily devices.
To help you convey your messages properly, we have prepared this complete guide to non-verbal communication. Here you will find:
What is nonverbal communication?
Nonverbal communication is a way of communicating without using words. Through a set of bodily manifestations, people can reveal explicit or implicit content in their messages.
Facial expressions, tone of voice, gestures, cocos islands keelings email address
physical posture, distance between people are some examples of non-verbal communicative situations.
It is also important to note that the meaning of elements of non-verbal communication varies culturally. In one country, you may be expected to kiss a stranger on the cheek when you greet them; in others, this may be an extremely intimate act, which should be avoided with people you have just met.
Since body language is more instinctive than speech , it is important to know the principles that govern it so that you can use it to your advantage. Otherwise, you may be hindering your own success with forms of behavior that say the opposite of what you would like.
Why is nonverbal communication important?
According to classic marketing studies, 93% of human communication is non-verbal. This means that most of the time we convey messages without speaking: the way we look at someone, the tone of voice we use when we are sad or frustrated, and even the way our hands gesture when describing a positive experience.
Below we have selected four reasons why body language is relevant in the workplace.
Because it influences what you say
If you ask if someone is okay and the person verbally says “yes” but shrugs while saying this, the body language suggests a different reality than what is being expressed.
Because it reveals your emotional state
Even if you don't realize it, your facial expression, tone of voice, and body language can often tell people exactly how you feel. If an employee walks with a curved spine or doesn't make eye contact when talking to a superior, they may feel insecure and afraid of doing something wrong, for example.
Because it strengthens or weakens relationships
According to some theories of modern psychology , humans tend to unconsciously copy other people's behavior. Common in social situations, it's as if you were standing in front of a mirror and copying the gestures, cadence of speech, and posture of those in front of you.
In fact, academics estimate that only 7% of our interactions are conveyed through words . The rest is made up of gestures, facial expressions, tone of voice, and a host of bodily devices.
To help you convey your messages properly, we have prepared this complete guide to non-verbal communication. Here you will find:
What is nonverbal communication?
Nonverbal communication is a way of communicating without using words. Through a set of bodily manifestations, people can reveal explicit or implicit content in their messages.
Facial expressions, tone of voice, gestures, cocos islands keelings email address
physical posture, distance between people are some examples of non-verbal communicative situations.
It is also important to note that the meaning of elements of non-verbal communication varies culturally. In one country, you may be expected to kiss a stranger on the cheek when you greet them; in others, this may be an extremely intimate act, which should be avoided with people you have just met.
Since body language is more instinctive than speech , it is important to know the principles that govern it so that you can use it to your advantage. Otherwise, you may be hindering your own success with forms of behavior that say the opposite of what you would like.
Why is nonverbal communication important?
According to classic marketing studies, 93% of human communication is non-verbal. This means that most of the time we convey messages without speaking: the way we look at someone, the tone of voice we use when we are sad or frustrated, and even the way our hands gesture when describing a positive experience.
Below we have selected four reasons why body language is relevant in the workplace.
Because it influences what you say
If you ask if someone is okay and the person verbally says “yes” but shrugs while saying this, the body language suggests a different reality than what is being expressed.
Because it reveals your emotional state
Even if you don't realize it, your facial expression, tone of voice, and body language can often tell people exactly how you feel. If an employee walks with a curved spine or doesn't make eye contact when talking to a superior, they may feel insecure and afraid of doing something wrong, for example.
Because it strengthens or weakens relationships
According to some theories of modern psychology , humans tend to unconsciously copy other people's behavior. Common in social situations, it's as if you were standing in front of a mirror and copying the gestures, cadence of speech, and posture of those in front of you.