NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS / Types of Nonverbal Communication

 

NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Nonverbal communication skills are those related to body language, such as eye contact, gestures, facial expressions and vocal tone. Conversely, in verbal communication, you use text, signs or conversation to express yourself. Nonverbal communication reveals a lot about how you transfer information, approach others and empathise.

Nonverbal communication, also called manual language, is the process of sending and receiving messages without using words, either spoken or written. Similar to the way that italicizing emphasizes written Language, nonverbal behavior may emphasize parts of a verbal message.

Types of Nonverbal Communication

"Judee Burgoon (1994) has identified seven different nonverbal dimensions:"

1. Kinesics or body movements including facial expressions and eye contact;
2. Vocalics or paralanguage that includes volume, rate, pitch, and timbre;
3. Personal appearance;
4. Our physical environment and the artifacts or objects that compose it;
5. Proxemics or personal space;
6. Haptics or touch;
7. Chronemics or time.

 

Types of nonverbal communication

You can use different types of nonverbal communication to communicate different messages. The different types of nonverbal communication include:

• Body language: People understand your message in part by the way you position your body. For example, if you are feeling nervous or angry, you might cross your arms.
• Gestures: These can be intentional or unintentional. For example, you might see Americans using a 'thumbs up' sign to express their positive feelings about something.
• Facial expressions: This way of nonverbal communication is the most common. When using facial expressions, people usually communicate through their eyes, eyebrows, mouth and facial muscles. It is useful in communicating both information and emotion.
• Touch: Some people use touch to be expressive, for example, to give support or comfort. Make sure to use it sparingly and only when you know how the receiving party will feel about it.
• Tone: Tone emphasizes your message. It can express delight, sadness, politeness or anger in a voice. People need to hear the appropriate tone to pay attention to your message, especially when you are addressing a large number of people. A lively and versatile tone sounds more expressive and will grab the interest of your audience to focus on your message. You can only make your point clear when you have your audience's attention.
• Appearance: Through appearance, you create a positive or negative first impression on others. The way you present yourself shows your interest, aesthetic taste and self-discipline habits. Therefore, you need to dress appropriately and look appealing when going for an interview. A well-groomed appearance can increase your chances of landing a job.
• Space: Maintaining space during conversations is polite, but the distance you stand at can show your level of comfort with someone.

 Types of Nonverbal Communication

There are many different forms of nonverbal communication. The main categories of nonverbal cues include:

1. Kinesics (or body movements): These include deliberate hand gestures and head movements like a thumbs-up or affirmative head shake. This is one of the most easily controllable of the nonverbal forms of communication.
2. Proxemics (or closeness/personal space): This is the measure of physical distance between people when they communicate. The standard amount of personal space expected by someone varies depending on setting and is somewhat culture-specific.
3. Posture: The way that you sit or stand and how open your body is to others around you communicates a lot about your attitude and emotional state.
4. Eye contact: This is one of the primary ways that human beings gauge interest or disinterest. Wavering eyes tend to communicate unease or even dishonesty.
5. Touch: Many interactions begin with an exchange of physical touch like a hug or a handshake.
6. Paralanguage: This category covers vocal qualities like loudness or tone of voice. Paralinguistic signals are any aspect of the sound of a voice outside a direct verbal translation of words being spoken.
7. Facial expressions: Facial expressions are one of the main indicators of someone’s attitude. An emotional expression like a frown or smile can be hard to consciously control.
8. Physiology: This category includes changes in body physiology like an increase in sweat or blinking rapidly. These are nearly impossible to deliberately control.

 

4 Reasons Understanding Nonverbal Communication Is Important

Understanding different types of nonverbal communication is important in order to control the messages you are communicating and to decode the emotional states of others. Here are a few of the ways understanding nonverbal cues can make you a more effective communicator:

1. To show interest: Nonverbal signals are a great way to communicate attentiveness and engagement to those around you. Controlling your posture and eye contact will demonstrate to others that you are interested in what they have to say.
2. To convey specific meaning: Many words have multiple different meanings, and the things we say can often be misheard. Learning how to complement your words with nonverbal communication can prevent misinterpretation and miscommunication.
3. To establish connection: Nonverbal communication is a great way to establish connection and trust. It’s no accident that many cultures see some sort of physical gesture like a handshake or hug as necessary in certain types of personal interactions.
4. To demonstrate authenticity: Your nonverbal communication goes a long way in establishing the authenticity of your feelings to those you are speaking with. Complementing your actual words with direct eye contact and confident posture will demonstrate to others that you are giving voice to your True Feelings.

3 Tips For Understanding Nonverbal Communication

In your everyday life, there are many scenarios where an understanding of nonverbal communication can be used to your advantage. Knowing how to decode nonverbal cues can improve your communication skills in many ways. Here are some ways to improve your awareness of nonverbal cues:

1. Look for inconsistencies. Knowing how to spot signs of nervousness like fidgeting or evasive eyes is a great way to determine whether the person you are speaking with is trustworthy. If nonverbal behavior seems to run counter to the verbal messaging, it’s likely that the speaker is not entirely comfortable with what they are saying.
2. Be conscious of cultural differences. It’s important to be aware of the different mannerisms and physical gestures that are common in different cultures. Nonverbal interpersonal communication varies around the world. Don’t rush into judging the nonverbal cues you are picking up from someone from a different country or culture, as they may connote something entirely different in their culture.
3. Observe nonverbal signals holistically. It’s important to observe a variety of nonverbal cues that are being communicated to you. Just because someone has a sweaty brow doesn’t mean they are nervous. Similarly, a twitch in someone’s hand may just be an unconscious tic. Try to view nonverbal signals holistically in order to get a fuller picture of what a person is communicating .