...Nonverbal Communication People in the workplace can convey a great deal of information without even speaking; this is called nonverbal communication. Nonverbal communication can convey just as much as written and verbal communication, and human beings read and react to these nonverbal signals in the workplace. Body language is nonverbal communication that involves body movement and gestures. The catalogue of these movements, together with attempts at defining their meaning, is called kinesics. Each culture is believed to possess a separate “language” of kinesics. This branch of study is used in matters of negotiation and interrogation, where reading nonverbal cues is of great importance. There are hundreds of thousands of possible signs that can be communicated through body movements and gestures. In addition to those movements and gestures, the nonverbal cues given through facial expressions and eye contact, personal space, and touch also influence individual interactions in the workplace. While this body language is generally well understood in each culture, there are major cultural differences in nonverbal communication. Albert Mehrabian, in his 2007 book Nonverbal Communication, focuses on the five categories of nonverbal communication widely used by sociologists. These definitions are used to inspect and learn from movements in social interactions. A movement may belong to more than one of these categories. The first category is emblem. These are movements so common...
Words: 2738 - Pages: 11
...Nonverbal Communication in the Workplace Actions truly do speak louder than words. Whether we know it or not, everyone communicates on a daily basis. Verbal and nonverbal communication is used during interpersonal conversations every day. Most communication used is nonverbal. When individuals communicate in the workplace whether it is colleague-to-colleague, sales, to form a friendship, in means of educating or to persuade and lead someone, nonverbal behaviors are used to justify means of communication through the use of body language, gestures, facial expressions, haptic, eye contact, and kinesics. These nonverbal behaviors allow individuals to express their emotions and the message they are trying to send. It is the language without words. When two businesspeople or a small group meet and speak for the first time it is politically correct to state that judgments are quickly made. Their physical appearance, social standings, and body language are all observed. It is said to believe that when one speaks their words are what force a judgment to be made but naturally, it is their body language. Where words are primarily used for transmitting information, body language is used in terms of negotiating interpersonal attitudes and conversations. When those interpersonal attitudes and conversations are poor, ones body language reflects the emotions and thoughts into its past actions. Body language can be used as a substitute for vocal messages (Pease). Eye contact is an important...
Words: 1280 - Pages: 6
...“Nonverbal encoding and decoding skills are a strong predictor of popularity, attractiveness, and socioemotional well-being.” In other words, effective nonverbal expression and the ability to read and respond to others' behavior is an important part of communication. (Adler and Proctor II). I decided to examine peoples nonverbal behaviors by visiting the Study Lounge at my primary college where students get together to study with friends. My intentions were to unobtrusively observe and study the behaviors of the students as they were greeting and leaving one another. My goal was to write down as many non-verbal behaviors as I see, speculate the meanings of these behaviors and on the relationships between people. By the end of my study, what my results show from my observation is that there were a few categories of nonverbal communication that stood out more than others. Also there was a great deal of evidence showing that gender has a substantial amount of influence on nonverbal communication. Finally, I came to the conclusion that with confidence, the meanings I assigned to the behaviors and relationships were accurate but there may have been some alternative meanings. The categories in nonverbal communication such as; Body Movement, Voice and Distance, were a few that stood out to me during my observations. I arrived at the Study Lounge and sat across the room from a female student who was working on homework. I started my observation when a male student came along and...
Words: 969 - Pages: 4
...Nonverbal Communication Appearance, facial expression, eye contact, gestures, distance, silence, and therapeutic touch and relationships are systems that are considered regarding nonverbal communication. When speaking with a patient they will know what type of attitude you are in. For example, when you first appear and first thing you do is smile, they notice your positive attitude. Maintaining eye contact with a patient shows them that you are interested in giving them the care that they are concerned about. Even though positive gestures might not be perceived as positive by all patients, as noted in the MA book, thumbs up, applause, high-five, handshake, and winking shows the patient that you care and accept them. Another thing is maintaining a smile at all times when speaking or looking at a patient. When maintaining a smile, it shows your positive attitude and also shows that you are willing to give care. Even if you’re not helping the patient and you smile at them they’ll feel accepted. Responding to nonverbal communication is also important because when you notice a patient walking in with a depressed face expression you can give the patient a positive impression of showing them that you care on why they seem depressed. Responding to nonverbal communication should always be in a positive way no matter how the patient seems. Some barriers to nonverbal communication are silence, facial expression, and body language. Silence is sometimes shown between the sender and reciver...
Words: 324 - Pages: 2
...Examples of Nonverbal Communication There are several types of nonverbal communication that may be evaluated on the basis of certain examples, that will help you understand the nuances of this complicated form of communication. Facial Expressions When reading facial expressions, some of these examples may help: ← While maintaining eye contact is a sign of confidence and positivity, avoiding eye contact is one of the most clear negative nonverbal communication examples. This implies that the person may be lying, or fears confrontation. ← The smile is another give-away when it comes to facial expressions. While a soft smile is a soft expression that is encouraging, a rigid smile or a smirk may be a sign of contempt. ← Raised eyebrows are not only a sign of surprise, they can also suggest mockery or sarcasm. It may be a natural physical trait of some people, and they may do it without realizing. However, it is important to know the kind of effect it is having on others. ← Frowning is another facial expression that we tend to assume when under stress. This gives out the message that we are unapproachable and cold. Posture and other Movements Postures are included in nonverbal communication and may be explained with a few of these examples: ← Standing erect shows confidence, but if you are slouching it is a sign of low self-esteem and a stance that you have given up. ← Keeping shoulders rigid again give a sign that you may be unapproachable, and...
Words: 501 - Pages: 3
...ENG 223-015-007-ON-Communication Arts-1: 2014 Instructor Wright Assignment 2: Nonverbal Communication Nonverbal Communication: Physical Appearance Physical appearance is the main look of people, its also the major factor in the development of our personalities. As humans we base our beliefs on physical appearance by what we see around us. How does physical appearance in the U.S. differ from other cultures? Does physical appearance play a role in the workplace? How important is physical appearance in making first impressions? In the United States the importance of physical appearance seems to depend on the task at hand. For example, many people in America feel that it is both appropriate and socially acceptable to go to the grocery store in pajamas, athletic gear, or an outfit that could generally be described as rags poorly stitched together in a haphazard way. In Italy women prefer to dress up on a regular basis rather than be more casual like American women.(Rawpickle, 2013) Physical appearance is not just what we wear, in the United States physical appearance is also our body type, it is the size of your waist and the make-up on your face, it is essentially how attractive you are. In the US it has become a bit of an epidemic, causing unnecessary pressure on both men and women by allowing media to dictate an image of what an “attractive” person looks like. “The emphasis Western culture places on physical attractiveness and youthful appearance contributes to eating...
Words: 712 - Pages: 3
...Nonverbal communication is a broad term used to describe any method of transferring information without words. Nonverbal communication may be intentional, it may be based on societal cues, or it may be completely unconscious. Common forms of nonverbal communication include body language and facial cues, fashion and personal grooming, hand gestures, and graphical signs and design. Nonverbal communication can be broadly divided into relatively universal forms and culturally dependent forms. Many facial expressions, for example, are relatively universal, with most cultures able to identify expressions of fear, joy, or anger. On the other hand, nonverbal cues like bowing, shaking hands, or flashing a peace sign are culturally defined, and therefore have little meaning outside of cultures that understand them. Scientists once said that body language accounts for 80% of the message we try to tell others and that what we actually say is only 20%. Body language definitely plays an important role in communication. Body language is used to convey things that we may not be fully aware of. We are not fully conscious of signals we give off to others through our body language and what others are trying to send off to us. Furthermore, body language means different things in different cultures or context. For example, direct eye contact is usually a sign of respect or interest, but in other cultures like Japan, eye contact is actually disrespect. Hence, when trying to read body language...
Words: 549 - Pages: 3
...Running head: NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION Nonverbal Communication TESST College/ Towson Campus Interpersonal Communications November 25, 2013 Instructor F. Thomas The television show that I am going to write about is called “How I Met Your Mother” season 1 episode 2 “Purple Giraffe”. The main characters in this scene are Ted, Marshall, and Lilly. This scene takes place in the living area of their shared apartment. It starts off with Lilly and Marshall sitting at the dining room table, he is on his laptop while she stares at him with love in her eyes. Lilly starts to smile while playing with the ring on her left finger. While she is staring in Marshall’s eyes she brings up her excitement about how she cannot believe that they are engaged. Marshall looks up at her from his laptop and responds with the words “I know” while smiling. Lilly starts to talk and move around as if she is nervous, tilting her head in a concerning manner. Marshall then closes his laptop and looks at Lilly, they both stare at each other while what looks like they are confessing their love for one another. Ted and Marshall and Ted are best friends; Ted is in the living room watching television. Both Lilly and Marshall turn to Ted and asks him a question about their engagement. Ted looks up from the television rolling his eyes with an uninterested look on his face about the fact that they are getting married. Just as they were talking to him Ted sees something on the television...
Words: 1654 - Pages: 7
...DATE: September 5, 2014 TO: Mrs. Beth Nuneviller FROM: Dzu Nguyen SUBJECT: Nonverbal Observation Initial Observation – I decided one day while working out I would observe how people communicate with each other in the gym. I’ve noticed that most of them are shy and keep to themselves. However those of us that know each other tend to greet each other and maintain conversations throughout our workouts. This is fairly interesting when comparing to communication outside of the gym as well. The most interesting thing I’ve observed was a girl who was on one of the machines. She was just enjoying her workout and trying not to make too much eye contact with anyone. But then I noticed she began to act a little more awkward and looked almost uncomfortable for a very long period of time. So I looked in front of her and an elderly gentleman was on a machine in front of her. Let me tell you he was doing everything but working out, in fact he had his eyes so fixed on her I’d be surprised if he didn’t see straight into her soul. It even made me uncomfortable; surprisingly they exchanged a few smiles here and there and he even managed to get her to say hi and wave. Eventually she finished with the machine and so she moved on. As soon as she broke eye contact with the guy she just rolled her eyes in disbelief and disgust. So I went and talked to her because she was actually one of my good friends at the gym. She could not wait to just pour out her emotions onto me. She said things like, “Oh...
Words: 555 - Pages: 3
...Nonverbal Communication Anna Miles Daniela Liese ENG223 Three rings in the ear, one in the nose, and a stud through the tongue. While some people find the prospect of having their bodies pierced uncomfortable, other view it was a way to express their sense of self. According to The San Diego Union-Tribune (Kinsman, 2001), body art or tattoos are more or less likely to be accepted in the workplace depending on who you interview. 20 percent of workers indicated their body art had been held against them on the job. 42 percent of employers said the presence of visible body art lowered their opinion of workers. 67 percent of workers over their body art or remove piercing during work hours. Tattoos, however, can carry significant meaning to those who choose them. For example I have a tattoo on my left wrist of a number 34. I put it up there so I can always look at it and think of him. It is a great way to talk about how he died and get the messages out about what drinking and driving does to a family and friends. He was killed with two others by a guy that drank and drives. Everyone thinks it is my favorite number or it is not real. There are so many other reasons for tattoos that have culture, communicate significant meaning to either the owners or those who see it. However, may go unnoticed by an employer or other observers who do not value self-expression in this way. Body Piercings are increasingly popular; as are tattoos- 36% of Americans aged 18 to 29 have tattoos. However...
Words: 429 - Pages: 2
...thinking of communication, but one very intriguing aspect of communication is usually overlooked, Nonverbal communication (NVC). NVC can be defined as “the transfer and exchange of messages in any and all modalities that do not involve words” (Matsumoto, Frank, & Hwang, 2013, p. 4). NVC is all around us, and more often than not so subtle it is not even noticed. Studies have shown, NVC carries between 63 and 95 percent more impact than spoken words (Anonymous, 2013). It could be the wrinkle of a nose or a smirk. Learning how to interpret NVC can be an invaluable skill. Humans are programmed to communicate through voice, but knowing how to interpret NVC signals also cues one in to what is being said without words. Learning how to interpret the signals given off by others helps to understand the signals our own bodies are putting out, as much as possible of course. There are NVC signals that involuntarily, or subconsciously, are sent out. Some examples are eye movement during a face-to-face interaction, the jewelry one wears, or the natural odor one carries; all of which are considered being involuntary. NVC is not normally universal; it can vary from place to place, or culture to culture. Nonverbal communication is based on the fact that communication itself can take place without the use of words, and not only can it take place but it can also be very effective. According to Ekman & Friesen, there are six ways in which verbal and nonverbal communications are related...
Words: 1920 - Pages: 8
...Nonverbal Communication David LaFever COM/172 12/18/2013 Oftentimes “language” comes to mind when thinking of communication, but one very intriguing aspect of communication is usually overlooked, Nonverbal communication (NVC). NVC can be defined as “the transfer and exchange of messages in any and all modalities that do not involve words” (Matsumoto, Frank, & Hwang, 2013, p. 4). NVC is all around us, and more often than not so subtle it is not even noticed. Studies have shown, NVC carries between 63 and 95 percent more impact than spoken words (Anonymous, 2013). It could be the wrinkle of a nose or a smirk. Learning how to interpret NVC can be an invaluable skill. Humans are programmed to communicate through voice, but knowing how to interpret NVC signals also cues one in to what is being said without words. Learning how to interpret the signals given off by others helps to understand the signals our own bodies are putting out, as much as possible of course. There are NVC signals that involuntarily, or subconsciously, are sent out. Some examples are eye movement during a face-to-face interaction, the jewelry one wears, or the natural odor one carries; all of which are considered being involuntary. NVC is not normally universal; it can vary from place to place, or culture to culture. Nonverbal communication is based on the fact that communication itself can take place without the use of words, and not only can it take place but it can also be very effective. ...
Words: 1929 - Pages: 8
...The Results of Nonverbal Communications Robert Dunn BCOM275 February 1, 2013 Corey Hynson Nonverbal Communications Communication is defined as a process in which information is exchanged between individuals via common symbols, signs or behavior. There are four types of communication: verbal, nonverbal, written and visual. A form of nonverbal communication is Demonstrative communications, which includes written communication. Demonstrative communications involves body language, facial expressions, tone of voice, eye contact and hand gestures. Murphy cites Birdwhistell stating that “as much as 65% of what a communicated is done so nonverbally.” [ (Murphy & Dillon, 2003) ] Demonstrative communications are composed of actions that expose personal feeling about something that an individual may contradict or support. These nonverbal communications can indicate likes and dislikes, and usually play a critical role in trustworthiness. Whether it is in a response to a question or your stance on a particular subject, sometimes your actions speak louder than words. Demonstrative communications include your appearance, facial expressions gestures, tone of voice, body language or even silence alone can send a message. Whether it is your parents, your children or a car salesman, the facial expressions, positions in a chair, eye contact, etc., are valued nonverbal responses and usually dictate the outcome of a conversation whether it is a sales pitch or your side of...
Words: 757 - Pages: 4
...Nonverbal Communication Nonverbal communication plays a crucial role in interpersonal communication. This is even more visible when individuals do not share a common language. Outsourced (2006), explores the journey of an American manager named Todd Anderson. His company, Seattle-based Company Western Novelty, outsources its call center to Gharapuri, India and Todd must travel to India in order to train the new staff and manager. Nonverbal communication is present throughout the movie as Todd, works through the language barrier and is introduced to a new culture, values and rituals. In this paper, nonverbal communication demonstrated in the movie is analyzed and discussed as it relates the research of Argyle (1988), Archer (1997), et al. Adler (2011) defines nonverbal communication as messages expressed through non-linguistic means. Research has shown that in communication, the verbal content only is only responsible for 7% of the message, while vocal cues such as pitch and intonation account for 38%, and facial expression an overwhelming 55% (Mehrabian, 1968). Nonverbal communication can be performed through facial expressions, proximity, and body movements. Argyle (1988) describes the five primary functions of Nonverbal Behavior – 1) Expression of Emotion, 2) Communication of Interpersonal Attitudes, 3) Accompany and Support Speech, 4) Self-Presentation, 5) Rituals. In the movie Outsourced (2006), examples of each of these functions of nonverbal behavior are observed...
Words: 1597 - Pages: 7
...The Cultural Influences on the Interpretation of Non-verbal Communication “The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said” (Peter F. Drucker, n.d.). Non-verbal communication is the key aspect of communication as a way of sending and receiving messages in various ways without the use of words/verbal codes, be it intentional or unintentional. These wordless cues comes from our non-verbal behaviours; body movement, gestures, eye contact, personal space etc. (Richard Nordquist, n.d.). Although words are usually used to express our thoughts, we still convey most of the meaning through nonverbal codes. The world’s vast cultural diversity influences the way each culture interprets these non-verbal messages whereby a non-verbal expression is considered to be fine at one place but not at another. Touching perspectives are culturally determined as each culture has a clear view on when and where one may touch or not. In year 2009, as the First Lady of the United States briefly laid her hand on the back of Queen Elizabeth II at a reception, it sparked a global debate as etiquette is stern about this matter as rules are set in stone regarding one’s touch towards the queen (NYDailynews.com, 2009). In the United States, handshakes are common even towards strangers while hugs and kisses are exchanged between the opposite gender in the family or close acquaintance. Another example would be an African-American male who came across a Korean female...
Words: 921 - Pages: 4
