Conclusion

In the wake of perusing the prior posts, it is easy to conclude that understanding non-verbal communication is very important for a business professional as it plays a vital part in the business environment. The components of non-verbal communication  for example, eye contact, posture & gestures, facial expression, appearance of people play a big part in the overall communication process as they indicate a person's level of interest, manners and discipline. All of us send and receive thousands of non-verbal messages everyday and thus, non-verbal communication is an integral part of every person's life. To conclude, have a look at this simple checklist for the techniques for improving non-verbal communication skills in the workplace:

1. Establish & Maintain Eye Contact.
2. Use Straight Posture to Show Interest.
3. Associate with People from Diverse Cultures.
4. Improve your Decoding Skills
5. Reduce or Eliminate Physical Barriers

Remember to follow these fundamental checklists while working in a business environment. A person who masters the skill of non-verbal communication is likely to succeed in his work and become successful in his job.

References: 

Guffey, M.E., Rhodes, K., Rogin, P.(2011). Business Communication: Processes and product(4th brief Canadian edition).Scarborough,Canada:Nelson.

Appearance Of People

Much the same as the appearance of business documents, the appearance of the individuals is also an important element in the process of non-verbal communication.The way you look- your dress, prepping and carriage broadcast an instant nonverbal message about you. Taking into account what they see, viewers make  quick judgement about your status, credibility, personality and potential. What will you think about a manager of a company who is not properly dressed and does not appear properly groomed? This regularly makes a terrible early impression in the minds of the viewers. Business communicators who look the part are more prone to be effective in working with bosses, associates and clients. As a business professional you should remember to invest in appropriate, professional looking clothing and accessories. Quality is more important than quantity. Avoid wearing blazing pieces of clothing, clunky gems, conspicuous cosmetics and overwhelming colognes. 

Every business professional should give careful consideration to great prepping including a flawless hairdo, body cleanliness, cleaned shoes and clean nails.The appearance of a business professional should project confidence in his/her posture, both standing and sitting. Some individuals have a tendency to wear casual clothes once a week to work. But, casual clothes not only change the image of the person in the mind of the viewer, it also affects their work style. Therefore, people should dress appropriately and cautiously to work.

References: 

Guffey, M.E., Rhodes, K., Rogin, P.(2011). Business Communication: Processes and product(4th brief Canadian edition).Scarborough,Canada:Nelson.

Appearance of Business Documents

Your appearance and the appearance of your documents convey nonverbal messages. The way a letter, update, or report looks can have either a positive or a negative impact on the receiver. Letters and reports should look slick, proficient, overall composed and appealing to draw the consideration of the receiver.

 Carelessly, briskly composed documents pass on negative nonverbal messages in regards to both the substance and the sender. Among the worst offenders are e-mail messages.  In spite of the fact they seem like conversation, e-mails are business documents that create a permanent record and often a bad impression. Keep in mind that sending an email message full of errors conveys a damaging nonverbal message. What will be your reaction to an e-mail full of errors and grammar mistakes? Naturally, a bad email full of mistakes suggests that the writer doesn't care enough about the message to take the time to make it read well or look good. This will make the receiver immediately doubt the credibility of the sender. Therefore, the sender of such documents should take great care of its appearance and recheck it before sending as it creates a lasting impression in the minds of the receiver.

References:

 Guffey, M.E., Rhodes, K., Rogin, P.(2011). Business Communication: Processes and product(4th brief Canadian edition).Scarborough,Canada:Nelson.

Territory

Each of us have particular ranges that we feel comfortable in, whether it is a particular spot or simply the space around us. We all keep up zones of privacy in which we feel good. Essentially, there are 4 zones of social interaction among North Americans- 1) Intimate Zone: 1 to 1.5 feet, 2) Personal Zone: 1.5 to 4 feet, 3) Social Zone: 4 to 12 feet, and 4)public Zone: 12 or more feet. It is extremely important to be aware of the  territorial needs of others and not to invade their space because if you are careless about the territory of the other person, he/she may be offended. What would happen in the event that somebody abuses your territory? Regularly, you will feel uncomfortable and opposing and would have a tendency to step back to reestablish your space. Therefore, it is exceptionally important to comprehend this part of non-verbal communication to effectively work in a business environment.

References:

 Guffey, M.E., Rhodes, K., Rogin, P.(2011). Business Communication: Processes and product(4th brief Canadian edition).Scarborough,Canada:Nelson.

Langevin, (2012, October). How to use Proxemics in the Corporate Classroom. Retrieved from: http://www.langevin.com/blog/2012/10/15/how-to-use-proxemics-in-the-corporate-classroom/

Image Source :Google Image(http://www.carenschmidt.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/setting-boundaries.jpg)

Space

How would you organize things in your office? Some individuals organize things in an efficient way while some individuals do not. How do you arrange things in the space around you tells something about yourself and your objectives. Whether the space is a residence room, an office, or a department, people reveal themselves in the design and grouping of furniture within that space. Generally, the more formal the arrangement, the more formal and closed the communication environment. It is very important for a business manager to use his space wisely and effectively. Ask yourself- How will you feel if you have an appointment with a manager and after going inside his cabin you find out that all the files are scattered and unorganized? Obviously, you will be miffed and would not have a good first impression of the manager. Therefore, as a business professional, you must be organized and arrange things systematically in your office.

References:

 Guffey, M.E., Rhodes, K., Rogin, P.(2011). Business Communication: Processes and product(4th brief Canadian edition).Scarborough,Canada:Nelson.

Time

The way an individual treats time uncovers something about that individual. What will be your opinion towards a person who is always late for his/her meetings? A person who is late consistently might not be well organized; the individual who is kept waiting might feel that he or she is not highly respected by the other person. The way an individual structures time enlightens observers about his/her personality and attitudes. North Americans generally place a great deal of attention on timeliness; on the other hand, in different societies and regions timeliness is viewed differently. In a few societies, time is of less essential,  yet western businessmen have a tendency to move by the clock- a two o'clock appointment usually means two o'clock or something inside 5 or 10 minutes of it.  In the work environment you can send positive nonverbal messages by being on time for meetings and appointments, staying on task during meetings, and giving ample time to appropriate projects and individuals. 

References: 

Guffey, M.E., Rhodes, K., Rogin, P.(2011). Business Communication: Processes and product(4th brief Canadian edition).Scarborough,Canada:Nelson.

Image Source :Google Image (http://cdn.yougov.com/cumulus_uploads/inlineimage/2012-08-10/HP---Watch-Check.jpg)

Posture & Gestures

Intentional movements and signals are an important way to communicate meaning without words. An individual's general posture can pass on anything from high status and self-assurance to shyness and submissiveness. Basic gestures incorporate waving, pointing, and utilizing fingers to demonstrate numeric amounts. Other gestures are discretionary and identified with society. To make a good impression at your workplace, remember to control and carefully use your gestures. Especially while speaking, pay special attention to your upper body and make sure its aligned with the person to whom you're talking with. Erect posture sends a message of confidence, competence, diligence and strength. One critical point to remember regarding gestures is that these nonverbal cues may have vast difference in meanings in various cultures. Yet by and large, inclining towards the speaker suggests attraction and interest; pulling away denotes fear or disgust. These two gestures must be very carefully used as they remain universal irrespective of the culture.

References:

Guffey, M.E., Rhodes, K., Rogin, P.(2011). Business Communication: Processes and product(4th brief Canadian edition).Scarborough,Canada:Nelson.

Image Source :Google Images(http://www.drdeborahpearson.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Posture-Improvement.jpg)

Facial Expression

The facial expression on communicator’s face is almost as revealing of emotion as the communicator’s eyes. A facial expression conveys meaning which is determined by circumstances and relationships. Researchers have estimated that the human face displays more than 250,000 expressions! How much expression do you think that you could make? A large portion of people display their emotions openly whereas some people tend to hide their true feelings in order to keep up a 'poker face'. The interpretation of facial expressions often differs in various cultures. For instance, in American society the grin is typically an expression of pleasure. Yet it also has additional functions. The meaning associated with a woman's smile towards a police officer will carry a different meaning from the smile she would give to a young child. A smile may display affection, convey politeness, or even camouflage genuine sentiments. For example many people in Russia consider smiling at outsiders in broad daylight to be unordinary and even suspicious while in cultures from Southeast Asia, a smile is every now and again used to cover emotional pain or awkwardness. Vietnamese people may tell the sad story about how they had to leave their country but they always end the story with a smile.

 Smile is just one of the several facial statements an individual’s use. Raising or bringing down of eyebrows, squinting, clenching the jaw and swallowing anxiously are some more types of facial expressions. Remember, you may be judged by other people on the bases of your facial expressions and also be misinterpreted but never make the mistake of judging other people especially from distinctive societies on their expressions as the degree of facial expressions one exhibits varies among people and societies.

 Here is an interesting video illustrating the different facial expressions that people use in their daily life to showcase their emotions.

References: 

VolaFriends. (2011, february 23). 75 expressions in less than a minute! VolaFriends! Retrieved from Youtube.com: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypqQ_mJIU3M

Guffey, M.E., Rhodes, K., Rogin, P.(2011). Business Communication: Processes and product(4th brief Canadian edition).Scarborough,Canada:Nelson.

Eye Contact

The most accurate predictor of a person's true attitudes as well as feelings is considered to be the eyes. Ask yourself a question- Could you lie to another person while looking straight into his or her eyes? A brief eye contact signifies stress or fear; continued eye contact suggests trust and admiration whereas a prolonged eye contact can often be considered as intrusive or intimidating. The message sender can determine whether the receiver is paying attention, showing respect or feeling distress by good eye contact.

Patterns of eye contact may differ across different cultures. Some Americans often feel uncomfortable while "gaze" that is generally associated with Arab or Indian communication patterns. For Americans, this style of eye contact can be considered as too intense. It works both ways as too little eye contact can also be viewed negatively, because what it conveys is a lack of interest, inattention, or even mistrust. The relationship between mistrust and the lack of eye contact in the American culture is clearly mentioned in the expression "Never trust a person who doesn't look you in the eyes." In contrast, there are many other parts of the world (especially in Asian countries), where a person’s lack of eye contact toward an authority figure signifies respect.

References:

Guffey, M.E., Rhodes, K., Rogin, P.(2011). Business Communication: Processes and product(4th brief Canadian edition).Scarborough,Canada:Nelson.

Skills Converged, (2013, March). Body Language of Good First Impressions. Retrieved from: http://www.skillsconverged.com/TrainingTutorials/BodyLanguage/BodyLanguageofGoodFirstImpressions.aspx

Image Source :Google Images(http://content.artofmanliness.com/uploads//2012/02/eyecontact1.jpg)

Introduction

Often Understanding messages involves more than merely listening to the spoken word. Non-Verbal communication does not involve the use of words but it speaks louder than words! Every individual sends thousands of non-verbal messages in their business as well as personal lives. Non Verbal Communication is the process of communicating through sending and receiving wordless cues between people. It is also perceived as a non-linguistic transmission of information through visual, tactile, as well as kinesthetic channels.

It is fittingly said that Communication is an art. Many people are born as natural communicators, while others just not. Non-verbal cues are often used my communicators to complement and to illustrate, to reinforce and to emphasize, to replace and to substitute, as well as to control and to regulate.  To be an effective communicator one must be certain that all his/her non-verbal messages reinforce their spoken words as well as their professional goals. Non-verbal communication can take place in various forms. To make sure you're on the right track of nonverbal communication competency, let's look carefully at the specific forms of non-verbal communication.

References:

 Jones, M.(2013, March 29) Business and Employment. Retrieved from: http://misslong123.hubpages.com/hub/Leadership-Communication-Skill-The-Art-of-Listening-Part-2

Image Source :Google Images ( http://blog.epsenfuller.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/nonverbalcommunication12.jpg)