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Have you ever heard about the 7-38-55 rule? Dr. Albert Mehrabia, an expert in behavioural psychology, discovered that only 7% of all communication is done through verbal communication. The non-verbal component of our daily communication, such as the tone of voice and body language make up 38% and 55% respectively. According to our belief, in today’s “new normal” world for someone who has developed nonverbal communication skills, everything is possible.
What is non-verbal communication exactly?
Non-verbal communication is a skill in the Communicate constellation of Case Solvers' Skill Universe and is defined:
“Gestures, facial expressions, tone of voice, eye contact (or lack thereof), body language, posture, and other ways people can communicate without using language.”
Case Solvers
Everyone uses nonverbal communication all the time whether they know it or not. For example, when you smile at someone you meet, it conveys friendliness, acceptance and openness. Nonverbal communication is dependent on seeing and analyzing physical movements as opposed to verbal communication, or the use of language to transfer information through written text, speaking or sign language.
Why is it important in the business world?
As a matter of fact, the business world is an arena of unspoken language. From pitches to board meetings, your body language illustrates your confidence, your commitment and your intentions more than you may realize. At work, you may find yourself communicating with colleagues throughout the day without saying a word. Think about how your body language, facial expressions, posture and eye contact can enhance and reinforce your workplace conversations. Whether you are leading a presentation at a meeting, chatting with co-workers in the hallway, or talking to your boss in his or her office, nonverbal communication affects the interaction.
When non-verbal communication is understood and used intentionally it increases the chances of harmony in your workplace and employees finishing the tasks more efficiently.
How to improve in non-verbal communication?
Overally, there are some tricks that can help you to improve your nonverbals such as looking for safe environments where you consciously concentrate on different types of communication while you are with your friends or family, or simply just practicing in front of a mirror. Anyhow here you find the 5 most common types of nonverbal communication and some tips on how to be adept in them:
Gestures
When you are speaking, you use your hand gestures as a way to make an impact on the message you want to deliver. Keep away from doing meaningless actions such as tapping, playing with your hair, fidgeting, and other distractions since it can cause a misunderstanding between you and the receiver.
Facial expressions
The look on a person's face is often the first thing we see, even before we hear what they have to say. Consider how much information can be conveyed with a smile or a frown. To show respect and show your interest to the person who is speaking, smile a little, nod from time to time and avoid the facial expressions that represent hesitation.
Eye contact
The eyes play an important role in nonverbal communication and such things as looking, staring and blinking are important nonverbal behaviors. Looking at another person can indicate a range of emotions including hostility, interest, and attraction. To gain someone’s trust, you must maintain strong eye contact while you are speaking.
Body Language and Posture
Posture and movement can also convey a great deal of information. If you are conveying a positive message to your colleagues, you must sit comfortably or stand straight, and maintain an open body posture that indicates you are listening to the person you are speaking to or to your audience if you are the one who’s speaking.
Paralinguistics
Paralinguistics refers to vocal communication that is separate from actual language. This includes factors such as tone of voice, loudness, inflection, and pitch. Consider the powerful effect that tone of voice can have on the meaning of a sentence. A friend might ask you how you are doing, and you might respond with the standard "I'm fine," but how you actually say those words might reveal a tremendous amount of how you are really feeling. To amplify your message concentrate on your tone of voice. Avoid shaky sentences and express your confidence.
Being mindful of your body language is an important life skill. Not only will it help you in your social life, but it can also have a dramatic impact on your business accruement. Case Solvers offers you various possibilities to improve your nonverbal communication. Attend our Deliver! training where you can develop your presentation skills or get your own Spartafy test to improve your and your employees communication. For more information contact us at support@case-solvers.com!
Further readings on the topic: