Understanding the Importance of Nonverbal Communication in Communication Skills

 
NONVERBAL
COMMUNICATION
 
By Dr. Nadeem Khan
Lecturer IER, University of Peshawar
Semester: 2nd
Subject: Communication Skills
 
Nonverbal Communication
 
Nonverbal communication is the transmission of
messages or signals through a nonverbal platform such
as eye contact, facial expressions, gestures, posture, and
the distance between two individuals
Nonverbal Communication includes:
    Appearance, Body Language, Silence, Time and Space
Numerous articles and books have been written on the
importance of nonverbal messages. Some studies
suggest that from 60 to 90 percent of a message effect
comes from nonverbal cues
 
 
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Appearance conveys nonverbal impressions that effect
receivers’ attitudes towards the verbal message even
before they read or hear them
The format, neatness and language of a written
message sends a nonverbal message to the reader
An envelope’s appearance-size , colour , weight ,
postage-may impress the receiver as important, routine
Express Mail and Private Courier Mail also have
distinctive envelopes that signal urgency and
importance. Next the letter ,report, or title page
communicates nonverbally before its contents are read
by the kind of paper used, its length, format and
neatness
 
 
Finally, the language itself, aside from its content,
communicates something about the sender. Is it carefully
worded and generally correct in mechanics; such as,
spelling, grammar and punctuation?
Whether you are speaking to one person face to face or
to a group in a meeting, personal appearance and the
appearance of your surroundings convey nonverbal
stimuli that affect attitudes towards your spoken words
 
 
Clothing, hairstyles, neatness, jewelry, cosmetics,
perfumes, posture, stature are part of personal
appearance. They convey impressions regarding
occupation , age , nationality , social and economic  level,
job status, and good or poor judgment, depending upon
circumstances
Aspects of surroundings include room size, location,
furnishing, machines, architecture, wall decorations, floor
(carpeted or bare?), lighting, windows, view, and other
related features wherever people communicate orally.
Surroundings will vary according to status and according
to country and culture
 
 
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Included under body language are facial expressions,
gestures, posture and movement, smell and touch, voice
and sounds
(Facial Expressions)The eyes and faces are especially
helpful of communicating nonverbally. They can reveal
hidden emotions, including anger, confusion, enthusiasm,
fear, joy, surprise, uncertainty and others. They can also
contradict verbal statements
 
 
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Gestures and movements are culture specific. The
meaning of gesture in the United States may be
completely different in Europe or Asia
In the United States, a clenched fist pounding on the table
can indicate either anger or emphasis. Such a display in
Asia would be unacceptable
Continual gestures and movement; such as, pacing back
and forth may signal nervousness and may be distracting
to listeners. Handshakes reveal attitudes
 
 
Legs too communicate nonverbal messages. Consider for
example a man sitting with his legs stretched out on top of
his desk during an interview; a person shifting one leg to
the other in rhythmic motion; a woman pacing back and
forth while speaking
Posture and movement can convey self-confidence,
status or interest. A confident executive may have a
relaxed posture, and yet may stand more erect than a
timid subordinate. An interested listener may lean forward
towards the speaker; one who bored may lean away or
glance at the clock
 
 
S
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a
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Various odors and fragrances sometimes convey the
emotions of sender and sometimes affect the reactions of
the receiver, especially if the receiver is sensitive to
scents
Also ,touching can communicate friendship, love
,approval, hatred, anger or other feelings
A kiss on the cheek ,pat on the shoulder, or slap on the
back is prompted by various emotions
 
 
On the other hand ,touching in a crowded Japanese train
or being pushed at the Tsimshatui mass transit railway in
which passengers are squeezed together may be
offensive to many North Americans
 
 
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e
 
a
n
d
 
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n
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Your voice quality and extra sounds you make while
speaking are also a part of nonverbal communication
called paralanguage. Paralanguage include voice
,volume, rate, articulation, pitch and other sounds you
may make; such as, throat cleaning and sighing
A loud voice often communicates urgency while a soft one
is sometimes calming
Speaking fast may suggest nervousness or haste. A lazy
articulation, slurring sounds or skipping over syllables or
words may reduce credibility
 
 
 
A lack of pitch variation becomes monotone, while too
much variation can sound artificial or too much dramatic
Throat clearing can distract from spoken words
Emphasising certain words in a sentence can purposely
indicate your feeling about what is important
 
 
H
o
w
 
S
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l
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Consider how you feel when you make an oral request that
is met with silence or think about the confusion you feel
when your written message generates no response. You
may think that the answer is negative when it takes several
weeks. The person may be busy and has not been able to
answer you. You may also consider that the person is not
answering because he/she is considering your request
unworthy to answer
 
 
T
i
m
e
:
Waiting when an important request is ignored causes
problems and attitude changes. How do you feel when
you are kept waiting two hours after the scheduled time
for an interview?
In US culture ,being on time for appointments, for work
each day ,and for deadlines communicates favourable
nonverbal messages
Concepts of time, however, vary across cultures and even
in the US. Americans and Germans for example are quite
punctual
 
 
Middle Eastern business people think little of arriving after
agreed upon time, not out of discourtesy but rather a
feeling that the task will be accomplished regardless of
time
If you arrived on time for a meeting in Portugal, your host
might wonder why you come so early
 
 
S
p
a
c
e
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If you step into an empty elevator, where do you stand? If
the elevator then fills up with people, where do you move?
The need for personal space decreases as the number of
people increases
In the United States, the need for personal space in a
two-person conversation is about 18 inches. The need for
space is less in many middle eastern countries and more
in most Scandinavian Countries
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Nonverbal communication plays a crucial role in conveying messages and signals through platforms like eye contact, facial expressions, gestures, posture, and spatial distance. It includes appearance, body language, silence, time, and space. This form of communication can significantly impact the reception of verbal messages, with studies suggesting that a significant portion of a message's effect stems from nonverbal cues. The appearance of various elements, from written messages to personal attire, conveys nonverbal impressions that influence attitudes even before the verbal content is processed. Paying attention to personal appearance and surroundings can enhance the effectiveness of verbal communication.


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  1. NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION By Dr. Nadeem Khan Lecturer IER, University of Peshawar Semester: 2nd Subject: Communication Skills

  2. Nonverbal Communication Nonverbal communication is the transmission of messages or signals through a nonverbal platform such as eye contact, facial expressions, gestures, posture, and the distance between two individuals Nonverbal Communication includes: Appearance, Body Language, Silence, Time and Space Numerous articles and books have been written on the importance of nonverbal messages. Some studies suggest that from 60 to 90 percent of a message effect comes from nonverbal cues

  3. How Appearance Communicates: Appearance conveys nonverbal impressions that effect receivers attitudes towards the verbal message even before they read or hear them The format, neatness and language of a written message sends a nonverbal message to the reader An envelope s appearance-size , colour , weight , postage-may impress the receiver as important, routine Express Mail and Private Courier Mail also have distinctive envelopes that signal urgency and importance. Next the letter ,report, or title page communicates nonverbally before its contents are read by the kind of paper used, its length, format and neatness

  4. Finally, the language itself, aside from its content, communicates something about the sender. Is it carefully worded and generally correct in mechanics; such as, spelling, grammar and punctuation? Whether you are speaking to one person face to face or to a group in a meeting, personal appearance and the appearance of your surroundings convey nonverbal stimuli that affect attitudes towards your spoken words

  5. Clothing, hairstyles, neatness, jewelry, cosmetics, perfumes, posture, stature are part of personal appearance. They convey impressions regarding occupation , age , nationality , social and economic level, job status, and good or poor judgment, depending upon circumstances Aspects of surroundings include room size, location, furnishing, machines, architecture, wall decorations, floor (carpeted or bare?), lighting, windows, view, and other related features wherever people communicate orally. Surroundings will vary according to status and according to country and culture

  6. How Body Language Communicates: Included under body language are facial expressions, gestures, posture and movement, smell and touch, voice and sounds (Facial Expressions)The eyes and faces are especially helpful of communicating nonverbally. They can reveal hidden emotions, including anger, confusion, enthusiasm, fear, joy, surprise, uncertainty and others. They can also contradict verbal statements

  7. Gestures, Postures and Body Movements: Gestures and movements are culture specific. The meaning of gesture in the United States may be completely different in Europe or Asia In the United States, a clenched fist pounding on the table can indicate either anger or emphasis. Such a display in Asia would be unacceptable Continual gestures and movement; such as, pacing back and forth may signal nervousness and may be distracting to listeners. Handshakes reveal attitudes

  8. Legs too communicate nonverbal messages. Consider for example a man sitting with his legs stretched out on top of his desk during an interview; a person shifting one leg to the other in rhythmic motion; a woman pacing back and forth while speaking Posture and movement can convey self-confidence, status or interest. A confident executive may have a relaxed posture, and yet may stand more erect than a timid subordinate. An interested listener may lean forward towards the speaker; one who bored may lean away or glance at the clock

  9. Smell and Touch: Various odors and fragrances sometimes convey the emotions of sender and sometimes affect the reactions of the receiver, especially if the receiver is sensitive to scents Also ,touching can communicate friendship, love ,approval, hatred, anger or other feelings A kiss on the cheek ,pat on the shoulder, or slap on the back is prompted by various emotions

  10. On the other hand ,touching in a crowded Japanese train or being pushed at the Tsimshatui mass transit railway in which passengers are squeezed together may be offensive to many North Americans

  11. Voice and Sounds: Your voice quality and extra sounds you make while speaking are also a part of nonverbal communication called paralanguage. Paralanguage include voice ,volume, rate, articulation, pitch and other sounds you may make; such as, throat cleaning and sighing A loud voice often communicates urgency while a soft one is sometimes calming Speaking fast may suggest nervousness or haste. A lazy articulation, slurring sounds or skipping over syllables or words may reduce credibility

  12. A lack of pitch variation becomes monotone, while too much variation can sound artificial or too much dramatic Throat clearing can distract from spoken words Emphasising certain words in a sentence can purposely indicate your feeling about what is important

  13. How Silence, Time and Space Communicate: Silence Consider how you feel when you make an oral request that is met with silence or think about the confusion you feel when your written message generates no response. You may think that the answer is negative when it takes several weeks. The person may be busy and has not been able to answer you. You may also consider that the person is not answering because he/she is considering your request unworthy to answer

  14. Time: Waiting when an important request is ignored causes problems and attitude changes. How do you feel when you are kept waiting two hours after the scheduled time for an interview? In US culture ,being on time for appointments, for work each day ,and for deadlines communicates favourable nonverbal messages Concepts of time, however, vary across cultures and even in the US. Americans and Germans for example are quite punctual

  15. Middle Eastern business people think little of arriving after agreed upon time, not out of discourtesy but rather a feeling that the task will be accomplished regardless of time If you arrived on time for a meeting in Portugal, your host might wonder why you come so early

  16. Space: If you step into an empty elevator, where do you stand? If the elevator then fills up with people, where do you move? The need for personal space decreases as the number of people increases In the United States, the need for personal space in a two-person conversation is about 18 inches. The need for space is less in many middle eastern countries and more in most Scandinavian Countries

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