Download non verbal communicaiton

NON VERBAL COMMUNICAITON
Imagine that you are giving a presentation at work. Looking into the audience, you observe a sea of
eyes, all trained toward you. But one person looks different—you see him slouching in his chair and
scrutinizing his smartphone. Then, he reaches up to rub his eyes and begins shifting his gaze from side to
side. This person hasn't spoken a word, but you understand what he is thinking, simply by observing his
actions—he's not interested in what you're saying.
Much of what people communicate to one another is nonverbal, consisting of body language rather
than words. In the workplace, it is important that nonverbal communication conveys respect and
professionalism. One form of nonverbal communication, body language, may comprise facial
expressions, such as smiles, frowns, wide eyes (which could denote surprise), or a crinkled brow (which
could convey cynicism or bewilderment); eye behavior, such as shifting eyes or degree of eye contact;
gestures, or the movement of the body or limbs while speaking; and posture. All of these behaviors can
reveal a person's attitudes and emotions, and they may even contradict what a person is saying.
Suppose you work in sales, and your responsibilities include visiting potential clients in order to entice
them to buy your company's product. During one sales meeting, you get an enthusiastic reaction, and
the conversation continues for 45 minutes with your client talking so much that she causes you to be
late for your next appointment. Although you are eager to leave, you respond to all of the client's
remarks with positive words. Suddenly, the client changes her mind and informs you that she's not
interested in your product after all. She explains that while you said wonderful things, you appeared to
be disinterested in the sale because you kept looking at the exit door and shifting your feet. You realize
that you've made a mistake—although you worked hard to convince the client of your dedication to her
business, your body language told a different story.
It's imperative that your workplace body language conveys a positive attitude as much as your words do.
This means that you should avoid rolling your eyes and sighing loudly, since both of these behaviors are
considered rude. In addition, remember that your demeanor can sometimes be misinterpreted—you
may fold your arms because you are cold, but others may believe that you are being defensive or aloof.
It's also important to recognize that appropriate nonverbal communication varies among cultures. For
instance, in some cultures, eye contact is expected during conversations, while in others, prolonged eye
contact is considered presumptuous or intrusive. People who work in multicultural offices or who travel
internationally for work need to be aware of variations in nonverbal communication in order to avoid
misunderstandings.
If you are uncertain about appropriate body language at a place where you work or are doing business,
observe the actions of the other employees and attempt to mirror their body language—not only will
you be more likely to get along with them, but you will also be more likely to be perceived in a positive
way.
Dig Deeper
If your coworkers come from diverse backgrounds, or if your job requires you to travel abroad, you
should know that every country has its own culture or cultures. Each culture has its own set of
behavioral rules. Therefore, you can expect that the rules of workplace behavior differ all over the
world. People in one country may dress, greet one another, and converse differently than people in
another country. A type of communication that is welcomed or expected in one culture may be
considered puzzling or offensive in another.
Here are some examples of cultural differences in nonverbal communication.
How Should You Greet People?
If you were meeting people at a business conference, how would you be expected to greet them? The
body language of a greeting can vary from culture to culture. It may consist of a firm handshake, a nod, a
bow, a bow and a handshake, or a kiss on both cheeks.
How Close Should You Stand to Another Person?
In some cultures, people are expected to maintain a certain distance from one another when they are
standing together or talking. Standing too close is considered an invasion of personal space. In other
cultures, people stand quite close to one another. Taking a step back during the conversation to
establish more space may be considered rude.
Should You Maintain Eye Contact?
When you are having a discussion in a workplace, you may wonder whether to look the other person in
the eye or not. In some cultures, maintaining eye contact is important. It indicates that you are
confident, respectful, and attentive. One thing to remember, however, is that even in places where eye
contact is important, regular blinking is necessary. Maintaining eye contact without blinking may be
considered aggressive. Prolonged eye contact is considered disrespectful in some cultures and
threatening in others. People may make eye contact but are then expected to look away.
Should You Smile?
Smiling to establish a good rapport is considered important in some countries, such as Colombia and the
U.S. In some other countries, there is less emphasis on smiling. In these cultures, not smiling is OK.
You're not seen as being distant.
How Should You Sit?
Generally, good posture is appreciated, regardless of culture. Don't put your feet on a chair or a table;
doing this is considered rude in many cultures and very offensive in some. In some cultures, crossing legs
or ankles is rude. If you're not sure whether this is true where you are, sit with your ankles together (not
crossed) and your feet facing forward.
Should You Touch Other People?
Touching is more acceptable in some cultures than in others. Many cultures forbid touching in the
workplace, particularly between men and women. Even in countries where colleagues may hug or slap
one another on the back to show friendliness, some people are not comfortable with this behavior. If
you tend to touch people to show affection, hold back. Observe others to find out whether they are OK
with physical contact. If you are still unsure, play it safe and refrain from touching.
Never assume that someone shares your cultural rules. Many online resources contain information
about the cultural rules in various countries. Check them out so that you can be sure to show respect for
others in the workplace.