Wednesday, 20 June 2012

The Power of Non-Verbal Communication


The Power of Non-Verbal Communication

You have no doubt heard the proverb—Actions speak louder than words.
It’s true. Your body is a crucial part of communicating your inner feelings. Of course, we can’t communicate ideas, thoughts, and plans without words. However, the "way people interpret those words" is tremendously influenced by our non-verbal communication.
Recent research has suggested that between 60 and 70 percent of all meaning—understanding—is derived from our body language.
What is body language? It’s a form of non-verbal communication consisting of facial expressions, eye movements, gestures, and posture. Here are a few examples:
  • Face: smiling shows happiness; frowning shows disapproval.
  • Eyes: attentive gaze shows interest; rolling the eyes shows disgust.
  • Gestures: nodding the head shows agreement; tapping fingers on table shows boredom or impatience.
  • Posture: leaning forward shows eagerness, acceptance, or interest; slumped over shows discouragement.
The messages we send through these expressions and gestures play a key role in people’s interpretation of the words we speak, strongly influencing how we are viewed. John Locke, a British philosopher of the 1600s, said, “I have always thought the actions of men are the best interpreters of their thoughts.”
I want to focus on the destructive consequences of unattractive body language and the negative messages we send based on our uncontrolled feelings and emotions. If you wish to communicate well, then it makes sense to understand how you can (and cannot) use your body to say what you mean.

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