Nonverbal Communication and Teamwork Business Communication and Presentation Chapter 3

Nonverbal Communication Messages sent without or in addition to words Nonverbal Symbols include: Body language Appearance Touch Space Time Voice

How are Nonverbal Symbols Interpreted? Senses Seeing Hearing Touching Tasting Smelling Nonverbal symbols may: Reinforce Contradict Substitute Regulate verbal symbols.

Nonverbal Examples Reinforcing Contradicting Substituting Regulating Point as you say “The office is the second door on the left.” Frowning as you say “That’s fine.” Substituting Regulating Tapping your foot indicates frustration Clenching your fists indicates anger Nodding or smiling indicates agreement Nodding in agreement encourages another to continue speaking Closing a book means you are through listening

Nonverbal Symbols Error Free Appropriate Format Easy to read Print Written Messages Spoken Messages Error Free Appropriate Format Easy to read Print Appropriate drawings, pictures, charts, and graphs Correct Facts Body Language Facial expressions, gestures, and posture Touching Shaking hands, hugging, placing a hand on someone’s shoulder Space Distance between individuals Time Being punctual Paralanguage Qualities of voice, rate of speech, and actions

Body Language Facial expressions Eyes Eyebrows Smile – Happy feelings Frown – Negative feelings Eyes Excitement, boredom, concentration Eyebrows Raised eyebrows – questioning, surprise, nervous Pinched together – confusion, indecision

Body Language Cont. Eye contact Gestures Direct – interest, friendship, confidence Lack of eye contact – disinterest or boredom Gestures Crossed arms – concentration or withdrawal Trembling hand – nervousness Nodding – agreement Folded arms – closed attitude or disagreement Leaning toward a person – open attitude

Touching Handshake Greeting/Closing a discussion Firm – Confidence Weak – Listlessness Hand placed on shoulder – form of encouragement from supervisor to subordinate Not accepted from subordinate to supervisor

Personal Space NONVERBAL SYMBOLS Intimate Zone 0 to 18 inches Comfort zone for talking with close friends or relatives Personal Zone 18 inches to 4 feet Comfort zone for talking privately with colleagues and acquaintances Social Zone 4 to 12 feet Comfort zone for talking with others at most business meetings or social gatherings Public Zone 12 feet or more Comfort zone between a speaker and an audience at a meeting or presentation

Time You are asked to get to work as soon as possible Complete the action right away conveys a positive message to the other person Ignoring the request sends a negative message Being on time shows respect for others

Paralanguage Nonverbal symbols that reveal the difference between what is said and how it is said Pitch Stress Rate Volume Inflection Rhythm Pronunciation Laughing Crying Sighing Yawning Coughing Silence Pauses Hesitations

Nonverbal Symbols and Your Image Level of confidence Too much self-confidence Too little self-confidence Friendliness Enthusiasm Sincerity Eye contact and posture Appearance

Nonverbal Symbols in the Environment Furnishings and décor Arrangement of tables and chairs Lighting Room temperature Noise or sounds Use of color

We Have to Move Now! Nonverbal Communication Activity 1. Choose 4 volunteers 2. Each volunteer selects a prompt that includes a mood or a disposition like guilty, happy, suspicious, paranoid, insulted, or insecure. 3. Each student reads the following sentence to the class, expressing the mood you picked. 4. Students will write down assumptions they make about each student as they read the sentence role- playing the emotion shown on the prompt.

We all need to gather our possessions and move to another building as soon as possible!