Personal Space

Have you ever started to feel uncomfortable when someone stands just a little too close to you? Well, I feel pretty uncomfortable when people stand too close to me. Just like body movements and facial expressions, personal space also communicates non-verbal information between individuals.

The four levels of personal space as described by Anthropologist Edward T. Hall are:

•  Intimate distance - 6 to 18 inches: Hugging, whispering, or touching.

•  Personal distance - 1.5 to 4 feet: Family members or close friends.

•  Social distance - 4 to 12 feet: Co-workers.

•  Public distance - 12 to 25 feet: Public speaking situations, talking in front of a class full of students or giving a presentation

The level of personal distance that individuals need to feel comfortable can vary from culture to culture. For example: People from Latin countries tend to feel more comfortable standing closer to one another as they interact, while those from North America need more personal distance.

Reference: John cloud, September 03, 2009 , Problem with close talking. http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1919910,00.html

World of Gestures

Gestures are basically actions that are produced with the intent to communicate without talking i.e. expressing the message using fingers, hands, and arms. Gestures could mean different in different cultures.

Looking at this picture what do you think she is trying to say? Well every North American would say 'Good Luck to you.' But in Iran this gesture would outrage people as it means ‘Screw You’. So whenever you are in another culture make sure you are using the right gesture or you might invite a conflict. 

Reference: Ingenria, Meaning of Gestures in Different Cultures ... Complimentary or Offensive? http://ingenira.hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Read-Others-Thoughts-by-Their-Gestures

Nonverbal etiquettes at workplace

Nowadays, the office environment is not just sitting in a cubical but there is team work and a lot of interaction with coworkers required. Moreover, some jobs require a social and/or face to face interaction with the customers.

I think, a person’s first impression is portrayed by his/ her appearance. Therefore, physical appearance tells a lot about a person. Furthermore, a person at work, or in a professional environment represents his/her work place. So people should be very careful about their appearance at work.

  Did you know that most people form an opinion about you within the first thirty seconds. So it is really important to make first good impression.The body language, the clothes you wear, if you are standing up straight, even the tone of the voice adds the little details.

 A smile, a firm handshake and a good eye contact stats you off better amongst the others; and number one rule is to turn the cell phone off during any meeting or business conferences or seminars as a ringing cellphone is not only against good business or workplace etiquette, but also gives an impression that you don't care or the meeting is not important for you. 

Functions of Nonverbal Communication

Nonverbal communication helps convey meaning in at least five ways. As you become more aware of the following functions of nonverbal communications, you will be better able to use these silent codes to your advantage in the workplace.

• To complement and illustrate: Nonverbal messages can amplify, modify, or provide details for a verbal message. For example, in describing the size of a cell phone, a speaker holds his fingers apart 12 cm. In pumping up sales reps, the manager jams his fist into the opposite hand to indicate the strong effort required

•  To reinforce and accentuate: Skilled speakers raise their voices to convey important ideas, but hey whisper to suggest secrecy. A grimace forecasts painful news, whereas a big smile intensifies good news. A neat, well-equipped office reinforces a message of professionalism.

• To replace and substitute: Many gestures substitute for words: nodding your head for "yes" and giving a V for victory, making a thumbs-up sign for approval, and shrugging your shoulders for "I don't care." In fact, a complex set of gestures totally replaces spoken words in sign language. 

• To control and regulate: Nonverbal messages are important regulators in conversation. Shifts in eye contact, slight head movements, changes in posture, raising eyebrows, nodding of the head, and voice inflection. All of these cues tell speakers when to continue, to repeat, to elaborate, to hurry up, or to finish.

• To contradict: To be sarcastic, a speaker might hold his nose while stating that your new perfume is wonderful. In the workplace, individuals may send contradictory messages with words or actions. The boss, for example, says he wants to promote Kevin, but he fails to submit the necessary recommendation. 

Reference

Guffey, M. E., Rhodes, K., & Rogin, P. (2008). Business communication process and product (6^th edition). Toronto: Nelson

Should the book be judged by its cover?

Although they say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, we always tend to do so. Now lets relate the book to a person. Do we judge people on their appearance? All the time! The way an individual dresses is an important form of non-verbal communication. Your dress conveys nonverbal clues about your personality, education, background, financial status and credibility. These clues can break down barriers and launch careers, or create barriers and hamper careers. Imagine going to a business meeting to discuss the financial budget about the company you work for. You sit down in the meeting room and the speaker is wearing a mini skirt as if she's ready to hit the clubbing scene.

Would you even be paying attention to what she's saying? I know I wouldn't! I wouldn't be able to take her seriously. If she can’t put the effort into wearing an appropriate outfit to an important work meeting, then why should she get my attention? Although her lack of clothes does make her seem confident, it is unprofessional. She's at a business meeting to discuss finance, not sell her skin. Overall, clothing is a common form of non-verbal communication and one should look in the mirror twice before they walk out with any outfit on.

Development of nonverbal skills

 In infant and young children, it is very commonly observed that before they even start to speak, they tend to communicate with their face gestures and hand movements. The new research says that talking to infants with hand movements and face gestures encourage them to express their feelings better and it also aids in simple communication.

Nonverbal communications also help experts to communicate with children with special needs. for example, it is a great to to understand children with autism. In the following video, a preschool teacher will explain the benefits of such communication.

Research indicate that children who had good nonverbal communications skills tend to express their feelings and views much better at workplace.

Most of the time, we communicate without words!

The way you listen, look, move, and react tells the other person whether or not you care, if you’re being truthful, and how well you’re listening. The Non Verbal Communication depends on both the speaker and the listener. A speaker wont be able to express his ideas if the audience isn’t interested in listening to him what he is saying. There are various key elements that can make or break your attempt at successful nonverbal communication in business. Think of a person who freezes up by the nervousness caused due to the presentation.

What impression will he have on his business audience? Well for sure the audience will think that the speaker isn’t well prepared or is confused about his thoughts. To overcome these barriers the speaker should establish and maintain eye contact with the audience but not for more than 4-6 seconds as the other person might feel uneasy if the speaker keeps on staring at him. The posture in which the listener sits reflects if he/she is interested in listening or not. If the listener is leaning forward, sitting erect and looking alert, it encourages communication.