Session Five: Nonverbal Communication
“Listen with an open mind, gather all the incoming information, both verbal and nonverbal and be careful not to ignore things you don’t wish to hear. Don’t make assumptions or jump to conclusions. The punchline usually comes at the end!”
Supervisors should be aware of their nonverbal cues, such as body language and facial expressions. These cues can convey messages, sometimes more strongly than words.
By engaging in self-reflection on nonverbal communication, you can gain valuable insights into your communication style, enhance your interpersonal effectiveness, and strengthen your relationships with others in the workplace.
Self-Assessment:
Nonverbal Communication
Please take a few moments to contemplate the following self-reflection questions. Where can you identify opportunities for personal growth in your leadership approach?
1. Am I aware of the nonverbal signals I project in various situations, such as facial expressions, body language, tone of voice, and gestures?
2. How might my nonverbal cues influence their perceptions and interactions with me?
3. Do my nonverbal cues align with the verbal messages I convey?
4. Have I sought feedback from trusted colleagues or mentors regarding my nonverbal communication?
5. Are there specific areas, such as maintaining eye contact, controlling facial expressions, or using gestures effectively, that I can focus on developing further?
6. How observant am I of nonverbal cues in the workplace environment?
7. Are there patterns or trends have I noticed in the nonverbal communication of my team members?
8. Do I respond the same way to my colleague’s nonverbal cues as I would expect them to respond to mine?
Take your time and reflect upon these questions honestly. Going forward, use your responses as a tool to assess how well you communicate nonverbally and discover the areas that need development.
You know communication is more than the words you speak and write. But what about the nonverbal message you're sending? Many leaders are unsure about how they really come across.
While honing your communication strengths and style, you need solid self-awareness of what works and what doesn't in your nonverbal communication.
According to UCLA professor Albert Mehrabian's widely cited studies on verbal and nonverbal communication, as much as 55 percent of communication is transmitted through body language, with only 7 percent attributed to words, and the remaining 38 percent is through tone. It's important to note that these percentages specifically apply to situations where a person is conveying feelings or attitudes. This highlights the significant role nonverbal cues play in shaping your executive presence as a leader.
There are four areas which we are going to focus on during this session. We will look at the importance of eye contact, posture, gestures, and tone of voice.
The Eyes Have It
Our eyes are one of the most critical parts of nonverbal communication, demonstrating our willingness to connect with someone. Our eyes have power – for good or bad. Think back to your elementary years and the look your teacher would give someone in your class when they were talking during quiet time. Most of the time no words were needed, just the eyes with that intentional look saying to stop talking now!
Our eyes let people know we are present, engaged and listening. Through our eye contact, we can make people feel special. Our eyes can make people feel as though we are speaking to them directly or that they are the most important person during a conversation. Losing eye contact or giving no eye contact can diminish a connection and become a barrier when trying to convey a message.
It's important to note that not everyone is comfortable making eye contact, and a lack of eye contact doesn’t always signify disinterest. Some individuals find it challenging to maintain eye contact while also concentrating on what they’re saying. This difficulty does not necessarily reflect a lack of engagement or confidence. Remember, effective communication involves understanding and respecting individual differences.
For those who struggle with eye contact, there are strategies to help you appear more engaged without feeling overwhelmed. Instead of looking directly into someone's eyes, you can look at their forehead, the space between their eyes, or focus on one eye at a time. These techniques can help you maintain the appearance of eye contact and connection without the discomfort.
The Power of Posture
One of the most visible and influential aspects of body language is posture. It is a form of nonverbal communication that can convey messages of strength, competence, and approachability without saying a word. Standing tall with your shoulders back and head held high exudes confidence and presence, making you appear more authoritative and in control. This not only inspires confidence in others but also boosts your mood, energy, and self-esteem.
Additionally, maintaining good posture is beneficial for your overall health and well-being. It reduces strain on the spine and muscles, alleviates tension, and prevents back and neck pain, enabling you to handle the demands of leadership more effectively. To convey the right message, avoid slouching, hunching, crossing your arms, or fidgeting, as these postures can suggest boredom, insecurity, or defensiveness, potentially making others perceive you as disinterested or lacking in confidence.
Good posture transcends physical appearance; it reflects a leader's inner strength and confidence, and is crucial for inspiring others.
Gestures
A third aspect of nonverbal communication is the use of gestures. Gestures involve the movements of hands, arms, and head to emphasize, illustrate, or reinforce verbal messages. It's crucial to consider how you animate yourself while communicating because gestures significantly influence perceptions of you and your message, for better or worse. To inspire and motivate in team projects, for instance, gestures should be natural, expressive, and appropriate. This includes using your hands to point, show, or explain; your arms to open up or invite feedback; and your head to nod, tilt, or shake, depending on what you intend to convey. Gestures can express enthusiasm, urgency, or seriousness, enhancing the context of your communication.
Moreover, gestures can boost creativity, clarity, and engagement, making you appear more dynamic and charismatic. Effective speakers often move around, pointing to a slide instead of merely reading from it, and engage with their audience on a more personal level, while always being mindful of respecting personal space and cultural norms regarding physical contact.
Tone and Mood
Tone of voice and mood are the fourth and fifth items for you to consider when reflecting on your nonverbal communication. They play a pivotal role by providing essential cues for understanding the emotional context, intent, and attitude behind spoken words. These elements convey nuances that extend beyond the literal meaning of messages, offering insights into the speaker’s emotions, sincerity, and level of engagement. By interpreting tone and mood, listeners can better understand the speaker's intended message, fostering clearer communication, enhanced empathy, and stronger interpersonal connections.
Additionally, the tone, rate, and volume of a speaker’s voice can convey different meanings, as can sounds like laughing, throat clearing, or humming.
One additional item to note is that silence, or the lack of sound, also serves as a powerful form of nonverbal communication. In face-to-face discussions, silence can signify a lack of understanding or even hard feelings.
As you continue to develop your nonverbal communication skills, observe the great leaders of our time. How do they project themselves? What does their body language, including their tone of voice and use of silence, communicate? These observations can provide valuable insights into effective nonverbal communication strategies.
As we have already said, you should be aware of your nonverbal cues, such as body language and facial expressions. These cues can convey messages, sometimes more strongly than words. Here is a quick list of reminders for you to consider when reflecting on your nonverbal communication. Keep these in mind to enhance your interactions and ensure you're sending the intended messages without words.
Body Language Awareness
You should be aware of your own body language and understand how it can impact interactions with team members. This includes maintaining open posture, making appropriate eye contact, and using gestures that support the message being conveyed.
Active Listening
Nonverbal cues such as nodding, leaning forward, and maintaining eye contact demonstrate active listening. You should practice these behaviors to show your team members that they are engaged and attentive.
Empathy
Nonverbal communication plays a significant role in expressing empathy and understanding. You should be able to convey empathy through your facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language, especially when addressing concerns or providing support to team members.
Consistency
Consistency between verbal and nonverbal communication is essential for building trust and credibility. You should ensure that your nonverbal cues align with the messages you are conveying verbally to avoid confusion or mixed signals.
Adaptability
Different situations and cultural contexts may require different nonverbal communication approaches. Supervisors should be adaptable and able to adjust their nonverbal cues accordingly to effectively connect with team members from diverse backgrounds. For example, the appropriate distance to maintain during a conversation can vary significantly across cultures.
“The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn’t being said.”
Facial Expressions
Facial expressions convey emotions and can significantly impact how messages are perceived. Supervisors should practice maintaining positive and approachable facial expressions to create a welcoming and supportive environment for their team members.
Proximity and Personal Space
Understanding personal space and appropriate proximity is important for nonverbal communication. Supervisors should respect the personal space of their team members while also demonstrating approachability and accessibility.
Gestures
Using appropriate gestures can enhance communication and clarify messages. You should use gestures that are natural and culturally appropriate to emphasize key points or convey enthusiasm.
Regulating Emotions
Nonverbal cues such as facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language can unintentionally reveal emotions. You should practice regulating their emotions to ensure that your nonverbal communication remains professional and supportive, especially in challenging situations.
Observation Skills
Effective nonverbal communication also involves observing and interpreting the nonverbal cues of others. You should be observant and attentive to the nonverbal signals exhibited by your team members to better understand their thoughts, feelings, and needs.
Feedback Reception
Nonverbal cues can provide valuable feedback during interactions. You should pay attention to the nonverbal responses of your team members to assess understanding, engagement, and receptiveness to the message being communicated.
By honing these nonverbal communication skills, Supervisors can create a positive and supportive communication environment, strengthen relationships with their team members, and enhance overall team effectiveness.
Let’s practice!
Despite the importance of nonverbal communication, many leaders hesitate to address issues with their own nonverbal cues because confronting these aspects of themselves directly can feel uncomfortable.
Here are four strategies for building self-awareness so you can improve your nonverbal communication and executive presence.
Mirror Practice: Spend a few minutes in front of a mirror each day. Practice different facial expressions and postures. This can help you become more aware of the nonverbal messages you're sending.
Record Yourself: Filming yourself during a mock meeting or presentation can provide insights into your body language habits.
Eye Contact: Maintain comfortable eye contact (which may vary depending upon the person or their culture) when someone is speaking to show you’re attentive and interested. “Comfortable” means holding eye contact for a few seconds at a time, without staring.
Avoid Distractions: Put away your phone or any other distractions to give the speaker your full attention.
While words are essential, they represent only a fraction of the story in communication. Refining your nonverbal skills and becoming a more attentive listener can elevate your presence and ensure you make a lasting impact.
Remember :
Nonverbal communication is a rapidly flowing back-and-forth process that requires your full focus on the moment-to-moment experience. If you're planning what you're going to say next, checking your phone, or thinking about something else, you're almost certain to miss nonverbal cues and not fully understand the subtleties of what's being communicated. In addition to being fully present, you can improve how you communicate nonverbally by learning to manage stress and developing your emotional awareness.
Personal Challenge:
Record yourself. You may cringe at this idea, but it allows you to see yourself and the nonverbal cues you communicate to others. After recording, watch the video back to see what others see—it may feel awkward, but it will reveal the truth about how you come across.
Elevate your understanding of Nonverbal Communication by taking flight with the following resources. Use this opportunity to navigate, uncover, and expand the horizons of your leadership influence.
Take Control of Your Non Verbal Communication
Dr. Nick Morgan (video)
The Impact of Unconscious Communication
A Q&A with Alex Pentland, Ph.D.
The Art of Eye Contact: 4 Best Approaches for Any Interaction
Carmine Gallo
30 Supercritical Nonverbal Cues You Need to Understand
John Brandon
