The one concept I felt need further discussion was nonverbal
communication. Nonverbal communication accounts for the majority of what is
heard and understood by a listener. Nonverbal communication has the ability to
persuade, confuse and empower the people directly around you. When your verbal
communication and nonverbal communication agree, the message you are
communicating will be better understood and digested. Wordless messages or
kinesics are the way we communicate by sending and receiving signals using body
language, gestures, postures, proximity, haptics, and facial expressions. We
can reinforce, contradict, substitute, complement or emphasize our verbal
communication with non-verbal cues such as gestures, expressions and vocal
inflection. Avoiding eye contact when we tell someone we love them communicates
something far different than do spoken words, just as a bright smile when we
say congratulations reinforces the sincerity of our words. Watching other
people's body language, facial expressions and tendencies, and being conscious
of your own physicality and feelings can enhance nonverbal communication.
Petey,
ReplyDeleteI am also fascinated with the nonverbal concept. It is so interesting how being ignored can rile someone far more than a heating argument. When I think of nonverbal communication I usually go straight to the negative forms (rolling eyes, smirks, hand gestures, etc.) because I think that they are the strongest reaction getters. People don’t have problems with smiles and nodding, but passive aggression does irritate most; and I think the biggest way people express passive aggression is through nonverbal communication. Since reflecting on the concept, I know I have begun to monitor my nonverbal communication more closely.