importance of body language in communication

7/31/2019 Importance of Body Language in Communication

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Submitted toMr. Ravi Kumar Submitted by- Sajad Azeez

Roll No-MBA/8034/09


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Submitted toMr. Ravi Kumar Submitted by- Sajad Azeez

Roll No-MBA/8034/09


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Importance of Body Language in Communication

Body language is a form of non-verbal communication, which consists of bodyposture, gestures, facial expressions, and eye movements. Humans send and

interpret such signals almost entirely subconsciously.

John Borg attests that human communication consists of 93 percent body

language and paralinguistic cues, while only 7% of communication consists of

words themselves; however, Albert Mehrabian, the researcher whose 1960s work

is the source of these statistics, has stated that this is a misunderstanding of the

finding (see Misinterpretation of Mehrabian's rule). Others assert that "Researchhas suggested that between 60 and 70 percent of all meaning is derived from

nonverbal behavior."

Body language may provide clues as to the attitude or state of mind of a person.

For example, it may indicate aggression, attentiveness, boredom, relaxed state,

pleasure, amusement, and intoxication, among many other cues.

Good communication is the foundation of successful relationships, both

personally and professionally. But we communicate with much more than words.

In fact, research shows that the majority of our communication is nonverbal.

Nonverbal communication, or body language, includes our facial expressions,

gestures, eye contact, posture, and even the tone of our voice.

The ability to understand and use nonverbal communication is a powerful tool

that will help you connect with others, express what you really mean, navigate

challenging situations, and build better relationships at home and work.

The power of nonverbal communication and body language

Nonverbal communication, or body language, is a vital form of communication.

When we interact with others, we continuously give and receive countless

wordless signals. All of our nonverbal behaviorsthe gestures we make, the way
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we sit, how fast or how loud we talk, how close we stand, how much eye contact

we makesend strong messages.

The way you listen, look, move, and react tell the other person whether or not

you care and how well youre listening. The nonverbal signals you send either

produce a sense of interest, trust, and desire for connectionor they generate

disinterest, distrust, and confusion.

Understanding body language

The technique of "reading" people is used frequently. For example, the idea of

mirroring body language to put people at ease is commonly used in interviews.

Mirroring the body language of someone else indicates that they are understood.

It is important to note that while some indicators of emotion (e.g.

smiling/laughing when happy, frowning/crying when sad) are largely universal,

however in the 1990s Ekman expanded his list of basic emotions, including a

range of positive and negative emotions not all of which are encoded in facial

muscles. The newly included emotions are:

1. Amusement

2. Contempt

3. Contentment

4. Embarrassment

5. Excitement

6. Guilt

7. Pride in achievement

8. Relief

9. Satisfaction

10. Sensory pleasure

11. Shame

Body language signals may have a goal other than communication. Both people

would keep this in mind. Observers limit the weight they place on non-verbal

cues. Signalers clarify their signals to indicate the biological origin of their actions.
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Examples would include yawning (sleepiness), showing lack of interest (sexual

interest/survival interest), attempts to change the topic (fight or flight drivers).

Types of nonverbal communication and body language

There are many different types of nonverbal communication. Together, the

following nonverbal signals and cues communicate your interest and investment

in others.

Facial expressions

The human face is extremely expressive, able to express countless emotionswithout saying a word. And unlike some forms of nonverbal communication,

facial expressions are universal. The facial expressions for happiness, sadness,

anger, surprise, fear, and disgust are the same across cultures.

Body movements and posture

Consider how your perceptions of people are affected by the way they sit, walk,

stand up, or hold their head. The way you move and carry yourself communicatesa wealth of information to the world. This type of nonverbal communication

includes your posture, bearing, stance, and subtle movements.

Gestures

Gestures are woven into the fabric of our daily lives. We wave, point, beckon, and

use our hands when were arguing or speaking animatedlyexpressing ourselves

with gestures often without thinking. However, the meaning of gestures can be

very different across cultures and regions, so its important to be careful to avoid

misinterpretation.

Eye contact


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Since the visual sense is dominant for most people, eye contact is an especially

important type of nonverbal communication. The way you look at someone can

communicate many things, including interest, affection, hostility, or attraction.

Eye contact is also important in maintaining the flow of conversation and for

gauging the other persons response.

Touch

We communicate a great deal through touch. Think about the messages given by

the following: a firm handshake, a timid tap on the shoulder, a warm bear hug, a

reassuring pat on the back, a patronizing pat on the head, or a controlling grip on

your arm.

Space

Have you ever felt uncomfortable during a conversation because the other person

was standing too close and invading your space? We all have a need for physical

space, although that need differs depending on the culture, the situation, and the

closeness of the relationship. You can use physical space to communicate many

different nonverbal messages, including signals of intimacy, aggression,

dominance, or affection.

Voice

We communicate with our voices, even when we are not using words. Nonverbal

speech sounds such as tone, pitch, volume, inflection, rhythm, and rate are

important communication elements. When we speak, other people read our

voices in addition to listening to our words. These nonverbal speech sounds

provide subtle but powerful clues into our true feelings and what we really mean.

Think about how tone of voice, for example, can indicate sarcasm, anger,

affection, or confidence.

Physical expression


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Physical expressions like waving, pointing, touching and slouching are all forms of

nonverbal communication. The study of body movement and expression is known

as kinesics. Humans move their bodies when communicating because, as research

has shown, it helps "ease the mental effort when communication is difficult."

Physical expressions reveal many things about the person using them. Forexample, gestures can emphasize a point or relay a message, posture can reveal

boredom or great interest, and touch can convey encouragement or caution.

One of the most basic and powerful body-language signals is when a personcrosses his or her arms across the chest. This can indicate that a person is

putting up an unconscious barrier between themselves and others. It can

also indicate that the person's arms are cold, which would be clarified by

rubbing the arms or huddling. When the overall situation is amicable, it can

mean that a person is thinking deeply about what is being discussed. But in

a serious or confrontational situation, it can mean that a person is

expressing opposition. This is especially so if the person is leaning away

from the speaker. A harsh or blank facial expression often indicates outright

hostility.

Consistent eye contact can indicate that a person is thinking positively ofwhat the speaker is saying. It can also mean that the other person doesn't

trust the speaker enough to "take their eyes off" the speaker. Lack of eyecontact can indicate negativity. On the other hand, individuals with anxiety

disorders are often unable to make eye contact without discomfort. Eye

contact can also be a secondary and misleading gesture because cultural

norms about it vary widely. If a person is looking at you, but is making the

arms-across-chest signal, the eye contact could be indicative that

something is bothering the person, and that he wants to talk about it. Or if

while making direct eye contact, a person is fiddling with something, even

while directly looking at you, it could indicate the attention is elsewhere.Also, there are three standard areas that a person will look which represent

different states of being. If the person looks from one eye to the other than

to the forehead, it is a sign that they are taking an authoritative position. If

they move from one eye to the other than to the nose, that signals that

they are engaging in what they consider to be a "level conversation" with
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neither party holding superiority. The last case is from one eye to the other

and then down to the lips. This is a strong indication of romantic feelings.

Disbelief is often indicated by averted gaze, or by touching the ear orscratching the chin. When a person is not being convinced by what

someone is saying, the attention invariably wanders, and the eyes will stareaway for an extended period.

Boredom is indicated by the head tilting to one side, or by the eyes lookingstraight at the speaker but becoming slightly unfocused. A head tilt may

also indicate a sore neck or Amblyopia, and unfocused eyes may indicate

ocular problems in the listener.

Interest can be indicated through posture or extended eye contact, such asstanding and listening properly.

Deceit or the act of withholding information can sometimes be indicated bytouching the face during conversation. Excessive blinking is a well-known

indicator of someone who is lying. Recently, evidence has surfaced that the

absence of blinking can also represent lying as a more reliable factor than

excessive blinking.

Some people use and understand body language differently, or not at all.

Interpreting their gestures and facial expressions (or lack thereof) in the context

of normal body language usually leads to misunderstandings andmisinterpretations (especially if body language is given priority over spoken

language). It should also be stated that people from different cultures can

interpret body language in different ways.

How prevalent is non-verbal communication in humans?

Some researchers put the level of nonverbal communication as high as 80 percent

of all communication when it could be at around 50-65 percent. Different studies

have found differing amounts, with some studies showing that facial

communication is believed 4.3 times more often than verbal meaning, and

another finding that verbal communication in a flat tone is 4 times more likely to

be understood than a pure facial expression. Albert Mehrabian is noted for

finding a 7%-38%-55% rule, supposedly denoting how much communication was
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conferred by words, tone, and body language. However he was only referring to

cases of expressing feelings or attitudes.

Body language and space

Interpersonal space refers to the psychological "bubble" that we can imagine

exists when someone is standing too close to us. Research has revealed that there

are four different zones of interpersonal space.

The first zone is called intimate distance and ranges from touching to abouteighteen inches (46 cm) apart. Intimate distance is the space around us that

we reserve for lovers, children, as well as close family members and friends,

and also pet animals.

The second zone is called personal distance and begins about an arm'slength away; starting around eighteen inches (46 cm) from our person and

ending about four feet (122 cm) away. We use personal distance in

conversations with friends, to chat with associates, and in group

discussions.

The third zone of interpersonal space is called social distance and is thearea that ranges from four to eight feet (1.2 m - 2.4 m) away from you.

Social distance is reserved for strangers, newly formed groups, and new

acquaintances.

The fourth identified zone of space is public distance and includes anythingmore than eight feet (2.4 m) away from you. This zone is used for speeches,

lectures, and theater; essentially, public distance is that range reserved for

larger audiences.

Unintentional gestures

Recently, there has been huge interest in studying human behavioral clues that

could be useful for developing an interactive and adaptive human-machine

system. Unintentional human gestures such as making an eye rub, a chin rest, a

lip touch, a nose itch, a head scratch, an ear scratch, crossing arms, and a finger

lock have been found conveying some useful information in specific context.


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Some researchers have tried to extract such gestures in a specific context of

educational applications. In poker games, such gestures are referred to as "tells"

and are useful to players for detecting deception or behavioral patterns in an

opponent(s).

Body Language in Workplace

When working with other people, verbal communication is only one way that you

show others emotion, approval, disappointment and confidence. How you walk,

how you position yourself when talking and how you use your facial expression

are all cues that other people rely on when making assessments about your

abilities and current state of mind.

Using Body Language in the Workplace

The more you understand body language and its affect on others, the better you

will be in communicating with co-workers, bosses, clients, vendors and others you

encounter during the day. By making simple adjustments to your posture, facial

expressions and mannerisms, you can improve the way others view you.

Assessing how people view you is necessary in order to make changes.

Ask those around you whose opinion you can trust to determine where

improvements need to be made.

Adjustments can include the following:

* Maintaining a relaxed posture while walking or during a meeting. Relaxed

posture indicates you're comfortable in your surroundings and not under stress.

Even if you experience stress while working on a project, when you reduce the

appearance of stress, those around you will feel more comfortable and will have

more faith in your abilities to lead, delegate responsibility and manage the

project.

* Mannerisms such as fidgeting, moving around a room while talking, breaking
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eye contact with others frequently and other bodily quirks you have can be seen

as a distraction to those around you. These mannerisms can make you appear

anxious, unprepared, unorganized, and stressed even if you're not. Learn how to

control these mannerisms by taking note of when they occur, how often they

occur, and consider ways to alter them. Many times, mannerisms are just oldhabits that need to be broken.

* Learning how to control your facial expressions can help you become more

successful in the workplace. If people often ask if you're upset or angry, it may be

because you're constantly frowning or you appear sad. Change your facial

expressions by practicing in the mirror. Find an expression that is relaxed and

calm and make an attempt to wear it as often as possible around others. Once

you're learned how to use your body language to communicate more effectively

in the workplace, you will notice a change in how others react to you.

Assessing the Body Language of Others

If you're always the last person in the office to know when something is wrong,

then maybe you need to pay closer attention the signals others are sending

through their body language.

Noticing how people walk, how they carry themselves and how their faces appear

during the day can provide you with many clues. Even though they may be

sending the wrong signals, you should still take note of them so you can assess

situations more confidently instead of relying on the perceptions of others.

Becoming more observant of body language when hiring new employees can also

help you choose the right candidates for positions available. Take notice of howthey present their resume to you, how they sit and how their facial expressions

change as they talk about prior job experiences. Use your observations in

conjunction with their resume and references to determine if they are right for

the company you work for.


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Body Language: A Key to Success in the Workplace

One problem with body language is it may not convey what you really feel. For

example, keeping your hands stiffly by your side or stuck in your pockets can give

the impression that you're insecurewhether you are or not.

Avoiding looking at peoplemaybe simply because you're too busy consulting

your notes or your rsumcan lead people to think you're being less than

honest with them. You may be slouching because you're tired, but people may

read it as a sign that you're not interested.

Conversely, strong and effective body language can help establish an immediate

rapport with your audience, signaling confidence in your message. Look atphotographs of Ronald Reagan. He carried himself impeccably even on the back

of a horse at his ranch. He had an aura of confidence, optimism and power.

The Eyes Have It

People want to feel special. They want to feel as though you are speaking to them

directly or that they are the most important person in the room during your

conversation. Breaking eye contact is a surefire way to break the connection.

During presentations, mentally split the room into thirds. Address some of your

comments to one side of the room, turn your attention to the middle, and then

look to the last section. Pick out one person in each section and direct your

comments toward that person. The people surrounding that person will think you

are making direct eye contact with them.

Maintaining eye contact throughout your presentation requires preparation. The

material on your slide should be committed to memory; otherwise you will be

stuck reading instead of connecting. Make sure you know what's in your rsum

or notes so you're not constantly referring to them.

Don't let anything come between you and your listeners. Crossing your arms,

standing behind a podium or chair, or talking to someone from behind a


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computer monitor are all examples of blocking, which prevents a real connection

from taking place.

Think openness. Remove physical barrierspodiums, computers, chairs. Even a

folder on a desk can break the connection and create distance.

Animate Yourself

When you're speaking, let your hands do some of the talking. Great speakers use

hand gestures more than on average. A professor who studies body language

once told me that complex gesturestwo hands above the waistreflect

complex thinking. Gestures give the listener confidence in the speaker.

Try this: Watch people such as Bill Clinton, Colin Powell, Barack Obama, Tony Blairor any number of charismatic speakers. You will immediately begin to notice that

they punctuate nearly every sentence with a hand gesture. C-SPAN carries weekly

debates between British Prime Minister Blair and members of the House of

Commons. Watch it once and you will never doubt the importance of effective

hand gestures.

And move the rest of your body, too. Great speakers move around the room,

pointing to a slide instead of reading from it, placing their hands on someone'sshoulders instead of keeping their distance. Don't animate your slidesanimate

your body!

Standor sittall. Poor posture is often associated with a lack of confidence or a

lack of engagement or interest. For example, during a job interview, leaning back

in your chair can give the impression that you're lazy, unmotivated, or

dispassionate about the position. Keep your head up and back straight. Lean

forward when seated. By sitting toward the front of your chair and leaning

forward slightly, you will look far more interested, engaged, and enthusiastic.

It's All Learnable

I once worked with a client preparing for a major presentation to his company's

largest investors. His body language was a messeyes cast downward, hands


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awkwardly tucked in his pockets, swaying back and forth. This guy was a poster

boy for poor body language. He seemed insecure and out of his league.

By showing him a videotape of what he looked like and working on eye contact,

hand gestures, animation, posture and staying open, this executive went on to

rock the house during his presentation. He made solid eye contact with

everybody in the room, he pulled his hands out of his pockets and used

purposeful, assertive hand gestures. His posture and stance exuded power,

confidence, and competencehe had charisma.

So work on your body language. Pay as much attention to it as the words you use,

and watch your influence soar!

importance of body language in communication

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