Good Communicators Manage their Body Language.docx

GoodCommunicatorsManagetheirBodyLanguageAccordingtooneestimate,thereareover700,000formsofnonverbalcommunicationwhichcanbegroupedintogeneralcategories:facialexpressionsandeyebehavior,gesturesandpostures,vocalcharacteristics,personalappearance,touchingbehavior,anduseoftimeandspace. Facialexpressionsandeyebehavior.Youfaceistheprimarysiteforexpressingyouremotions;itrevealsboththetypeandtheintensityofyourfeelings.Youreyesareespeciallyeffectiveforindicatingattentionandinterest,influencingothers,regulatinginteraction,andestablishingdominance. Gesturesandpostures.Bymovingyourbody,youcanexpressbothspecificandgeneralmessages,somevoluntaryandsomeinvoluntary.Slouching,learningforward,fidgeting,andwalkingbrisklyareallunconscioussignalsthatrevealwhetheryoufeelconfidentornervous,friendlyorhostile,assertiveorpassive,powerfulorpowerless. Vocalcharacteristics.Likebodylanguage,yourvoicecarriesbothintentionalandunintentionalmessages.Thetoneandvolumeofyourvoice,youraccentandspeakingpace,sayalotaboutwhoyouare,yourrelationshipwiththeaudience,andtheemotionsunderlyingyourwords. Personalappearance.Yourappearancehelpsestablishyoursocialidentity.Ourgrooming,ourclothing,ouraccessories,andourstylehaveaprofoundimpactonourappearance.Ifyourgoalistomakeagoodimpression,adoptthestyleofthepeopleyouwanttoimpress.Inmostbusinesses,aprofessionalimageisappropriate,butinsomecompanies,amorecasualappearanceisallowed. Touchingbehavior.Touchisanimportantvehicleforconveyingwarmth,comfort,andreassurance.Inbusinesssituations,touchingsuggestsdominance,soahigher-statuspersonismorelikelytotouchalower-statuspersonthantheotherwayaround.Touchinghasbecomecontroversial,however,becauseitcansometimesbeinterpretedassexualharassment. Useoftimeandspace.Liketouch,timeandspacecanbeusedtoassertauthority.Inmanycultures,peopledemonstratetheirimportancebymakingotherpeoplewait;theyshowrespectbybeingontime.However,attitudestowardpunctualityandcomfortzonesandallothernonverbalcommunicationcarryfromculturetoculture.TenPositiveBodyLanguageHabitsofHighlyEffectiveCommunicators:1. Showthatyouarereallylistingbynoddingthoughtfully;2. Showinterestintheotherpersonbyorientingyourbodytowardstheotherperson;3. Showopennessbypointingyourfeettowardstheotherperson;4. bepositivebystrokingyourchin;5. Showattentionbyeyecontact;6. Showconstructiveattitudebyarelaxedposture;7. Showopennessbykeepingyourhandsopen;8. Showthatyouarefocusedbythoughtful,um-hums,;9. Showco-operationbyanopenbodyposition;10. Showwillingnesstosolvesomethingbyhandlingdocumentsormaterialspresentedtoyou.