Non Verbal Communication – Body Language

By: Soft skills World

What is Body Language?

Body Language is the communication of personal feelings, emotions , attitudes, thoughts through body movements -gestures, postures , facial expressions, walking styles, positions & distance - either consciously or involuntarily i.e. its not only your tongue you communicate with but also you speak with your body movements & gestures.

55% Body Gestures/ Facial Expressions

38% Voice/inflection

7% Words

Albert Meharbian’s Study

People Communicate Through…….

The Main Aspects of Body Language

• Gestures: A gesture is the verbal or non-verbal body movement used to express or emphasize an idea , an emotion or a state of mind.

• Body Movements: This includes the head, eyes, eyebrows , lips , neck , shoulders, fingers and so on. One can distinguish four main kinds of gesticulation: Emblem, illustrators, regular and self-touching.

• Behaviour : This refers quite simply , to everything we do which is overt or observable. It is important because it is observable to others.

• Emotions: Refers to states such as happiness, depression & anxiety & milder moods such as feeling of pleasure & displeasure , degrees of excitement or drowsiness etc. A ‘Emotional cue’ is a facial expression, body movement or tone of voice indicative of emotion.

Communicating Non Verbally

• Head consisting of Head Forehead Face Eyes Eye-Brows

Ears Nose Lips Tongue Teeth

3 Clusters Of Body Parts To Understand Body Language / Gestures

• Torso from neck to upper part of legs• Legs and arms both upper and lower parts

THE FACE

The face is the most significant and the most photographed- part of human body . The flashes of facial signals are generally spontaneous reactions which a person finds difficult to hide.

General Characteristics

• Expressions: Facial expressions are highly flexible & changeable. The face can encode a variety of communicative & informative messages.

8 Raise of eyebrows express astonishment.8 We frown in displeasure or confusion.8 Envy or disbelief may be displayed by a raised

eyebrow.

• Emotions:The face is the most reliable indicator of a wide range of emotions : Joy & happiness , fear , annoyance, surprise, anger, sadness etc.

B When we are shocked we open our mouth.

B Blushing is another facial phenomenon that expresses emotion. A shy person becomes red in face when attention is focussed on him.

• Laughter: Laughter is composed of a broad range of gesture & sounds.

B ‘Ha-Ha’ is a genuine laughter. B ‘He-He’ is a mocking laughter. B ‘Hee-Hee’ suggests a secret giggle.B ‘Ho-Ho’ communicates surprise

• Smiling: smiling & frowning are two major facial expressions.

A genuine smile means ‘I appreciate you’; ‘I accept your ideas’.

A frown means ‘I find you puzzling’.

Head Gestures

• The Head Nod : A nod depicts a positive signal & a ‘head- shake’ signifies ‘no’ or a negative gesture.

• Head nods show continuing attention , it also depicts what is happening to us emotionally. Heads tilt is a signal of interest.

• Eyebrows: B People lower or knit their

eyebrows when they show disagreement or displeasure.

B Frown when in displeasure. • Mouth : B When ‘raised’ , the mouth

communicates positive feelings , happiness , optimism.

B If kept ‘straight’ to conceal emotion.B ‘Turned down’ to express sadness,

confusion , dissatisfaction.

• The Lips: When one does not utter a word lips can be eloquent because silent lips express a wide range of emotions from smile to frown. • Throat: when the

Adam’s applejump unconsciously signals anxiety, embarrassment or stress.

The Eyes

• The eyes can be steely, knowing, mocking, piercing, shifty. They can level a burning glance, or a cold glance or a hurt glance or again can be wise , knowing , inviting , scary , disinterested and so on.

B Pupils dilate when a person is interested.B We gaze in order to perceive the expressions of others.B We look straight in the eye to get attention.

• Ways of Looking:B Side long glance is referred to as stolen

look.B Blank stare depicts boredom.B Sparkling eyes are an attribute of those

who have ‘magnetic personalities’.

• Glasses:B Peering over glass depicts being

judgmental or critical.B Dark glasses are worn by those who

conceal their genuine feelings.

Faces do speak !

Facial Expressions

THE HANDS • The Human hand is a restless organ

B Limp hands show boredom.B Nervous or jittery person

shows restless hands.B Clenched hands often shows

frustration.B Clapping of hands shows

applause.

• When the arms are crossed they form a ‘barrier’ to an impending threat.

• Arms folded with finger tucked in armpits & thumbs sticking out: this is when subordinate faces his superior whom he considers equal.

• Arms behind the back is resorted by those who is experiencing an inner conflict.

• Neck stroking signals suspicion.

• Putting objects in mouth is when they are busy with something.

• Pinching the bridges of nose indicates a person in deep thought.

• Nose rub is a sign of rejection.• Chin stroking is when people are in deep

reflection.• Slapping the head signifies self punishment.• Hands behind the head is used by

professionals who are confident & dominant.

Styles Of Handshake

• Palm down thrust : signifies dominance or aggression.• Palm up position shows submission by the giver.• Glove Handshake: ‘Politician Handshake’, this is with

people one is familiar with.

THE LEGS

• Crossed legs signify negativity.• The foot lock is especially among shy & timid women.• The ankle lock signifies ‘holding back’ of strong

feelings , attitudes & emotions.• Sitting on edge of chair indicates compromise, accept

or agree or conclude.• Rocking or swinging in chair indicates a person is in

full control of situation.

Walking Gestures

• Arms swinging.• Hands in pockets.• Hands on hips.• Meditative walk.• Confidence walk.• Leadership walk.• Pacing.• Swagger.

When _____ people enter an elevator, they each... 1.One or two

...lean against the walls of the elevator.2. Three or four...occupy a corner.3.five or six

...all turn to face the door.

...get taller and thinner.

...hands and purses and briefcases hangdown in front of the body, or "fig leaf position."

Sign languageAudio Signals – Buzzers, Fire Alarms, SirensVisual signs – Pictures, Graphs, and tables

Body LanguageHead position

FaceEyes contact

Gestures- movement of arms, lags and hands

Para LanguageVoice – Speaking Speed, Pitch variation, Pause,

fluencyWord Stress

Territory• Intimate

– Touching – 6-18”

• Personal– Close -1½ to 2½ feet– Far - 2½ to 4 ½ feet

• Social – Close 4-7 feet– Far - 7-12 feet

• Public – Close - 12-25 feet– Far - 25 feet or greater

Different Cultures ...• A crowded culture

• What is your private space?

When you invade my space

• Reactions to an invasion of your space– Feel troubled– Get defensive– Become aggressive– Retaliate

Masks We Wear

• Public Masks– Public smile – Clothing – Putting on my face

• Extended territory– On the road– At work

• Can we drop masks?

Jockeying for position

• Inclusive - Non-inclusive– How you include/exclude others in a group

• Parallel body positions– Will position yourselves to relate to each other– Side by side are neutral– Facing means people are involved

• Congruence-incongruence– Groups that imitate each other

Looking

• How long do you look?– Staring- dehumanizes or challenges– Glances - socially acceptable timing– Appraisal- may indicate interest

• Do you look when you talk?• Do you look when you listen?

Misinterpretation = Trouble??

• Lost business– Lack of animation = lack of interest? – US tendency to get right to business

Troubles

• Conflict with peers

• Different work styles• Wrong assumptions

Trouble….

• Misinterpretation of signals– Can be BIG trouble– Legal trouble – Do you know how to act

or are you confused?

Do you know what you are saying?

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