Body Language

12 Key excerpts on "Body Language"

• 

  eBook - ePub

  Connecting Through Leadership

  The Promise of Precise and Effective Communication in Schools (An educator’s guide to improving verbal and written communication skills)

  • Jasmine K. Kullar(Author)
  • 2019(Publication Date)
  • Solution Tree Press

    (Publisher)

  CHAPTER 5 Communicating Through Body Language Nonverbal communication is an elaborate secret code that is written nowhere, known by none, and understood by all. —Edward Sapir W hen we think about communication, oral and written are usually the two modes we think about. But communication through Body Language is another very important and impactful method of communication. You can communicate many messages through the way you look at people, the way you sit, the way you use your hands, the way you stand, and so on. As a school leader, you owe it to your school to understand how your Body Language communicates messages to your students, teachers, parents, and other stakeholders, including those who are from cultures other than yours. You may be saying one thing, but your Body Language may be saying something completely different. Therefore, it is important to be aware of your Body Language so that it aligns with what you are communicating verbally (in a meeting, a presentation, or a tough conversation). You could put hours and hours of time into preparing for a meeting only for your Body Language to make it ineffective. Or you could spend hours preparing for a tough conversation and say all the right words, but your Body Language could completely undo that conversation. And the worst part is, you may never realize it was your Body Language that hindered your message. Let’s define exactly what Body Language is as it relates to communication: “Body Language describes the method of communicating using body movements or gestures instead of, or in addition to, verbal language” (Patel, 2014, p. 90). Your body can speak for you even when you are not saying anything. Think about how your Body Language can communicate certain messages to your stakeholders when you’re listening to them speak. And of course, on the other hand, your Body Language can communicate even while you are communicating with words

  Sign up to read

  Learn more about book
• 

  eBook - ePub

  Overcoming The 15 Categories of Rejection

  Master How to Turn NO to YES

  • David M. Rose(Author)
  • 2017(Publication Date)
  • David

    (Publisher)

  Body Language 1: The Essentials of Body Language

  Body Language is one of the most important forms of communication. Whether we realize it or not, we are constantly sending messages with our body, our movements, and our gestures. Just like with the spoken language, there are countless opportunities to miscommunicate. There is not a single way to universally interpret Body Language. A subconscious or involuntary action could be interpreted differently, depending on the setting and whom you’re talking to. Similarly, it’s quite likely that your Body Language will be quite different when talking to your boss, than it might be when talking to someone you’re interested in socially. This is the first of two chapters in which I will deeply examine different aspects of Body Language in differing settings. Both chapters are designed to help you become more effective in communicating with others, both verbally and nonverbally.

  There are a few points that should be addressed upfront. Make Body Language improvement a conscious effort, because in order to change, you must be acutely aware of your Body Language. Notice how you sit, stand, use your hands and legs, what you do while talking to someone. Since you can’t see yourself, those are less obvious answers to come up with. Here’s a tip: shut your eyes and visualize how you would stand or sit to feel confident and then try it out. The actor Jim Carrey once explained on a talk show appearance that before fame he would get in front of a mirror and practice his facial expressions and impressions to perfect his skills to entertain people. It takes focused effort to be great at something and persuasion is no different.

  You can observe co-workers, friends, family, role models, movie stars or other people you think possess a favourable Body Language. Observe what they do that you don’t and consider why. See how people react to other people’s Body Language in everyday situations, like encounters at a grocery store, social event, work meeting, holiday party, negotiation situations, and any other interactions between people. Take bits and pieces you like from different people. Try using what you can learn from them to find how to mould your Body Language into what fits you and impacts your audience as you intend.

  Sign up to read

  Learn more about book
• 

  eBook - PDF

  Messages

  • Fanning, Patrick, Davis, Martha, McKay, Matthew(Authors)
  • 2018(Publication Date)
  • New Harbinger Publications

    (Publisher)

  PART II Advanced Skills  Body Language You can’t not communicate with others. Without making a sound, you reveal your feelings and attitudes. Your smile says, “I’m happy,” your frown and crossed arms say, “I’m mad,” and your drumming fingers and explosive sighs say, “I’m impatient—get moving.” Even when you try to show nothing, your closed-off stance and refusal to speak say, “I don’t want to talk about it. Leave me alone.” There are two ways you communicate without making a sound: with body movements such as facial expressions, gestures, and posture, and with spatial relationships, by how much distance you put between yourself and the other person. Understanding Body Language is essential because over 50 percent of a message’s impact comes from body movements (Mehrabian 2007). Body Language not only conveys more information than words but is often more believable than verbal communication. For example, you ask your mother, “What’s wrong?” She shrugs her shoulders, frowns, turns away from you, and mutters, “Oh … nothing, I guess. I’m just fine.” You don’t believe her words. You believe her dejected Body Language, and you press on to find out what’s bothering her. The key to interpreting Body Language is congruence. First, do a per- son’s gestures and movements all match each other, adding up to a con- gruent message? Second, do those gestures and movements match the verbal portion of the message? Your mother’s shrug, frown, and turning away are congruent among themselves. They could all mean “I’m depressed” or “I’m worried.” However, her Body Language is not congruent with her words. They don’t match. As an astute listener, you recognize this incongruence as a signal to ask again and dig deeper. In another situation, you may find a lack of congruence among the nonverbal cues themselves. Body Language cues usually occur in clusters of 4 58 Messages gestures and movements that go together.

  Sign up to read

  Learn more about book
• 

  eBook - ePub

  The Secret Language of Business

  How to Read Anyone in 3 Seconds or Less

  • Kevin Hogan(Author)
  • 2010(Publication Date)
  • Wiley

    (Publisher)

  Most people don’t really know or understand the nonverbal influence of their voice. Compare this with actors, entertainers, newscasters, teachers, professional speakers, executives, and such. All of these people use their voices in specific ways to create specific impressions and nonverbal cues. The next time you watch the news, for example, close your eyes, and listen to the newscaster’s voice. Listen to how his voice changes in tone, pitch, tempo, and the like, especially as he moves from serious news stories to lighter, human interest stories. You’ll notice how his voice is used to set the tone for a story and convey the appropriate context.

  Chapter 3 TAKEAWAYS

  1. The elements of Body Language include both physical body parts and how those body parts are used. 2. The key elements include eyes, face, gestures, touch, posture, movement, appearance, and voice. 3. The eyes convey messages with both deliberate Body Language (eye contact, direction of gaze) and spontaneous Body Language (pupil dilation, blinking). 4. Facial expressions are thought by many to be the most important of all nonverbal behaviors. They convey emotion and regulate and direct an interaction.

  5. Gestures are movements used to communicate a message or enhance communication of a message. They are deliberate and intentional; the two categories of gestures are speech-independent gestures (thumbs up, arm wave) and speech-related gestures (emphasize a point, describe a topic).

  6. Touch generally falls into one of four categories: professional, social, friendship, and intimacy. There can be a tremendous amount of overlap between these categories due to factors such as age, gender, status, circumstances, and culture.

  7. Posture includes several contributing aspects: head position, shoulder position, arm position, hips, and legs. It can be used in ways such as to influence first impressions, create understanding, and discourage attention.

  8. Movement is powerful yet flexible in how it can be used. It can convey such things as familiarity, status, dominance, submission, aggression, support, and encouragement.

  9. Appearance includes body shape and size, face and hair, clothing, and the like. It is particularly powerful when it comes to creating a first impression. There are some strong generational differences in what is considered appropriate and inappropriate in terms of appearance.

  10. Voice is a nonverbal tool that includes aspects such as tone, pitch, tempo, emphasis, emotion, and so on. Vocal aspects can be used deliberately to shape and influence nonverbal cues and how they are perceived by others.

  Sign up to read

  Learn more about book
• 

  eBook - PDF

  Body Language in Business

  Decoding the Signals

  • A. Furnham, E. Petrova(Authors)
  • 2010(Publication Date)
  • Palgrave Macmillan

    (Publisher)

  Most of our adult life is spent at work. In the words of Steve Jobs, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Apple computer company, and the person with the most appropriate surname for this kind of quote, “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do”. This book will not teach you how to find that dream job or rediscover your passion in life, but it will give you practical tips and advice about how to become better and more successful in business by reading the Body Language of others and displaying appropriate Body Language yourself. WHAT IS Body Language? Bodily communication is communication without words: it is anything someone does to which someone else assigns meaning. Of course, not all the “signals” a person sends are intentional and often they are not “picked up” or are misinterpreted. Nonverbal behavior, as we shall see, is complex, subtle and multichannel. It may be structured (fol- lowing certain rules) but is more likely to be unstructured; it may be continuous, unlike language, which comes in disconnected units; it may be learnt, but some functions seem innate; and it may be “right-” as opposed to “left-brained”. 2 I N T R O D U C T I O N It is no wonder that so many people are fascinated by Body Language. We are all “humanwatchers” and amateur psychologists, partly because we have to be. In every aspect of communication at work – the selection interview, the annual appraisal, the board meeting – we need to observe others carefully to try to understand better what they are feeling as well as what they are (really) saying.

  Sign up to read

  Learn more about book
• 

  No longer available |Learn more

  Introducing Language and Intercultural Communication

  • Jane Jackson(Author)
  • 2019(Publication Date)
  • Routledge

    (Publisher)

  affect displays, that is, the use of physical movement (e.g., facial expressions, posture) to convey the intensity of an emotion (Altarriba & Kazanas 2018). As noted by William Shakespeare, people can ‘speak’ through body movements, including facial expressions.

  Plate 4.3 Emotions are often expressed nonverbally. This Filipina seller is making a gesture to the photographer. Can you identify the meaning of the nonverbal emblem and discern his affective state? © David Jackson

  Body Language communication varies from one cultural setting to another. In Egypt, for example, vigorous hand movements and body gestures are often used to express anger. In Japan, locals may be just as furious (or even more so) but as their nonverbal behaviors are more contained or less expressive to an Egyptian, for example, they may appear to be less agitated. Not surprisingly, this dimension can potentially lead to miscommunication.

  Kinesics also includes communication through the use of smiling, frowning, giggling, and so on; these nonverbal cues may differ among and within cultures. Around the world, a smile usually signals happiness; however, in some cultural contexts it can also mask sadness or be used to conceal embarrassment. For example, in some East Asian nations people may smile or even laugh or giggle in situations they find awkward or overly personal (e.g., when they are embarrassed about a mistake they have made at work, when someone reveals that a close friend has just passed away). Communication partners from other cultural backgrounds who are unfamiliar with this nonverbal behavior may mistakenly interpret the smile or laugh as uncaring, rude, and a bit strange. Misunderstandings like this can hamper the development of constructive intercultural relations.

  Sign up to read

  Learn more about book
• 

  eBook - PDF

  Handbook of Semiotics

  • Winfried Noth, Winfried Nöth(Authors)
  • 1990(Publication Date)
  • Indiana University Press

    (Publisher)

  A less technical term for this type of nonverbal communication is gesticulation (cf. Kendon 1986b: 7). For these gestures see 2.3.1. 3. Affect displays are nonverbal (mostly fa-cial) expressions of emotions and affects. 4. Regulators are speech-related gestures which regulate the verbal interaction between speakers and listeners (see 2. 3. 2). 5. Body manipulators are movements of touching or manipulating one's own body (e.g., scratching the head, licking the lips) or an object (e.g., playing with a pencil). Such acts of subconscious autocommunication are interpreted as adaptive efforts to satisfy self or bodily needs or to manage emotions (cf. Ek-man&: Friesen 1969: 84). For further studies and illustrations see Kiener (1962: 239-344), Feyereisen (1974), and Morris (1978: 102-105). 1.3.2 Body Language Postures, body orientation, and body move-ment form the sign repertoire of the human Body Language. On the basis of anthropolog-ical data from different cultures, Hewes (1957) has developed a typology of postures which distinguishes no fewer than one thousand static positions (such as standing, sitting, squatting, kneeling, and lying) of the human body. Body motion and orientation have also been the sub-ject of elaborate systems of description (Rosen-feld 1982). Yet, the communicative function of these etic modes of behavior is far from certain. Interpretations of Body Language have fo-cused on the following dimensions of significance. 1. Cultural specificity: The number and form of conventional and socially acceptable bodily postures vary cross-culturally ( cf. Hewes 195 7, Scheflen 1964: 15 2). Differences in the evalua-tion of the same postures by males and females from different cultures have been studied by Perrino (1981). Mauss (1935) argued that the techniques of the body, the simple and practi-cal everyday activities, are not natural but are learned.

  Sign up to read

  Learn more about book
• 

  eBook - PDF

  Business Practice NQF2 SB

  TVET FIRST

  • A Suresh, M Ronaldson B Wicks(Authors)
  • 2013(Publication Date)
  • Macmillan

    (Publisher)

  Interpreting Body Language in the business environment Overview By the end of this module, you will… • understand the importance of interpreting Body Language (facial expressions, eye contact and posture) correctly in the workplace • give examples of positive and negative Body Language in the workplace • learn the proper use of a handshake as a greeting and the different handshakes used in South Africa • know the importance of respecting other people’s space and why it is inappropriate to use communication by touch in the workplace • know what behaviour could be considered as sexual harassment in the workplace. 38 Business Practice Module 2 39 Topic 1, Module 2 Non-verbal communication In the previous module, you learnt the importance of listening. You also were introduced to the basic communication process of sender and receiver. In this module you will look at non-verbal language. Non-verbal communication carries meaning that is not expressed in words. The picture in an advertisement may send a message that says, for example, “These people look happy because they use a particular product”. Non-verbal language is the transfer of information by means other than language and includes facial expressions, eye contact, posture, handshakes, use of personal space and communication by touch to get a message across. The most important fact to remember is that non-verbal signals have five times more of an impact than verbal signals in communication. Non-verbal messages can be conscious, for example, a picture that is chosen for an advertisement, or not conscious, for example, the Body Language that a person shows. Work with a partner. a) Look at the symbols and hand gestures labelled A – G here. b) What message does each one of these signs or gestures send? c) Do you think that these non-verbal signals are as effective, more effective or less effective than verbal messages? Explain why you say so. d) Draw two of your own signs or symbols that communicate a strong message.

  Sign up to read

  Learn more about book
• 

  No longer available |Learn more

  Negotiation for Procurement and Supply Chain Professionals

  A Proven Approach for Negotiations with Suppliers

  • Jonathan O'Brien(Author)
  • 2020(Publication Date)
  • Kogan Page

    (Publisher)

  12

  Body Language

  This chapter explores the unspoken forms of communication through our gestures, reactions and Body Language and what these say and give away.

  Pathway questions addressed in this chapter

  1. What tactics and techniques will help me be successful?
  2. How can I stay in control of my Body Language and read that of my opponent?

  Red Sheet steps covered in this chapter 12 and every interaction with the supplier

  Non-verbal communication

  When we engage in face-to-face discussion with someone, believe it or not, only around 7 per cent of the message they receive is based upon the actual words that are said; paralanguage accounts for 38 per cent. Paralanguage is what is implied by the sound of our voice: our pitch, tone and speed. The remaining 55 per cent of our message is delivered through our Body Language (Borg, 2010). For this reason face-to-face negotiations work differently from those conducted remotely. However, negotiation is increasingly being conducted by remote means, some with, some without the means to see the other party and their non-verbal communication.

  Why we need to understand Body Language

  Body Language is our demeanour, what our bodies do and how part or all of our bodies move and react to what is happening around us. To the trained eye our bodies can tell more about what we are thinking than we may even be aware of ourselves. It might seem crazy to think that we could reveal so much. Surely we can manage how we act? However, it is almost impossible to completely suppress involuntary bodily reactions. The reason for this is that we have evolved with incredibly powerful brains that take care of everything, constantly monitoring what is going on all around us and reacting instantly without conscious thought. If you need proof of this then throw a tennis ball at someone who is not expecting it and watch them effect a lightning catch.

  Sign up to read

  Learn more about book
• 

  eBook - PDF

  From Isolation to Intimacy

  Making Friends without Words

  • Phoebe Caldwell(Author)
  • 2007(Publication Date)
  • Jessica Kingsley Publishers

    (Publisher)

  4 Body Language Feelings When we speak to each other, we express what we need and what we feel – and we listen and respond to the needs and feelings of our partner. We do this not only through words but also, even if we are not consciously noticing it, through gesture, facial language and body posture. The expression ‘She was able to read her like a book’ pays homage to our capacity to interpret Body Language. Some people are easier to read than others, we call them transparent – their feelings are clearly expressed through body and facial language. At the other end of the scale we might say of someone that they are inscrutable, they hide their feelings well. This works both ways: we are so used to receiving body response as well as verbal language to our communications, that if our conversation partner blanks themselves off, it immediately arouses suspicion and sets the alarm bells ringing – ‘What has he got to hide?’ I think this already points to a feature of Body Language, which is that it is an expression of affect, it tells people how we feel. So where does it all start? The infant–mother paradigm We feel cut off from people if they are non-verbal. But if we look at a mother and baby it is apparent that, all being well, they are totally in touch with each other from the moment of birth. In the field of child development, much study has gone into this imitative non-verbal conversation which arises at the earliest possible stage. At birth we leave the nourishment of our mother’s womb and enter a startling sensory world. Learning begins at once. We blink, protest, cry when we are uncomfortable, gurgle with pleasure – and our mother 53 responds and we answer – embarking almost immediately on the long journey of communication. Part of this evolution appears to be an inbuilt curiosity and fascination with imitation. Even as early as twenty minutes after the traumatic passage out of the birth canal, we will stick out our tongue if our mother sticks out hers.

  Sign up to read

  Learn more about book
• 

  eBook - ePub

  Social Skills

  Developing Effective Interpersonal Communication

  • Alex Kelly(Author)
  • 2018(Publication Date)
  • Routledge

    (Publisher)

  So it would appear that the way people react and respond to us is down to three factors in the following order: how we look, how we sound and what we say. And this is also what Dale Carnegie said back in 1937 (although he added a fourth one): ‘there are four ways, and only four ways, in which we have contact with the world. We are evaluated and classified by these four contacts: what we do, how we look, what we say, and how we say it’.

  So, some of the time we get it right – we make a judgment and it turns out to be correct. But if we become masters at recognising these signals in others, we will also be able to know whether someone agrees with us, likes us, is interested in what we are saying and is telling the truth. Conversely, we will be able to see the opposite. This is because our nonverbal messages are powerfully communicating:

  • Acceptance and rejection
  • Liking and disliking
  • Interest and boredom
  • Truth and deception

  Now, this is useful! Wouldn’t it be good to be able to recognise how someone is really feeling about us and what we are talking about? Wouldn’t it be handy to know if someone was lying to us or was trying to cover something up?

  James Borg (2008), in his book Body Language , starts by saying ‘Body Language is the window to a person’s mind’ and he says we can all learn to ‘read minds’ through empathy, sensitivity and perceptivity. Psychotherapist Alexander Lowen sums up the importance of Body Language by saying ‘no words are so clear as the language of body expression once one has learned to read it’ (cited in Bolton, 1979).

  So how can we become better at this? How can we learn to be better at reading Body Language and using it ourselves? The key to reading Body Language is being able to understand a person’s emotional condition while listening to what they are saying and also looking at the circumstances under which they are saying it. This allows us to separate fact from fiction and reality from fantasy.

  Sign up to read

  Learn more about book
• 

  eBook - ePub

  Applied Organizational Communication

  Theory and Practice in a Global Environment

  • Thomas E. Harris, Mark D. Nelson(Authors)
  • 2018(Publication Date)
  • Routledge

    (Publisher)

  5 Nonverbal Communication Key concepts in this chapter include:

  • Verbal vs. nonverbal communication

  • Principles of nonverbal communication

  • High-context and low-context cultures

  • Facial display

  • Eye contact

  • Paralanguage

  • Body Language

  • Clothing

  • Proxemics

  Overview

  “Actions speak louder than words,” “People believe what you do more than what you say,” and “You should walk the talk” are familiar admonitions. Nonverbal messages can convey affiliation, positive regard, interest, dominance, credibility, or status. In addition, they can reinforce or punish; affect what others learn; what attitudes develop; what approaches will be modeled; and what is expected. We continuously send and receive wordless signals. Even when you are not speaking, you are still communicating nonverbally. Nonverbal communication includes nuances of voice, details of dress, choice and movement of objects that communicate, time, space, body movements, facial expressions, and body orientation.

  Nonverbal communication principles have wide organizational applications (Bonaccio et al., 2016). Topics range from helping managers and leaders increase their effectiveness, to improving office design, to understanding organizational cultures. International communication success can hinge on culturally appropriate nonverbal actions and our increasing need to be able to work in diverse groups requires an appreciation for differences in nonverbal expectations and behaviors. Nonverbal communication has important consequences when organizations try to flatten the organization and treat everyone as equals. Traditionally, nonverbal communication announces and reinforces the differences in status that exist between members of an organization. Most organizations go to great lengths to create the desired impression on visitors, clients, and employees through office and building design.

  Sign up to read

  Learn more about book