It is well-known fact that proper communication whether verbal or non-verbal is the foundation of all types of relationships personal to professional relationships. However, it is important to note that non-verbal communication through facial expressions, eye contact, and hand gestures provide more clues to how people feel and think. The ability to utilize and comprehend non-verbal cues can help people communicate with others, express their feelings and thoughts and develop personal and professional relationships. When people interact with other in public areas like shopping malls and parking areas, they continuously give and receives loads of non-verbal signals. All non-verbal cues people give such as the way they sit, the gestures they make, and how much eye contact they make while communicating with others can send strong messages to other people around them. Occasionally what comes out of people mouths and what they communicate through nonverbal cues can be entirely different. When faced with such a situation, listeners have to choose between believing what comes out of the mouth and what the body language says. In most cases, people choose to listen to the body language and other non-verbal cues rather than verbal communication because nonverbal communication is natural and tends to provide a clearer picture of one's feelings, thoughts, and intentions. Trust is enhanced when peoples words match with what they communicate using non-verbal cues.
To observe how people utilize non-verbal cues in communication I visited Macdonald restaurant on four separate occasions in a week. Macdonald is a fast food restaurant that is popular and frequented by most people in the United States. The purpose of my visit was to take note of various non-verbal techniques that people use to communicate with others in public areas and how these techniques are important in driving a message home and enhancing communication between two or more people. During my week I observed different techniques that used to communicate and their intentions. They included;
Facial expression
During my visit of Macdonald, I noted that most people used facial expression to communicate their emotions at the time. While some people were smiling and talking while enjoying their snacks other looked as though they were going through a rough time in their lives. For instance, I sat next to a gentleman who had a grin on his face and was silent throughout. I could immediately guess the guy was not happy. Through the facial expressions of the people at the restaurant, I was able to read their feeling and emotions without the need for verbal communication with them. I was also able to read people thoughts and perception by the way they moved and sat. Some people looked relaxed in their chairs a signals that indicated they were comfortable, happy and unbothered.
Gestures
The most commonly used non-verbal signals at the restaurant were gestures. Most people would use their hands to point at something or stress their point while having a conservation with others. Other requested for something like a sugar pot by just pointing at it. I also noted that some people beckoned in order to catch the attention of the waiters and the waitresses at the restaurant. Gestures are part of people’s daily lives. In public places like the Macdonald restaurant I visited, people used their hands to wave, point or beckon others. However, the meaning of gestures can vary from culture to culture. Another nonverbal cue I noted in peoples interaction at the MacDonald’s restaurant is eye contact. I could sense a variety of emotions and intention through the way people looked at other. For instance, I could sense affection, attraction, interest, and hostility through eye contact. Eye contact is an important non-verbal technique when it comes to maintaining the flow of arguments and conversations and also measuring people’s interests in what others say. For instance, when people maintain eye contact with others while having a conservation, it shows that they are interested in whatever is being said. However, when people focus their eyes on other things while communicating, it is a sign of disinterest (Andersen 102).
I also took note of the space people maintained while talking. While other people were standing close to each, others maintained a safe distance while conversing. From the space people maintained between them, I could tell if they were close friends, acquaintances or lovers. Every person has the need for personal space even though the amount of space relies on factors such as culture and the nature and the closeness of the relationship between two people. Physical space between two people can send so many non-verbal signals such as aggression and intimacy (Andersen 102).
Touch
Another non-verbal technique that I observed in peoples interaction at the Macdonald restaurant is the sense of touch. The sense of touch was expressed through handshakes, hugs, and a pat on the back. The nature of touch portrayed how much people were close. For instance, very close friends acknowledged each through hugs.
Significance of non-verbal communication
Nonverbal communication is very important. Nonverbal signals affect how people view each other. They also have an effect on the level of respect and trust that develops between two or more people. Non-verbal cues are particularly important during presentations and public speaking. Incorporating some non-verbal techniques in a presentation can enhance the clarity of the message and make the presentation more interesting (Knapp et al 71). Great public speakers like former United States Barack Obama have mastered the art of utilizing non-verbal cues while putting across their message. The significance of non-verbal communication falls into several categories which include;
Repetition
Non-verbal techniques of communication can reinforce the message that has already been sent. Reinforcing a message makes it to be understood more clearly by the audience.
Contradiction
Apart from reinforcing a message, non-verbal techniques of communication can contradict an original message. Non-verbal cues, in this case, can indicate if a person is lying (Knapp et al 71).
Substitution
Nonverbal cues can also take the place of words and still send the same message. In other cases, they can complement a verbal message. For instance, a pat on the back can be a sign of thank you for some nice words. People can reinforce, punctuate, emphasize and add flavor in their communication using various non-verbal techniques of communication line gestures, facial expression, eye contact and posture among many others (Mehrabian 21).
The meaning of non-verbal communication
People’s body language can either back up what they saying or portray what they saying as a complete lie. They always portray a person's true emotions, intentions and thoughts. A negative body language can create a wrong impression about someone and prevent the progress of a conservation or trust (Bookshelf). People who glance at the watches or play with a pen or other objects in the middle of an important conservation or negotiation always send a signal of disinterest. This could cause a negotiation to break down or stall (Mehrabian 21).
How to improve non-verbal communication
There are negative body languages like shrugs, clenched fist, shuffles and folded arms. To improve non-verbal communication, people should always avoid negative facial expressions like glaring, frowning and sneering. Bright people with great ideas are often ignored or misjudged because of what their body language portray or what their facial expressions indicate (Bookshelf). Successful interaction between people depends on whether non-verbal techniques of communication are utilized in the correct way or not. Non-verbal communication is also important in career progression. Before employers hire or promote someone to a specific position within the company they look for character traits like confidence, enthusiasm and professionalism (Knapp et al 71). A person’s non-verbal signal can indicate whether they have these traits or not. Non-verbal can only be improved if people use non-verbal technique that express confidence and assurance. Some of this techniques include maintaining eye contact, smiling and speaking with an audible tone (Andersen 102).
Nonverbal signals such as facial expression, gestures, touch, physical space, silence, and the tone of voice can really affect how people think of and perceive others. They are important in either reinforcing, contradicting or complementing an existing message. Negative non-verbal cues can lead to breakdown of conservations while positive one can enhance the message and nurture trust between people.
References
Andersen, Peter A. Nonverbal communication: Forms and functions. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield, 1999.
Bookshelf. Nonverbal Communication Skills. Accessed June 29, 2018, from https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/#/books/9780133556957/cfi/6/40!/[email protected]:0
Knapp, Mark L., Judith A. Hall, and Terrence G. Horgan. Nonverbal communication in human interaction. Cengage Learning, 2013.
Mehrabian, Albert. Nonverbal communication. Routledge, 2017.
