![]() Navarro, a former FBI agent, knows firsthand how much information we can learn through gestures, body movements, facial expressions, and tone of voice. “We are never in a state where we are not transmitting information,” said Joe Navarro, author of “ The Body Language Dictionary,” in an interview with Wired magazine. He says, “There’s a behavioral disconnect between what people want to show and how they show it.”īeyond behavioral disconnect, it’s not helpful to overlook the impact of bad days, illnesses, and distractions that might influence a person’s body language in any given interaction. When we interpret others’ nonverbal communication, it’s easy to assume that the meaning we give to the interaction is the correct one.Įastman, who has coached thousands of clients on how to improve their body language, advises to acknowledge what we don’t know about how others communicate. Sustained eye contact could signal polite attention at work but could seem rude at a public park.īecoming a student of human behavior through body language in part requires studying the unspoken rules of the subcultures and surroundings that you inhabit. Nonverbal communication is interpreted differently across varying cultures and settings.Ī kiss on the cheek could be a romantic gesture in America but merely a platonic greeting in parts of Europe. You might ask, “How are you feeling about what I just said?” Put nonverbal communication in context Where socially appropriate, you may consider asking for gentle clarification to match emotions with facial expressions. Maybe that expression is how they express contentment - or maybe their thoughts are somewhere else entirely. Someone might have a blank expression on their face that you might take for disinterest or even anger. Just as much of our body language is automatic, so is much of our perception of others’ body language - and it often goes unquestioned. Watching someone’s face or body for subtle movements can help you more closely tune into what they may knowingly or unknowingly be expressing. Tune into microexpressionsīecoming a perceptive observer of nonverbal communication takes paying careful attention to subtle movements, such as tilts of the head, rolls of the eye, or small shifts of the mouth. “Raw behavioral data - displayed via video - is the reality of what is happening,” he says.Īccording to Eastman, analyzing video allows us to slow down and more closely study how we communicate nonverbally. Record yourselfīlake Eastman, creator of The Nonverbal Group and former adjunct professor of psychology in New York, suggests that recording ourselves communicating either in presentation form or with a trusted friend is one of the best tools for growing our body language awareness. ![]() Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you work on improving your nonverbal communication skills. Reading and understanding body language takes time and is important in navigating several aspects of life, including: “Most people are remarkably unaware of body-language signals and their impact, despite the fact that we now know that most of the messages in any face-to-face conversation are revealed through body signals,” wrote Barbara and Allan Pease in their book. Yet when it comes to truly understanding how people communicate nonverbally, it’s worthwhile to learn the ins and outs of body language. Your friend smiles and you may assume a warm connection. ![]() ![]() Your supervisor gives you an instruction and your nod likely lets them know you understand, for example. Nonverbal messages are so important for success in life that leaders in many fields even hire personal body language experts to help them communicate better without words.įor the average person going about the day, much of your perception of body language is seemingly automatic. ![]() This means that of all messages, only 7% is verbal (words only), 38% is vocal (tone of voice, intonation, and other sounds), and 55% is through nonverbal (no words) forms of communications. In the early 1970s, Albert Mehrabian, an engineer turned pioneer nonverbal communication researcher, found what is sometimes known as the 7-38-55 rule. It’s common for media commentators to scrutinize the postures, gestures, and facial expressions of public figures for insights into attitudes, beliefs, and inner worlds.Īn angry look on the faces of celebrity lovers raises concern in the headlines about trouble in paradise, for example, or a halfhearted handshake between politicians becomes a debate about perceived disunion. ![]()
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