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Nonverbal Communication: Interpersonal Skills

Published - 2022-11-11 Personal Development
Importance of Nonverbal Communication Skills

 

We use a variety of methods to communicate, sometimes using words and other times through gestures. As the gateway to so many opportunities, effective communication is essential.

While effective communication is essential for achieving success in both personal and professional relationships, nonverbal cues—also known as "body language"—speak louder than words every time. Body language, which is frequently done automatically rather than intentionally, is using physical behavior, expressions, and mannerisms to communicate non-verbally.

Let's understand these non-verbal communication skills in interpersonal communication, but first, take an overview of interpersonal communication skills

So basically, interpersonal skills are the traits you show while interacting with others—for example active listening, responsibility, teamwork, empathy, patience, motivation, etc.

And if you get these interpersonal and nonverbal skills you can achieve whatever you want to. Lets us now understand the role of these two separately.

Non-verbal communication and body language

Non-verbal communication includes (oculesics) eye contact, gestures, facial expressions, posture personal appearance, touch (haptics), (vocalics) paralanguage, the use of time or timing of answering (chronemics), (proxemics) distance between you and the person whom you are talking with.

We might not notice these things while being interviewed, but employers evaluate these things as all these gestures show employers Do you actually abide by your words or not. Hence, body language plays a vital role in your selection and rejection for any job.

But do you know, how your body language has been made or developed? How do people of different characters and natures have different body structures and language?

The answer to this question is, the way you perform your daily tasks and your habits make your body language. For example, if you exercise on a daily basis your body will become straight and awaken and you will feel more confident. Moreover, having an active body like this will definitely provide you with enough energy to do daily tasks with full determination; whereas if you do not exercise and feel lethargic daily your body will become bent and you will not be able to perform your daily tasks with much determination and eventually you will become less confident.

Similarly, if you meditate regularly your brain will become sharper and your mind will become more analytical and you will be able to answer any question with ease and face any situation without being frustrated; on the other hand, if you don't meditate, your brain would not work effectively you may not be able to answer every question that has been thrown towards you and you will end up feeling frustrated.

That's how your body adapts slowly according to your daily deeds. To know more let's move further to find out what type of communication describes your body language.

What type of communication describes your body type?

The types we are going to explain, are based on the study made by psychologists named Paul Ekman and Wallace Friesen, they identified and explained mainly six important ways in which your non-verbal communication can interact with your verbal discourse: conflicting, repeating, substituting, complementing, accenting and regulating. Now let's have an overview of each of these six.

  • Repeating

Using particular and specific gestures to improve a verbal message(eg pointing to the object on which the discussion is going on).

  • Conflicting

Conflicting sentences often arise from feelings of confusion, frustration, or lack of confidence for example: suppose your friend’s face lacks emotions and he/she has just come from a party, how would you feel? You would feel that definitely, something wrong has happened to him.

  • Complementing

The appropriateness of understanding information increases when the verbal and non-verbal complement each other. For example, you say you are happy and

show your happiness through your joyful body language.

  • Substituting

Sometimes non-verbal behavior is used as the only channel for communication means a simple gesture can easily substitute words like saying no while shaking head or nodding.

  • Regulating

 One can use turn-taking signals to regulate speech for example touching someone's hand signals that you want to speak next. 

  • Accenting

When one uses non-verbal signals to emphasize words. For example, good speakers know when to use good gestures, appropriate pauses, and pitch of voice for example a person who is angry may speak furiously and loudly. 

We can all agree that non-verbal communication is typically used to establish and sustain interpersonal relationships whereas spoken language is typically used to convey information about events occurring outside the speaker.

Conclusion:

In order to improve the likelihood of establishing a favorable impression, it is necessary to state that one must practice non-verbal communication and be aware of the gestures that are most likely to connect with the speaker. Making use of non-verbal clues regularly will assure your proficiency. The more frequently you use appropriate body language, the more probable it is that it will become automatic and you'll feel at ease while networking. Therefore, strive to build trustworthiness and trust through your non-verbal communication skills rather than clammy hands and a perspiration-covered brow. Your verbal and nonverbal communication will be better when you are less anxious.

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