Nonverbal Communication in US vs. Home Country: Project Report

This report analyzes nonverbal communication, comparing practices in the United States with those in the student's home country. The assignment, stemming from a Business Communication course, focuses on three key forms of nonverbal communication: facial expressions, postures and gestures, and personal appearance. The report summarizes how these are presented and interpreted in the US context, drawing from course materials, and then contrasts them with the practices and cultural nuances observed in the student's home country. The student provides insights into the similarities and differences in these nonverbal cues, including their meanings and significance in various social and professional settings. The report highlights the importance of cultural sensitivity and awareness in business communication, referencing the impact of these nonverbal aspects on interactions and outcomes. The analysis includes the student's own experiences in both cultures to support the comparisons and conclusions.

Running head: BUSINESS COMMUNICATION PROCESS AND PRODUCT
Business Communication Process and Product
Name of the Student:
Name of University:
Author Note

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BUSINESS COMMUNICATION PROCESS AND PRODUCT
Nonverbal Communication takes places with various forms of expression which include
physical gestures, eye contact and other responses to things. Businesses necessitate human
interaction beyond what is always stated, i.e., nonverbal cues. Understanding those can be of
great benefit as it will bring cohesiveness and better performance. There are several nonverbal
forms of communication which include Facial Expression, Postures and Gestures and Personal
Appearance.
The first kind of nonverbal communication is Facial Expression can be relied on, to
understand what a person feels or intends to communicate. It is said that human beings are
capable of several expressions which hide or showcase the real feelings they are having. Facial
Expressions could be categorized as clenching jaws, swallowing nervously, raising the eyebrows
and so on. These can send across important messages which are specific to the culture and bound
by linguistic associations which are made with the same (Eaves & Leathers, 2017). The second
kind is Posture and Gestures, which reveal a lot about a person’s confidence, submissiveness and
so on. When a person leans forward to listen to something it suggest that the person is being
attentive while being less engaged and pulling away from it means uninterested or anxious. In
American culture, the showing the thumb with forefinger in a circle denotes OK which might be
offensive to other culture. It is important to maintain good postures and gestures at work. The
third kind is the personal appearance which takes into consideration how a person presents the
self with clothing, grooming as well as posture. These reveal a person’s status, potential and
personality. People who are particular and maintain these aspects are considered to be more
successful in American culture.
The meanings might change when it comes to nonverbal communication, in different
cultures. In India, facial expressions are extremely relied upon as people communicate with

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BUSINESS COMMUNICATION PROCESS AND PRODUCT
facial expression to a great degree. Nodding the head sideways means No, while doing the same
in an upward and downward movement means a yes. This might differ in a different culture and
send across a different meaning. Postures and gestures are very important as they may send
across meanings which are offensive in a different culture (Phutela, 2015). An India, people are
particular about gestures as they can send relative meanings and are used to communicate. In
Indian Culture, Namaste is a gesture which is done by bowing the hands slightly while pressings
the palms together while the fingers of both hands touch ach other pointing upwards. This is how
people are greeted, which is not the same as America. Personal Appearance is taken into
consideration to understand a person’s potential or credibility but not so much as America as it is
believed that appearance is not always symptomatic of what a person is capable of even though
one has to be presentable and maintain simple accepted ways of presenting themselves.

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BUSINESS COMMUNICATION PROCESS AND PRODUCT
Reference
Eaves, M., & Leathers, D. G. (2017). Successful nonverbal communication: Principles and
applications. Routledge.
Phutela, D. (2015). The importance of non-verbal communication. IUP Journal of Soft
Skills, 9(4), 43.