19. Nonverbal Messages
• Present in all communications
• Mean different things
• May be intentional or unintentional
• Provide information
• May contradict verbal message
• May outweigh verbal message
• Depends on the total environment
• May have positive or negative effects
20. EVALUATION QUESTIONS
USE:
– a. Strongly agree
– b. Agree
– c. Disagree
– d. Strongly disagree
– e. Don’t know
1. I found the presentation material easy to understand.
2. This session increased my knowledge of the subject
presented.
3. I will be able to use some of the information from this
session in the future.
4. The presenter was well prepared for this session.
5. This presentation should be repeated in future semesters.
Editor's Notes
Body language can be more powerful than the spoken word.
Interpreting: ex. Arms folded can meet different things, such as: rejection, you are cold, you are comfortable with your arms folded.
Impact of Communications:
Verbal: what you say
Way words are said are more important.
Facial expressions really impacts the message.
A breakdown of communication can occur at any of these 6 points.
It is not just what you are saying, but what non-verbal communications are accompanying your words.
Anything is a potential message.
We will discuss each of these ways we communicate individually.
We use non-verbal messages to:
Clarify the words we are using.
Mixed messages.
Communicate over long distances where you can still see each other.
Gestures – hand motions, sports, referees,etc.
Drumming fingers, tapping pen/pencil
Crossing & uncrossing legs
Adjusting position
Steepling – hands in steeple mean that person is in control, “I know what’s going on; I am in control”
Thinking – hand to face
Mouth covered – thinking but not ready to talk
Obscenities – finger up, etc.
Illustrations – pointing, visual messages
Emotional state – facial expressions
Personal space – Proximities. The Language of Distance
North Americans have bubbles of space they like to have in different instances. Ex. Elevator crowds personal space.
Intimate space = 0 to 18”. We know these people very well
Personal space = 1 ½ - 4 feet. We know them, but not intimately.
Work space = 4 – 10 feet. We are comfortable working this close to a co-worker.
Public space = 12 feet and more. We prefer this distance with strangers.
We communicate with touch; we need touch
The handshake – Discuss the types of handshakes, firm, too soft, crusher, etc.
The position of the hands:
Dominant person rotates the hand on top
2 handed – if person touches cloth, it’s a power move, like they can guide you somewhere. If person touches the hand, it means warmth.
Some things you can tell from a person’s:
Voice – gender, age, formalized education level, ethnicity, state of health, just awakened, part of the country, business or social call, if they know you.
Environment – office or home: smoker or non-smoker, taste in art & education ( what’s on walls), how organized, inviting ( can you sit down or are their files on chairs), awards, colors they like, taste in music.
Artifacts – things we do to our bodies. All these things send non-verbal messages.
Clothing – 1st thing we notice. Tells age, conservative or not, profession, sporty, maybe religion.
Jewelry – wedding ring, necklaces (Mr. T, religious), earrings (how many), types of watches (name brands)
Perfume – 3% of information comes in through olfactory nerve, but stays the longest. Ex. Smell of 1st love’s perfume, grandma’s cooking, skunk on road
Beauty aids – make up (Mimi on Drew Carey), hair color (blue, gray, dyed), glasses (look smarter with?)
Mesomorph – youth, strength. Body type people want to hire.
Endomorph – sloppy, lazy
Ectomorph – thin, nervous, stingy, ambitious.
These are almost NEVER true to character.
Skin color – What does a tan on a Caucasian mean? healthy or out of work?
Time of year makes a difference – in January = did person go skiing? In July = does person work outdoors?
Body hair – clean shaven or facial hair? US goes though a 30 year cycle
Students: define a Go-T Who touched their chin?
Body odor – Food we eat modifies body odor. Sends messages.
To sum up:
Nonverbal Messages
1. Present in all communications
2. Mean different things to different people
3. May be intentional or unintentional
4. Provide information about the sender
5. May contradict verbal message
6. May outweigh verbal message
7. Depends on the total environment
8. May have positive or negative effects
