Nonverbal Communication Signals in Business
Posted by Cheryl Sowa on Friday, September 18, 2009
Communication
these days comes in all forms, from verbal, written, nonverbal, visual,
"writing on a wall" and even tweeting. For businesses, communication is
very important within the company, customers, and clients, and some of
the most important communication is said without words. Nonverbal
communication speaks wonders about how you present yourself, as well as
your business, to others and can convey just as much or more to your
customers. Keep these nonverbal communication signals in mind the next
time you are conducting business with customers, clients, or with your
associates.
Posture
Keep your back straight! Don't
slouch! Shoulders up! We've all heard how we should present ourselves
visually by having correct posture. It's true: good posture will
present your body in a positive manner. Good posture will give you a
strong, upright, and positive looking body. You will look presentable,
eager, and ready for whatever is thrown your way. Having good posture
shows confidence and a strong individual. Slouching or slumping is
sloppy and just plain unprofessional and communicating the message that
you are sloppy and uncoordinated.
Eye Contact
On the
same lines as posture, practicing eye contact is important when
communicating in business. The correct use of eye contact will allow
you to appear credible and trustworthy without uttering a word. Eye
contact is important because it helps to develop trust between people
by showing them visually that you are interested and want to hear what
they have to say. Make sure you are looking into their eyes with
intent, a glassy look is not the goal.
Gestures
Using
your hands and face to add to the message you are trying to convey is a
great nonverbal technique. Gestures emphasize your point, as well as
give clues to what you really mean besides verbal communication.
Negative and positive gestures are equally visual and can be easily
interpreted by others. For example, if you are nervous, it is important
to keep an eye on your gestures. They can enhance your nerves and make
you seem even more uncomfortable. Stay in control and use gestures to
add positively to communicate.
Movement
Toe tapping,
leg twitching, drumming of fingers, or pacing are all nonverbal cues
that draw the listener's attention. People are naturally drawn to
movement and will shift their attention to a moving object rather than
what they are focusing on. Be careful of your movements while
communicating. Pacing grabs attention and encourages people to focus,
somewhat like a professor in a large lecture hall who paces the stage
to ensure students are paying attention. On the other hand, tapping and
twitching are seen as signs of nervousness and will be more distracting
than helpful in communicating.
Mindset
Your mindset is
the most important nonverbal communication out there. It is what
inherently controls the physical nonverbal communication actions. Just
like movement, it is important to be aware of your mindset at all times
to ensure you are communicating your true thoughts. For example, if you
are a salesperson and pitching something to a potential client that is
somewhat misleading, your mind will know and your nonverbal
communication cues, such as body language and eye contact, will change.
Additionally, being nervous or anxious will show in nonverbal physical
forms of communication if you are in the wrong mindset.
Personal Presentation
Presenting
yourself via your actions is a big part of nonverbal communication in
business. Being dressed appropriately and practicing good hygiene is
important. It communicates that you are put together and present
yourself well, which will give others a positive vibe. Additionally,
being on time, even a few minutes early, is important as well. It
communicates that you respect others' time and are responsible to do
business with.
Preparing the perfect sales pitch, speech, or
presentation to communicate verbally is important - but don't forget
about the nonverbal communication as well. Try to keep these signals in
mind during any kind of interaction.
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Cheryl Sowa is a Public Relations Coordinator for America’s Best Companies. She also writes daily for the Small Business Center. Cheryl graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and obtained Bachelor degrees in English and Communications. Contact Cheryl
Tags: nonverbal communication, presentation, gestures, eye contact, movement
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