Non-verbal communication
What is non-verbal communication?
Non-verbal communication is the transmission of information without the help of words. Non-verbal behaviour can complement, strengthen or weaken a verbal message. This makes it easier to read emotions, intentions and human behaviour, as well as to avoid misunderstandings in interpersonal relationships.
Basic nonverbal communication includes various forms of non-verbal communication, such as body language, facial expressions, gestures, eye contact, paralinguistics, touch, interpersonal distance, appearance, and spatial organization. Many signals have a common social meaning, but their reception also depends on the context, culture, and specific social group.
Features of Nonverbal Communication
The functions of non-verbal communication consist, m.in, in repeating, replacing, regulating, accentuating and masking a verbal message. This means that a non-verbal message can confirm a statement, replace words, organize a conversation, emphasize important content or hide emotions such as stress or a negative attitude.
Non-verbal communication also allows you to build social relationships and influence the behavior of your interlocutor. In interpersonal interactions, consistency is especially important, when words say one thing and non-verbal speech says something else, the interlocutor will more often trust the behavior than the content of the statement itself.
Facial expressions and eye contact
Facial expressions are one of the most important elements of non-verbal communication. Facial expressions, smiles, eyebrow movements or pursed lips create messages that help recognize satisfaction, stress, uncertainty, anger or disapproval. Thanks to facial expressions, it is easier to notice the reaction of the interlocutor, even before it is called by words.
Eye contact also plays an important role in building relationships. The interlocutor’s eyes, the direction of view, eye movements, blinking or changes in pupil size can signal interest, embarrassment, stress or surprise. Avoiding eye contact can sometimes be perceived as uncertainty, while intense looking can cause pressure.
Gestures, body movements and posture
Gestures, gestures and hand movements support verbal communication because they clarify the meaning of the speech and help to lead a conversation. They can replace words, illustrate content or regulate dialogue. Some signs, such as showing the middle finger, have a strong social meaning and can be perceived as offensive.
Body movements, posture, and full-body position affect the meaning of body language. An upright posture, open shoulders, and calm movements suggest confidence and openness. A closed position, tension, clasped hands, rubbing your nose, or other uncontrollable gestures can indicate stress, embarrassment, or distance.
Voice and Way of Speaking
Paralinguistics shows that it is not only what we say that matters, but also how we speak. The tone, timbre and modulation of the voice, as well as the fluency and pace of speaking affect the reception of the message and the attitude of the interlocutor. A calm voice can build trust, and a chaotic pace of speech can make it difficult to understand and suggest stress.
Touch, distance and space organization
Touch can communicate support, closeness, intimacy or dominance. A handshake often helps to start contact, but it requires feeling, because its reception depends on the situation, relationships and boundaries of the interlocutor.
Interpersonal distance affects the comfort of the conversation. Too little distance can violate personal space, and too much can create the impression of withdrawal. The organization of the space is also important, e.g. the layout of the room, the arrangement of the desk, the arrangement of seats or the background of the meeting. Such elements communicate messages about relationships, hierarchy and atmosphere of the conversation.
Appearance and physiological state
Clothing, physical appearance, hairstyle, make-up and smell affect the first impression and the assessment of professionalism. In certain situations, they can also signal status, belonging to a group or attention to detail.
The physiological state is also part of non-verbal communication. Blushing, sweating, watery eyes, trembling voice or muscle tension can betray stress, fatigue or strong emotions. The body often reacts faster than we are able to choose words.
How to read non-verbal messages?
The ability to read non-verbal communication is developed through observation, mindfulness and analysis of the context. It is not worth judging the interlocutor by one gesture, because only the combination of facial expressions, tone of voice, posture, gestures and body reactions gives a more complete picture of the situation. Conscious understanding of non-verbal signals helps to build authentic relationships and better find oneself in interpersonal relationships.
