Non-Verbal Communication

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According to Quintanilla (2014) “…since many nonverbal gestures are unconscious or unintentional, it is important to be aware of your nonverbal communication at all times and to understand that different gestures carry different meanings to people” (p. 26). The way people perceive others and are perceived can be because of their non-verbal communication. A person may have excellent content to their message but they may be carrying themselves in a way that others can not connect with. They may seem too hurried, overly proud, rude, or disconnected because of their tone in their voice. This can all be because of their body movements or facial expression. Our behaviors, body movements, facial expressions, voice, and how we look all play into our nonverbal communication. There are four main purposes for nonverbal communication, which are to express emotion, convey interpersonal attitudes, present personality, and go alongside verbal communication. Expressing emotion through nonverbal communication may be more effective than verbal. You may tell someone “everything is fine” when clearly your facial expression says otherwise. Many people will base their perception solely on your facial expression. Conveying interpersonal attitudes can be helpful when observing and interpreting others nonverbal communication. Someone may approach a subject with another person at the wrong time and may not receive the response they want. Knowing the correct time can help you get the response you are looking for. The third purpose to present personality helps us learn what traits or dispositions are appropriate for what situations. It may not be appropriate to make jokes and laugh at a funeral like it would be at dinner with friends. The last purpose is to... ... middle of paper ... ...priate for each situation and person we come into contact with. Functional/professional touch would be a handshake with a new coworker or boss. Social/polite touch can be a pat on the back or a hug. Friendship/warmth touch is shared between close friends and may include a kiss on the cheek and a hug. Love/intimacy touch is personal and the most intimate. Hugs may last longer and a kiss on the lips is appropriate. Conclusion Nonverbal communication is just as important as verbal communication. Sometimes it can tell more to others than our words. We communicate in many different ways. Learning how to communicate in professional environments and personal environments can help us to achieve the results we desire. Works Cited Quintanilla, K., & Wahl, S. (2014). Business and Professional Communication: Keys for Workplace Excellence (2nd ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Sage.

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