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What is non-verbal communication and what role does it play in business communication?
Home » Information Technology » Intro to Business Communication » What is non-verbal communication and what role does it play in business communication?Non-verbal communication is the process of one person stimulating meaning in the mind of another person or persons by means of nonverbal messages (Richmond & McCroskey, Nonverbal Behavior 4th edition, 2000). Nonverbal communication is yet another way to convey meaning to another person. Workplaces focus primarily on verbal communication; however nonverbal communication is just as important and should be examined in order to optimize business relations.
One function of nonverbal communication is complementing, which is using nonverbal signs that would enhance what is being said. For example, if the speaker is describing how big an impact a certain person is making in the company, the speaker might hold their hands out in front of them with a large gap between them to help amplify the point they are making. Another function of nonverbal communication is to reinforce what is being said. This can be as simple as raising your voice when speaking to let others know that the message is important.
And lastly, another function of nonverbal communication is to control or regulate behavior. For example, if a person would like to exit a conversation he or she may inflect their voice, start nodding the head, and shifting their eyes in order to let the other person know they are finished in the conversation. There are many more functions, but mastering nonverbal gestures only enhances business communication between coworkers, superiors, and customers.
There are also different forms of nonverbal communication which need to be evaluated. Hundreds of nonverbal signals are sent each day in a business and if they are used correctly they can help make positive career impacts. First, eye contact is an extremely important form of nonverbal communication. Good eye contact helps maintain trust, sincerity, and consistency. Another nonverbal signal is a person’s facial expressions which communicate emotions and help enforce verbal cues. Other forms of nonverbal communication that play a huge role in business communication are as follows: postures, gestures, time, space, territory, and appearance of people. All forms are important and can make a positive or negative impact on career advancement.
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