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THE ART OF COMMUNICATING WITHOUT WORDS

Subject group
Student Date:
discipline

Teachers MYP YEAR & GRADE YEAR III PHASE 4 Time:

WORKSHEET N 1
Key Concept Related Concept Global Context
Connection Context , message Fairness and development
(Inequality, difference and inclusion)
Statement of inquiry

Humans find diverse creative ways to overcome difficulties such as inequity of resources, opportunities to develop
all their potential to live in a fair and globalized world.

CRITERIA MENTAL PROCESS CONTENT

CRITERION B: COMPREHENDING WRITTEN AND - Perceive the message Communication
VISUAL TEXT - Describe the text
i. construct meaning by identifying stated and - Relate to your experiences
implied information, main ideas and supporting - Understand
details, and draw conclusions - Infer information
- Interpret information

The spoken word is an important form of communication; however, it can be very

limiting. Nonverbal communication actually tells a much more accurate story of
what an individual is trying to convey. A study conducted by UCLA states that 93%
of communication effectiveness is determined by nonverbal cues. This is critical
especially in todays world because we rely on texting and e-mail more and do not
get enough daily practice to be sensitive to our nonverbal messages. Younger
generations are especially prone to be misunderstood by older managers in the
workforce and need to keep in mind that actions speak louder than words.

There are several forms of nonverbal communication

that need to be addressed to be an effective
communicator at home, at work, in social settings, etc.
One must understand that communication is multi-
faceted and that people communicate on many
levels. Such behaviors as facial expressions,
inflections in ones voice, hand gestures, body
movement, touch, personal space and even dress
are forms of communication.
Facial expressions can best be described by the quote a
picture is worth a thousand words. The way a person
wrinkles their forehead, smiles or frowns, etc. can
be the opposite of what the speaker is saying. Good
eye contact is advantageous because it conveys
interest and credibility; this is very true when a company is interviewing a
candidate or a leader is meeting with their staff.
As an executive coach and a recruiter, most of my interaction is by telephone.
Within a few minutes, it is very easy to determine the type of person I am speaking
with energetic, sorrowful, happy, intense, laid back or even impartial. The
candidate and the interviewer must be careful to use a range of inflection in their
voice as well as being aware of pitch and rhythm. For example, a person who
speaks in monotones can be perceived as dull or boring. If a person is talking on
the phone and is smiling, it can be felt by the listener. Of course, the same holds
true for in person communication.

Hand gestures and body movement can communicate happiness, tension and
other types of feelings. Many years ago, I had the
opportunity to be interviewed for a cable television
show. I tend to talk a lot with my hands when I am
nervous and was very self conscious about it. I kept
my hands in my lap through the entire half hour
show. When I viewed the show later, I realized I
came across as stiff and my body language
contradicted in some ways the talk I was trying to
deliver. If one is trying to show interest, be cognizant
of the position of your body in the chair (shoulders
should be square to the other person), lean a bit forward and when standing, stand
erect but not rigid.
Touch and personal space can be useful forms of communication but they can also
be the most misunderstood. When meeting someone, it is customary in our
country to greet the person with a handshake. Both people should extend their
entire hand when shaking but it is surprising how many people (especially women)
use only their fingers; the hand has many sensory endings and it is one of the only
times a person has physical contact with another human being. In addition,
personal space must be carefully watched; different cultures can place greater
emphasis on how much space should be between two people. Insecure people or
people who are trying to avoid confrontation tend to prefer greater space too.
A less realized form of communication is dress. Since many companies no longer
require suits, employees can express their individuality and the message of who
they are through the types of clothes and accessories they wear. Unfortunately,
too many times some employees take this too far and are thus viewed as less
serious about their work. Candidates for job interviews should ask the recruiter
what is the appropriate attire and make sure the clothes fit properly. One
candidate I had wore a skirt that was too tight and kept standing up in the
interview to pull it down!

Although most articles on nonverbal communications do not address this area, it

needs to be discussed empathic listening. Stephen Coveys book The Seven
Habits of Highly Effective People states that most people do not listen to truly
understand the speaker but listen with the intent to reply. How many times did you
have in your head what you wanted to say so that you missed what the other
person was saying? According to Covey, there are four levels of listening
ignoring, pretending, selective listening and empathic listening (the type of
listening where one is truly making an effort to understand the speaker). By
choosing the latter, a better dialogue is achieved and both parties will have a
higher level of sensitivity toward the other person and thus will be heard.

Effective communication needs to be a constant area of practice regardless of the

setting. Even business leaders in Fortune 500 companies are working with
executive coaches to improve the messages they relay to their organization. They
recognize that verbal, written and nonverbal communication need to be in sync in
order to convey a consistent message. At home, parents need to work with their
children on nonverbal communication because today too many college students
lack the skills to make a good impression to employers as well as other important
contacts they may meet.
http://www.carterconsultantsltd.com/about-carter-consultants-ltd/more-articles/59-the-art-of-communicating-without-
words.html. (n.d.). http://www.carterconsultantsltd.com/about-carter-consultants-ltd/more-articles/59-the-art-of-
communicating-without-words.html. Retrieved Febrero 23, 2017, from http://www.carterconsultantsltd.com/about-carter-
consultants-ltd/more-articles/59-the-art-of-communicating-without-words.html:

1. After reading the text. Determine the main idea and the details that support it.

2. Why do you think

that nonverbal communication is widely used when communicating to others?

3. When talking about non verbal communication what aspects of it you can mention?
Give examples

4. What would be a suitable conclusion for this article? Write it in no less than100
words.