Fouzia Ghani (CA476319)

BBA SPRING 2021

ASSIGNMENT NO 2

TOPIC:

Use of Nonverbal Communication

I would like to express my gratitude towards my parents &

member of (Organization Name)for their kind co-operation
and encouragement which help me in completion of this
project.
I would like to express my special gratitude and thanks to
industry persons for giving me such attention and time.
My thanks and appreciations also go to my colleague in
developing the project and people who have willingly helped
me out with their abilities.

ABSTRACT:

Nonverbal communication is an important but under-studied

element
of organizational life. This chapter summarizes key insights
into the functions,
applications, and ubiquity of nonverbal communication in the
workplace setting.
The chapter is intended to provide an accessible and
research-based resource by
which academics and practitioners alike can better
understand the unique challen-
ges and opportunities of nonverbal communication. The
authors present an over-
view of nonverbal behavior, speak about the workplace as a
communication con-
text, and explore the details of relevant issues including:
status and power,
physical appearance, interviews and performance
assessments, sexual harass-
ment, attire and uniforms, leadership communications,
advertising and sales, emo-
tions and deception, and computer mediated
communication. Future directions in

organizational nonverbal behavior research are also

discussed.

INTRODUCTION:

Nonverbal in business plays two roles. Managers use

nonverbal communication to effectively lead other
employees and team members. And team members in the
business, whether they realize it or not, use nonverbal cues
to communicate information to individuals outside the
business, whether they’re clients, competitors or colleagues
in a complementary industry.

In business, nonverbal communication can affirm or belie

the words actually being spoken. Communication can be
hindered when nonverbal cues seem to contradict what’s
being said. When verbal and nonverbal communication
messages act in concert, information is communicated more
effectively.

Nonverbal communication in business occurs on a daily

basis. Cooperating people tend to sit side by side, while
competitors will frequently face one another. Crossed legs
or folded arms during a business meeting may signify
relaxation or resistance to the ideas being presented. Eye
contact with a speaker during a business meeting
communicates interest, and a manager in a company may
maintain eye contact longer than a subordinate employee
does.
Tactile communication can help or hinder business
interactions. A firm handshake might be interpreted as
confidence, while other physical touches, such as a
lingering touch on the shoulder, might be seen as invasive
of personal space.

Practical study of organization

Maintaining proper eye contact

Coworkers will often feel valued and appreciated if they

know they’re being heard. You can help them feel this way
by making eye contact while they’re speaking. For example,
if a coworker approaches you with an idea to increase
collaboration in your department, show that you are actively
listening by maintaining eye contact and nodding in
agreement.

Keeping your eyes on the person you’re speaking with rather

than on your computer, paperwork or cell phone lets them
know you’re listening to their input. Maintaining eye contact
while you’re replying to them also keeps the conversation
engaging, and turning your camera on for video chats can
build a respectful relationship between coworkers.

Using a positive tone of voice

Though the act of speaking is a part of verbal

communication, how you speak can be considered nonverbal
communication. Whether you are communicating in person
or participating in a video conference call, always be aware
of your tone of voice so it reflects your intended message.
Maintaining a positive tone while talking with a coworker or
supervisor can affect the energy of your whole conversation.
For example, if an employee is giving a presentation
proposing a new client engagement plan, an energetic and
positive tone can spark enthusiasm for the project. This may
increase the level of interest from senior management as
they notice the employee express excitement and passion
for the project.

Being mindful of personal appearance

The way you present yourself can create an impact greater

than words might say. Your workplace appearance such as
looking neat and prepared—even if you are in the comfort of
your own home office—or keeping a tidy workstation can
convey your self-confidence and make a positive impression
on coworkers. For example, if you’re hoping to speak with a
supervisor to ask for a raise or promotion, you may choose
to dress in business attire to showcase your dedication to
both the position and professionalism in the workplace.

Standing or sitting with a good posture

The way you stand or sit at work can often display your
attitude or attentiveness toward certain situations. Sitting or
standing up straight can show you’re engaged in the
conversation while also portraying a confident
appearance during an interview. Or, if you’re explaining a
new idea to your supervisor and want to communicate
effectively, you can sit or stand with your shoulders back to
convey your confidence and why you believe your idea will
benefit the company.

Expressing kindness or professionalism through

appropriate touch

Communicating through touch has evolved from the pre-

COVID workplace. Even without social-distancing protocols,
people have always varied in their comfort levels with touch.
Developing your cultural intelligence can be a useful,
rapport-building skill in the workplace.
For example, in the U.S., shaking a person’s hand firmly is a
way to show respect or that you’re pleased to meet them,
whereas that might be misconstrued as a sign of aggression
in other cultures. If you sense that it’s appropriate, a slight
touch on the arm or pat on the shoulder can also be a way
to show your support or encouragement without vocally
expressing it.

Displaying courteous facial expressions

As people communicate with you, they will often be

anticipating a nonverbal response by watching your facial
expressions. Keep in mind, even during a virtual interview,
your face can communicate what you’re feeling or thinking
without using any words. Smiling, nodding along and using
your eyebrows can indicate a positive reaction when having
a conversation. For example, if a coworker is telling you
about their recent vacation, you can smile and nod along
while you listen to show you’re enjoying their story.

Respecting personal space

During one-on-one conversations, you may move closer to a

person rather than remain far apart. For example, if you’re
sitting down before a meeting with a large group of people
and notice a coworker interested in talking, you can get up
and sit near them. This shows that you’re interested in
having a conversation and want to hear them clearly. Try to
make sure you’re allowing enough space to maintain a
comfortable environment for both of you.

Using hand gestures to express a feeling

The gestures or positioning of your hands during

conversations can convey to others how you’re feeling. If
you move your hands to build expression throughout stories,
people can become more engaged in what you’re saying.
Hand gestures can also express friendliness or appreciation,
like waving to someone from across the room to greet them
or giving them a thumbs up to express a job well done after
a presentation.

Paying attention to body language

Your overall body language can showcase your feelings

during a meeting or while carrying on a conversation.
Keeping your arms relaxed at your sides while talking
expresses openness and a willingness to listen, whereas
crossing your arms in front of you might indicate to others
that you’re closed off. You can also express politeness and
undistracted attention by leaning forward in your seat.

Data collection methods:

Interviews represent the most common method of collecting

qualitative data in both qualitative research and mixed

research because, potentially, they provide researchers with

opportunities for collecting rich data. Unfortunately, when

collecting and analyzing interview data, it appears that

researchers tend to pay little attention to describing

nonverbal communication data and the role that these data

played in the meaning-making process. Thus, in this mixed

methods research-based systematic review, we examined

the prevalence and use of nonverbal communication data

throughout the phases of all qualitative research studies

published in a reputable qualitative journal—namely The

Qualitative Report—since its inception in 1990 (n = 299) to

the mid-year point (i.e., June 30) of 2012—representing

approximately 22 years. Overall, nonverbal communication

was evidenced in only 24% (N = 299, n = 72) of qualitative

research studies involving design and instruments suitable

for collection of nonverbal communication. Moreover, the

degree of discussion varied greatly from a mere mention to

substantive integration and interpretation. Nonverbal

discussion was least frequent in the data analysis phase of

research and most underutilized in case studies. The

essential functions of nonverbal discussion across the stages

of research were identified as clarification, juxtaposition,

discovery, confirmation, emphasis, illustration, elaboration,

complementarity, corroboration and verification, and effect.

SWOT:

For security and justice professionals (e.g., police officers,

lawyers, judges), the thousands of peer-reviewed articles
on nonverbal communication represent important sources of
knowledge. However, despite the scope of the scientific
work carried out on this subject, professionals can turn to
programs, methods, and approaches that fail to reflect the
state of science. The objective of this article is to examine
(i) concepts of nonverbal communication conveyed by these
programs, methods, and approaches, but also (ii) the
consequences of their use (e.g., on the life or liberty of
individuals).
To achieve this objective, we describe the scope of scientific
research on nonverbal communication. A program (SPOT;
Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques), a
method (the BAI; Behavior Analysis Interview) and an
approach
(synergology) that each run counter to the state of science
are examined. Finally, we outline five hypotheses to explain
why some organizations in the fields of security and justice
are turning to pseudoscience and pseudoscientific
techniques.
We conclude the article by inviting these organizations to
work with the international community of scholars who have
scientific expertise in nonverbal communication and lie (and
truth) detection to implement evidence-based practices.

CONCLUSION:
Although there is a unique and noteworthy role of nonverbal behavior in workplace
situations, much of the existing research in applied settings focuses on medical,
counseling, and classroom environments – or, alternatively, is simulated by college
students (Graham, Unruh, and Jennings 1991). Even so, the area of nonverbal
behavior touches many elements of Industrial/Organizational Psychology and
Organizational Behavior, such as emotions, trust, negotiation, leadership, power,
diversity, among others. The relative lack of more research relevant to workplace
settings could be because “few workplace interactions lend themselves easily to
study by nonverbal communication researchers” and research topics that “do not
seem to have direct ties to organizational productivity and profits” are regarded as
a “nuisance” (Riggio 2005). Because of the deep need for research to help bridge
the gap between science and practice, future work needs to go where the phenom-
enon actually lives. In doing so, we point out that applied research needs to follow
the best practices developed over decades by those working within traditional aca-
demic departments. This means, notably, using bona fide stimuli and measures of
sensitivity to nonverbal cues – even when self-report and vignette measures are
simpler for researchers.
There is a growing need for research that deals with the nonverbal elements
involved in online communication, especially as the use of electronic mail and
online marketing shifts the way the firms communicate both internally with
employees and externally with customers. Interestingly, virtual communications
are, through their technologically-mediated nature, relatively more accessible for
researchers to record and study. There are certainly unique opportunities and chal-
lenges in these low-context communication channels – especially with more recent
developments such as the proliferation of social networking websites. Another rele-
vant trend is the continued emergence of workplace relationships that span cul-
tural and political lines. As different cultures express key emotions in varying ways
(Elfenbein et al. 2007), it is worth examining what business practices are impacted
and how stronger lines of communication can be forged across such boundaries.
Finally, although the impact of certain nonverbal behaviors can be isolated
and studied in experimental settings, the workplace is a complex and adaptive
system. Because in the office there exists an abundance of verbal and nonverbal
cues, some of the existing work done in controlled laboratory settings may not
necessarily translate. Notably, the study of nonverbal behavior typically examines
such behaviors in isolation from each other, one communication channel at a time,
for the purpose of experimenter control. However, in the real world nonverbal
behavior typically accompanies a rich set of cues including not only the multiple
nonverbal channels expressed simultaneously, but also verbal language and larger
context around the situation and relationships. Research that has modeled the use
 Nonverbal communication in the workplace 
of multiple sources of information has been informative about the way we use
these multiple sources of information in tandem. For example, nonverbal behaviors
have significantly less impact on interview outcomes when considered in context
with verbal content and resume information (Rasmussen 1984). To balance out the
inherent inadequacies of laboratory experiments to represent the complex delivery
of these multiple nonverbal channels and relationship context, we recommend the
increased use of naturalistic observation. At this time, there is a dearth of such
work in the field, due largely to limited access and logistical challenges. However,
by giving up some researcher control, we also limit researcher interference in the
ebb and flow of real life. As such, this methodology could yield new insights that
could tap into the gestalt of real-world communication. Naturalistic observation
would be especially helpful in studying the integration between verbal and nonver-
bal elements, where they are produced and comprehended simultaneously and in
real time. Elements of nonverbal delivery in complex situations like the workplace
deserve further study. It can help inform communicators, managers, and salespeo-
ple alike in how to best further their organizational goals.
Workplaces, as well as society at large, have taken great pains to train individu-
als in verbal skills. Reading, writing, and speaking all enjoy significant training
in educational and organizational settings. However, equally important nonverbal
elements typically receive negligible attention. This is especially important given
that workplace environments often lack a vocabulary for discussing emotional
experiences (Sandelands 1988) – and, yet, emotional experiences are woven into
everyday life and we live so much of our modern lives in organizational settings.
As such, there is a real value for work that serves to not only observe and describe,
but can also prescribe normative uses of these aforementioned phenomena.
ANNEX:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332246373_The_
analysis_of_nonverbal_communication_The_dangers_of_pse
udoscience_in_security_and_justice_contexts
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1609406913
01200137