Techniques for

Improving Your

Nonverbal
Communication Skills
in the Workplace
 Nonverbal communication is important in the workplace because it affects the work
environment.

 If your nonverbal communications skills are poor, you may be communicating

negativity and making your coworkers uncomfortable or undermining your message
with cues about lacking confidence.

 To improve your nonverbal skills, you must first identify the areas where you are
lacking.

 Nonverbal communication plays an important role in the workplace, particularly when

you are dealing with the public. There's a well-known "7 percent" rule which suggests
that communication is only 7 percent what we say and 93 percent what we do.
 Maintain Eye Contact

W h e n y o u m a k e d i r e c t e y e c o n t a c t , i t s h o w s t h e o t h e r p a r t y
that you’re interested in what he is saying.

I f y o u m u s t g i v e a p r e s e n t a t i o n a t w o r k , e s t a b l i s h e y e c o n t a c t
with the audience. It tells them that you are confident in what
you are presenting.

B e m i n d f u l , t h o u g h , n o t t o t u r n y o u r a t t e m p t s a t e y e c o n t a c t
into an unrelenting stare; moderation is the key.

A l t h o u g h s o m e f i n d i t h a r d t o m a k e e y e c o n t a c t , a t t e m p t i n g
to do so during conversations makes you come across as alert
and caring.
 Use Your Facial
Expressions

Y o u r f a c i a l e x p r e s s i o n s c o n v e y y o u r e m o t i o n s . F a c i a l e x p r e s s i o n s a r e
typically universal, which means they convey the same message
globally.

Y o u r
face can display a myriad of emotions. When a smile is not
called for, be aware of your expression and react accordingly.

O f f e r
a smile when talking to someone, as long as it is not
inappropriate to the situation. This tells people that you are happy or
in a good mood. It also creates an atmosphere with warmth and
friendliness, allowing others to feel comfortable.

A look of seriousness when your work is being critiqued or a

sympathetic response to someone's expression of difficulties can go a
long way to conveying your engagement with the situation.
 Be Considerate of
Personal Space

P a y a t t e n t i o n t o y o u r p r o x i m i t y t o o t h e r s .

D i f f e r e n t c u l t u r e s v i e w p r o x i m i t y i n v a r i o u s w a y s , s o t a k e
notice if the person you’re communicating with is
uncomfortable. This could mean that you are standing too
close, and should create some distance between the two of
you.

 For example, a person who is behaving aggressively is

probably standing very close to the other person. Be
respectful of the personal space of others.
 Mind Your Posture

L o o k a t y o u r p o s t u r e . S l o u c h i n g s h o w s t h a t y o u a r e n o t i n t e r e s t e d
in what a person is saying. Your body movement is also important.

F o r e x a m p l e , s w i n g i n g y o u r l e g b a c k a n d f o r t h w h i l e s i t t i n g i n a
meeting or drumming your fingers on the table tells others you are
impatient, bored and uninterested. Sit up straight and face others
when talking.

B o d y p o s i t i o n i n g i s s u b t l y d i f f e r e n t f r o m a c t u a l b o d y m o v e m e n t s .

O p e n a n d e n g a g e d b o d y p o s i t i o n i n g i s i m p o r t a n t i n a c o n v e r s a t i o n .
 Gestures

 Gestures in the workplace convey a significant

amount of information without an individual ever
opening her mouth. Workers react to others' gestures
as read in the workplace.

E y e c o n t a c t , f a c i a l e x p r e s s i o n s a n d t o u c h a f f e c t w o r k
interactions.

S o m e c a l l i t b o d y l a n g u a g e . O t h e r s c a l l i t k i n e s i c s .

H u n d r e d s o f t h o u s a n d s o f b o d y g e s t u r e s c o m m u n i c a t e
meaning to others at work.
 1. Negative Gestures
• Adjusting your clothes

• Biting your nail

• Fidgeting

• Touching your face and toying with something in your hands

• Others think you are nervous, tense, disinterested or maybe even

dishonest.

• Resting your chin on your hand conveys boredom.

Crossed arms indicate a level of defensiveness.

• Lean back in your chair, and it conveys disinterest.

Lean forward, and it indicates you are interested in what the
speaker says.
 2. Illustrative
Gestures

•G e s t u r e s , u s e d a l o n g w i t h w o r d s , h e l p i l l u s t r a t e t h e
meaning of your words.

•W h i l e
doing an interview, the interviewer may say,
"we offer this product in three price points -- high,
medium and low." For emphasis, he may use his hand
to mark the air in three spots -- high, medium and low
-- reinforcing his point with illustrative gestures.
 3. Affective
Gestures
• If a person uses eye contact, facial expression, posture or tone
of voice to suggest a nonverbal, emotional message, you might
call those affective gestures.

• An open or receptive gesture is a person whose palms face the

listener.

• An embarrassed or angry communication can be read by the

shade of the person's red face or by his grimace.

• A slouchy, frowning employee may appear distracted or

uninterested.

• Arch your eyebrows, sit up straight and smile. You appear

happy.
 4. Misinterpreted
Gestures
• While most gestures are readily interpreted with accuracy, there
can be misunderstandings.

• If a co-worker with a migraine, grimaces in pain, lowers her head

and squints her eyes while talking to you, you may think the
migraine sufferer disagrees with you. If perplexed, probe for
further information before jumping to conclusions.

• Multicultural workplaces, however, have different interpretations

of some gestures across cultural lines.

•F o r i n s t a n c e , t h e t r a d i t i o n a l " o k " s i g n a m e r i c a n s m a k e b y p u t t i n g
the thumb and index finger together with the other three fingers
pointed is an ugly gesture in other cultures.
 5. Silent Gestures
• Because no words have to be spoken or written, gestures can
be an quick, easy, efficient form of business communication.

• A wave of the hand means hello or goodbye, depending on the

situation.

• Nod your head and you are saying either yes or no,
depending on the direction.

• The smile is pretty much a universal happy face. But, there

are rare moments when even the smile would be an
inappropriate gesture, given the circumstances.
 Be Aware of Tones and
Sounds

Y o u r
tone of voice and the sounds you make can
communicate your thoughts to others without your even
speaking.

I f you receive directions from a manager and

immediately grunt, you are showing your manager that
you do not agree with what he said.

Y o u r t o n e o r s o u n d s c a n i n f o r m p e o p l e o f y o u r a n g e r ,
frustration or sarcasm.

A v o i d s i g h i n g r e p e t i t i v e l y o r s p e a k i n g i n a h i g h - p i t c h e d
voice. Speak softly and calmly.