Communication is one area that we can always improve in. Verbal and non-verbal communication skills take years to master and are always great areas to work on if you find you are struggling in your personal relationships.
I was thinking about the different ways that people communicate and how that impacts not only the conversation but also the outcome. One of the main contributors to a successful conversation is the way that each person sees the other. Are you illustrating a defensive, angry, closed off demeanour or are you portraying yourself in an open, calm, and non-judgemental way? These non-verbal cues can really set the tone for the discussion and impact the outcome of the conversation.
Non-Verbal Communication Tips
Mastering effective non-verbal communication takes practice and the more you practice the better you will be at it. Here are some tips to help you become a pro at non-verbal communication:
Non-Verbal Signals
Pay attention to non-verbal signals that you are presenting when speaking with someone and look for them in others. Eye contact, gestures, body posture, and tone of voice all convey an important message about how someone is really feeling.
Your Mouth is Saying Yes, but Your Body is Saying NO!
Incongruent behaviors are the first sign that the discussion is not going well. If someone is telling you they are happy, but they are frowning and looking down, chances are that they are not happy and the lines of communication have gone down.
Tone is Everything
The tone of voice you use can send a lot of different messages. Try to keep your tone appropriately inline with how you really feel. A great way to make sure your tone is inline with what you are saying is to pay attention to the other person's’ body language.
Group Signals
A single gesture can mean a number of things, but if you start to group those signals together you start to see the big picture. If the person you are talking to looks down for a moment, it does not mean they are feeling upset, they may just be looking down at something that has caught their eye. However, if they are looking down, frowning, and have their arms crossed; chances are there is a problem.
Context is King
Always remember the context you are communicating in may require more formal body language, or if you are in a relaxed atmosphere, body language will typically be more relaxed as well. Keeping the context of the conversation in mind can help you avoid misinterpreting body language and keep your discussion on track.
These are just a few tips for better non-verbal communication, but the best way to improve your skills, is to get out there and practice. The next time you are in a discussion, pay close attention to what your body is doing and how that may be affecting the way you appear to be communicating.