Words are powerful but nonverbal communication speaks volumes. In fact, more than 85% of all messages are delivered nonverbally and convey whether your engaged in the interaction, level of relationship, power, agreement and response.
Nonverbal communication can be defined as all the messages you deliver that are not your actual words. This includes body language, clothing, physical appearance, design of environment, use of silence, touch, space and time.
What we’re saying is, your boss, co-workers, direct reports and friends put a lot more value on how you deliver a message, then what you actually say. With this level of impact, shouldn’t we all become students of our own nonverbal communication?
Here are some questions to gauge your responsiveness to others:
- When someone is speaking, do you look at them?
- Do you laugh when others make a joke?
- Do you participate in sidebar conversations during
meetings or check your cell phone under the table? (By the way,
everyone can see you checking your cell phone under the table.) - Do you yawn or stretch while others are speaking?
- Do you smile and greet first, or wait for others to do so?
- Do you graciously acknowledge others as you pass them?
- Do you use warm welcomes in your email or do you fire off directives, coming across abruptly?
- Do you leave meetings to answer phone calls or respond to a text?
- Do you regularly smile at others or do you maintain a flat affect?