Nonverbal communication may account for over 90 percent of the information transmitted to the receiver of an interpersonal message. A lack of nonverbal communication skills can leave a child feeling rejected by her peers, create inattentive distance between a teacher and her students and decrease productivity in the professional fields. Nonverbal communication skills can be improved through becoming conscious of nonverbal cues and actions and by attentive practice.
Develop Attentiveness to Nonverbal Cues
Improve nonverbal communication skills by first becoming aware of nonverbal communication elements. Nonverbal communication is the language of relationships, says human communication and family science specialist Cynthia Burggraf Torppa, Ph.D., writing for Ohio State University "Extension." It includes the way we treat others and contains many indicators of whether or not we like, respect or desire the company of the person with whom we are communicating.
Nonverbal communication includes facial expressions, space, touch, clothing and personal objects, our manipulation of time and paralanguage or the tone and tenor of communication, according to Dr. Torppa. The University of Hawaii at Honolulu's publication "Six Ways to Improve Your Nonverbal Communications" adds gestures and body positioning to that list, while attorney Paul Burton, founder of leadership and productivity consultants Vision Mechanix, includes listening skills as a key nonverbal communication element. Becoming aware of each of these activities in yourself and others will bolster your nonverbal communication skills.
Improve Perception
Improving your listening skills is one of the best ways to sharpen your ability to perceive the nonverbal and verbal communications being issued by others, according to productivity consultant Paul Burton. Practice both listening attentively to the speaker's words and consciously perceiving and interpreting her body language, Burton urges. Tune in to the speaker's feelings and ask questions designed to not only elicit facts, but also heighten your understanding and empathy for the speaker's position.
A key nonverbal communication skill, active and conscientious listening at this level will result in other people responding more positively to you and will increase effectiveness and productivity in the workplace, according to Burton.
Practice Exercises
Simple games can help children develop necessary nonverbal communications skills, according to Dr. Torppa. But nonverbal communication practice exercises can also help adults and create fun dinnertime conversation for the whole family. Tell a story by humming it without words, Dr. Torppa suggests, changing the tone of your voice to indicate fear, happiness or excitement. See if your listeners could tell what your story was about.
Play facial charades, making facial expressions to indicate different emotions, and see if your viewers can guess what emotion you are intending to convey. Practice saying a simple sentence with different intonations so that it takes on different meanings. The more you practice nonverbal communication exercises, the more conscious you will be of conveying positive and appropriate nonverbal cues.
References
- University of Hawaii at Honolulu: Six Ways to Improve Your Nonverbal Communications
- Ohio State University Extension Family and Consumer Science Fact Sheet: Nonverbal Communication--Teaching Your Child the Skills of Social Success
- American Bar Association Law Practice Today Magazine: Bridging the Great Divide--Improved Communication Equals Increase Productivity
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