Good communication skills help you to navigate your world confidently, according to the National Communication Association. While understanding language and its nuances is vital to successful communication, reading body language and tone of voice is equally important to fully comprehend the messages you receive throughout the day. Understanding the meaning of dress, customs and slang also are integral to effectively communicating with friends.
Learning
Nonverbal and verbal communication skills are learned. While humans are born with the physical ability to speak, they must be taught words, sentence structure, meaning and use. The same is true of nonverbal communication. Parents, caregivers, siblings and other children teach the subtleties inherent in other people's facial expressions, tone of voice, body language and dress. Stereotypes and biases often are included in the initial upbringing and can interfere with successful communication as a child ages and begins to make friends.
Features
According to Psychologist World, the eyes are the most likely place to find the truth. It is difficult to control eye movement and pupil dilation. Nonverbal communication between friends relies heavily on eye contact, with messages easily delivered. Friends often hold each other's gaze for a moment longer than necessary to get the other's attention or send a warning signal. You usually can tell when a friend is lying because he avoids eye contact, knowing that you can read the expressions in his eyes.
Components
Nonverbal communication includes a variety of aspects among friends. According to Air University, the main components of successful communication usually are not spoken, especially when people know each other well. Important channels developed by friends include tone of voice, also referred to as vocal paralanguage. Kinesics are the movements made with the hands and body to send cues. Personal space is another piece of the nonverbal puzzle that friends use to communicate.
Considerations
Nonverbal communication is a vital component in successful relationships that is lost in friendships formed on the computer. According to the Psychology of Cyberspace, friendships fall far short of the human need for touch. Friends shake hands, hug, pat each other on the back and high-five to round out the bond they form. Additionally, cyberspace friendships cannot provide other sensual stimulations found among close friend such as smell, total visual aspects of another's body language and the nuances in tone of voice.
Warning
Just as friends use nonverbal signals to consciously convey messages to each other, they also can use the same avenue to deceive. According to Mediate.com, liars are adept at using body language to win friends and exert influence. One of the most common moves of deceptive people is to mirror the behavior, tone and dress of those they are trying to deceive. When evaluating the level of friendships, consider how closely you are being copied and trust your instincts, a valuable nonverbal skill you can develop internally.
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