BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

 NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION

Learning Objectives
 Meaning of Non Verbal Communication

 Forms of Non Verbal Communication

 Types of Non Verbal Communication

Meaning
Communication: Communication is an exchange of
facts , thoughts, ideas, and information by two or more
person.

There are two types of Communication

1) Verbal Communication
2) Non Verbal Communication
Non Verbal Communication
 Many times we communicate without using spoken or
written words,

Communication through facial expressions, body

movement, gesture, posture, symbols, eye contact,
touch, graphs, diagrams is called non verbal
communication.

Non verbal Communication plays a major role in our

lives.
 We communicate not only through words but also through
means other than words.

 A research ( Mehrabian’s research) showing impact of

speaker’s message on receiver’s as follows :

 Words spoken (7%)

Tone of voice (38%)
Facial expression (55%)

 It shows receiver derived 93% of meaning through non

verbal communication.
Forms of Non Verbal Communication
 Non verbal communication can involve
(1 ) Conscious communication,
(2) Subconscious communication.

 (1) Conscious communication:

Sender of conscious non verbal communication are
aware that they are sending a message and also aware
of the general meaning of that messages.
 EX. The individuals extending a hug know that they
are embracing someone and that the action is
normally perceived as indicating affection.

 Receiver of hug also realize that the message is a sign

of friendship.
 (2) Subconscious Non verbal Communication:

 Subconscious messages are communicated to the

mind of the receiver unintentionally.

 Receiver of such messages are not consciously aware of

the message.
 Some messages are listed as follows,

• 1. Police and Military uniforms subconsciously

communicate the authority of those wearing them.

• 2. Well dressed executives project and credibility.

• 3. A poor sense of dressing up transmit a message of

failure and lack of credibility.
Types of Non Verbal Communication
 1) Kinesics (Body language)

 2) Haptics (Touch)

 3) proxemics (Space distancing)

 4) Para language (Vocalics )

 5) Sign language (Audio/ Visual)

 6) Chronemics
Types of Non Verbal Communication
 1) Body Language/ Kinesics:

 It is derived from the Greek word kinesis, meaning movement.

 Our body communicates different messages through its physical

movement. It is called body language.

 The study of body language is called Kinesics.

 Effective body language plays an important role in situation like

Interviews, Group discussion, Meeting, and Presentations.
Different elements of Body Language
 (A) Personal Appearance: It is said that, “ First
impression is last impression”.

 A research shows that interviewers make half the judgment

by the appearance of candidate.

 Personal appearance contains 3 things: clothes,

accessories, and grooming.

 If our cloths are dirty or crumpled, they can create a

negative impression. But if we wear clean and ironed cloths
we can create a positive impression.
 Perfume, Belt, Tie, Watch, shoes are the accessories,
which show the status of person.

 Grooming means how we look. Combed hair, clean

shave face and trimmed nail create a positive
impression.
 (B)Facial Expressions: For a speaker the face is the
most expressive of all parts of body.
 Face displays different feelings, happiness, anger, fear,
enthusiasm, disappointment, tension etc.
 (C) Posture: Posture is an important element of body
language.

 It shows the way in which person holds himself,

stands, sits and walks. It tells something about the
personality of a person.

 Graceful posture is great asset in any profession.

 Standing Posture: Standing Posture is essential to be
successful in speaking.

 A good speaker stands tall and keeps feet together.

 Sitting Posture: The posture of sitting may indicate

optimism or depression or a sense of failure or of
inattentiveness.

 A speaker can measure the success of his communication

by observing the posture of the listener.
 Walking Posture: The ability of a person to walk on
the stage with ease creates a first impression on
audience.
 The walking Posture shows whether a speaker is
confident, energetic and nervous.
 (D) Gestures: Moments of hands, shoulders and head are
called gestures.

 They add meaning to our words. Gestures make our talk

more interesting and impressive.

 Different gesture communicate different message as…..

Yawing Boredom, lack of interest
scratching the head Frustration
Palm rub Excitement
Nail biting Anxiety, Tension, Nervousness
 (E) Oculesics/ Eye Contact: Oculesics is the study of role
of eyes in non verbal communication.

 Eyes are perhaps the most expressive features on human

beings.

 Eye contact can indicate a lot of emotions ranging from

interest, attention, and involvement.

 A good speaker looks at his audience while speaking and

not elsewhere.
Types of Non Verbal Communication
(2) Haptics: It comes from the Greek word ‘haphe’
pertaining to the sense of touch.

 Haptics is the science of touch.

 A handshake is a non verbal category of haptics.

While shaking hands with someone, we also receive
feedback from that person.
 Different types of Handshakes
 Type
 Equal Politician
 handshake handshake

 Tight Informal
 grasp handshake

Limp
handshake
Types of Non Verbal Communication
(3) Space Distancing / Proxemics:

 When we communicate with somebody, we maintain

some distance with him – knowingly or unknowingly.

 This distance communicate some message. The study

of space distancing is called Proxemics.

 Proxemics tells us about two things: 1) Sender’s

relationship with receiver and (2) How close they are
 There are 4 zones of space distancing.

1) Intimate Distance: We allow very special and closest

people to enter this distance. (0 – 18 inches )
Ex. Our spouse, kids, parents, very close friends etc.

2) Personal Distance: We use this distance while

interacting with familiar people. (18 inches – 4 feet)
Ex. Friends, Peers, Relatives etc
3) Social Distance: we use this distance while
communicating with strangers and less familiar people
Ex. Customers, Visitors etc. (5 feet- 12 feet)

4) Public Distance: When we have to talk with many

people at a time we use this distance.(> 12 feet)
Types of Non Verbal Communication
(4)Paralanguage: (How do we speak?)

 The word ‘para’ means ‘like’ so, paralanguage stands

for ‘like language’. ‘How you speak’ is more important
than ‘what you speak’.

 It associated not with the content of a verbal message

but the attributes of speaking, which include the pitch,
tone, volume, tempo, rhythm, and even accent of
speaker.
 (a)Voice: Voice is the first signal that we receive or use.
It tells us so much about speaker’s gender, background,
education etc.

 (b)Pitch variation: Most of us introduce wide variations in

pitch while speaking.
These variation are necessary to catch the listener’s
attention and to keep him interested in us.

 (c) speaking speed: We should speak different speed at

different occasions and while conveying different parts of a
message.
 (d) Pause: The speaking speed is also accompanied by
pauses. We should not speaking without pausing.
But the pauses have to be at the right moments,
incorrect use of pauses can create problems.

 (e) Word stress: Proper word stress is very important in

communication.
By putting stress or emphasis on a word here or a word
there in the same sentences we can change the meaning.
Types of Non Verbal Communication
(5) Sign Language: Communication is a process in
which people exchange messages through mutually
understood signs.
Types of Non Verbal Communication
(6)Chronemics / Time Language: Chronemics is the
study of time usage in non verbal communication.

 Chronemics states that the way in which we perceive

time, structure our time and react to time is a powerful
communication tool.

 Time perception can be expressed through

punctuality, willingness to wait, speed of speech,
amount of time listen to people.