Types of nonverbal communication
Your facial expressions, gestures, posture, and tone of voice are all effective means of communication. While good communication skills are essential for success in both personal and professional relationships, it is your nonverbal cues or “body language” that speak the loudest. Body language is the unconscious use of nonverbal communication through physical behaviour, expressions, and mannerisms.
During your interactions with others, you are constantly sending and receiving nonverbal signals, with or with your knowledge unconsciously. All of your nonverbal behaviours, your gestures, posture, tone of voice, and amount of eye contact, send strong messages. They can either put people at ease, build trust, and attract others to you, or they can offend, confuse, and undermine what you’re trying to say. These messages do not stop even if you stop speaking. Even if you are silent, you are communicating nonverbally.
Sometimes, what you speak and what you communicate through your body language may be diametrically opposite. If you say one thing but your body language says another, your listener will likely suspect you of deception.
For example, if you say “yes” while shaking your head no. When confronted with such conflicting signals, the listener must decide whether to believe your verbal or nonverbal message. They will most likely choose the nonverbal message because body language is a natural, unconscious language that broadcasts your true feelings and intentions.
Nonverbal communication, on the other hand, can help you better express yourself, connect with others, and build stronger, more rewarding relationships.
The importance of nonverbal communication cannot be overstated. Your nonverbal communication cues: the way you listen, look, move, and react, tell the person you’re communicating with whether or not you care, whether or not you’re being truthful, and how well you’re listening. When your nonverbal cues match what you’re saying, trust, clarity, and rapport improve. If they don’t, they can create tension, mistrust, and confusion.
If you want to improve your communication skills, you must become more aware of not only the body language and nonverbal cues of others but also of your own.