Non-Verbal Communication

Definition:

Non-verbal communication, sometimes called 'body language', isn't really a language at all because it's not systematic and is not always a matter of choice. Non-verbal communication refers to such features as facial expression, tone of voice, body movement, and gesture. (Non-verbal communication (2008))

Summery

The article that I found was written by Don Mills called Non-Verbal Communication. Mills is a well-respected writer, writing for the Oxford University Press. In this article Mills talks about the characteristics of non-verbal communication; about eye contact, clothing, movement, and touch. All these forms of communication are major pieces that a lot of people don't really think about when they think of communication. The article also goes on to tell its readers how they can improve their non-verbal communication skills. Although non-verbal communication is all around us in our everyday lives this article is going to focus more on the business end of non-verbal communication found in public speaking and presentations because that is what most people think of when you say those words.

Discussion:

When you first look at the words Non-verbal communication what is the first thing you think of? The first thing that comes to mind might be hand gestures, pointing at something, a certain look that you give someone, or even eye contact in general. If you would have said any of these you would have been correct. These are all forms of non-verbal communication. But when you look deeper into it also some are the clothes that you wear, the way you grab someone's hand to shake it when you first meet, or even what happens to all of us when we get nervous, we start to sweat. All of these are forms of non-verbal communication.

The major thing about non-verbal communication is all about confidence and repetition. In a business setting; if you are not well prepared to give a presentation that you are supposed to give to the boss of your company of course you are going to be nervous. Along with those nerves come sweating, stuttering over words, pauses to find your place on the note cards; making you look like you don't know what you are talking about. Reverse this and you come to the presentation well prepared, you have gone over and over your presentation and are fully confident in what you are talking about. You are not going to be nervously looking down at your notes; you are going to be able to have good eye contact with the people who you are presenting to. You are going to be able to walk around confidently and not be breathing heavy.

Non-verbal communication also has a lot to do with how you present yourself in the way you dress, the way you act, and the way you look. If you are walking into a presentation in the