In our society, communication has often been interpreted as a transactional exchange between two people. Communication is not based on words, but rather on body language. The key to effective communication is how you make an impression; how your gestures communicate your feelings, thoughts, and beliefs. This article explores the role of body language in verbal and nonverbal communication.
It examines how people communicate using body language and why this type of communication is crucial for successful business relationships.
Body Language
What is communication, anyway? There seems to be no simple answer to this question, but we need to start with basic definitions. According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, communication is “the process of conveying and transmitting information from sources of knowledge and experience to others, whether at face value or as a matter of statecraft or custom.” (Merriam Webster Online)
A brief overview of this definition shows that you have to transfer knowledge, ideas, and emotions from one party to the other party, either verbally or nonverbally. Of course, this definition does not refer to any particular kind of interaction; communication is more likely to occur between two individuals. However, I would argue that the first steward’s communication is the exchange of verbal cues that inform the recipient of what is happening.
The most obvious examples are eye contact, facial expression, touch, and body language. Let’s discuss each one in detail.
1: Facial expressions
Facial Expression Shows Your Interest in Others’ Opinions the importance of facial expression in communication cannot be underestimated. Research shows that eye contact often prompts the giver into a conversation that they did not intend to begin or have already anticipated. By creating eye contact with the recipient, you immediately instill a mutual interest, which leads to further discussion.
2: Eye contact
Eye Contact Communicates Approval, Respect, Affirmation, and Empathy from Your Guests to Yourself To your customers the purpose of eye contact is to create an immediate psychological connection with the recipient. This connection allows the recipient to open up emotionally with you so that you are comfortable in a personal situation like that you choose to interact with them. Even though eye contact can create trust among you and the beneficiary of your communication, it can also cause resentment among the recipient if the recipient believes that the emotional connection created between you and the recipient is unwanted (e.g., if the recipient suspects that “a stranger” had an emotional connection with them that you did not). Therefore, by creating a psychological response from the recipient to receive your communication, you establish a bond and establish trust that goes beyond just being a simple friend.
3: Body movement and posture
Your body movement and posture include aspects such as sitting, walking, standing, bearing, and even movements. Body language and gestures play an important part in any individual’s professional as well as personal life. Every professional field or social context demands some kind of communication in a very different way. Like we can’t sit in the office as we used to sit in our houses. We can’t make laugh as we do with our friends.
4: Touch
Touching another individual’s arm also sends a strong signal of approval by reinforcing the fact that you trust them and want them in your life. If a receiver receives attention and respect, then they will respond more readily and have greater confidence in you and your abilities.
5: Voice
It’s not just what you say, it’s how you say it. While you are speaking other people read your voice and listen to your words. They pay attention to your timing and pace, how loud you speak, your tone and inflection, and the sounds that convey understanding. Our voices contain confidence, happiness, and anger that clearly show the situations, we are going through.
6: Physical contact
Physical contact (such as kissing, hugging, and cuddling) often leaves a lasting impact on the recipient’s confidence or self-esteem, especially if that contact includes touching their genitals. Although there are many theories as to why touching someone’s body provides this effect, studies show that the brain knows to associate the touch with love when it perceives that the recipient is safe and secure in your presence (e.g., giving someone a hug, a kiss, a pat on the back, etc.).
Our body language is as important as our words. Because both have equal importance in the way they are used. Our words expressed our thoughts and our body language supports our thoughts and reflects, what we are trying to say to the other person. Body language plays a very important role in the lives of people that can’t speak, their body is the only way to speak with others. Their eyes can speak, faces can speak, even their posture and gestures.
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