Article Search:
Free Articles on Communications and many other topics
Another free Communications article for you

Home | Communications


Nonverbal Communication through Body Language - By: Robert F. Abbott, Posted on: 2007-07-15

As a business student, I watched what might be called a surreal form of nonverbal communication. It involved a presentation by an entrepreneur, who was practicing a pitch for venture capital companies. The pitch involved a high-tech respirator which would be capable of saving the lives of many infants.

I observed an almost surreal form of nonverbal communication when I was a business student. At the front of the classroom, an entrepreneur was practicing a pitch he would make later to venture capital firms. Specifically, he was talking about a technology his firm had developed: a new type of respirator which could save many new-born children.

When he talked about the potentially great financial returns, the audience, made up of M.B.A. students, sat back passively. But when he talked about getting babies through critical moments with his respirators, every single person in the classroom sat up, alert and fully focused.

As he went back and forth between stories of saving babies and talking about financial results, almost every student in the classroom moved with him. You might have thought that the movements of the students had been choreographed according to the content of the pitch.

They sat up together when the entrepreneur talked about saving babies, and they sat back in unison when he discussed the numbers. And, by the way, I did it too until I become aware of how we were responding as a group.

Since that event I've been a firm believer in body language as a form of nonverbal communication, body language being the concept that people unconsciously (and sometimes consciously) show what they're feeling through body movements.

As you likely know, interpreting body language is part science and part art. Still, some basic gestures will give us insight into the emotions or moods of others. A few examples of this form of nonverbal communication follow.

As most salespeople know, when the person across the table crosses their arms, it's an indication of defensiveness, or a lack of receptiveness. On the other hand, if that person leans forward and keeps his or her eyes on you, then you do have a receptive listener.

If you watch novice speakers, you'll probably notice how they keep their arms close to their bodies, indicating a lack of confidence. Their arms will move away from their bodies as they get more public speaking practice, and they'll begin to consciously use their arms to send or reinforce their messages.

Arms wide open indicates trust and openness, as do open hands, while arms held high above the head show a sense of victory, and hands clenched indicate anger.

Curiously, one of the most difficult interpretations of body language involves lying. Researchers have probably spent more time on this aspect of body language than any other. And we're still not entirely sure what body language to trust when it comes to truth and trust.

If you haven't yet spent much time studying body language, I recommend that you add it to your to-do list for communication development. It's invaluable not only for speaking and listening, but also for negotiating and leading.

In summary, body language is a form of nonverbal communication that opens a window into emotions or moods, and allows us to be more effective in sending and receiving messages.

Article Source: http://articleowner.com

Have your popcorn, and eat it too. Learn about body language and nonverbal communication while watching movies or TV. Read Robert F. Abbott's article, "Nonverbal Communication the TV Way" at Nonverbal Communication: Body Language .

Please Rate this Article

 

Not yet Rated

Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Communications Articles Via RSS!
Additional Articles From - Home | Communications
HOME
Sign Up for a free account or learn more.
Article Directory Software
Click here to download Article Directory software & Start Your Own Websites Like www.articlelover.com,
www.articlevally.comStart your own article directory today!
Submit Articles
Member Login
Top Authors
Most Popular Articles
Submission Guidelines
Ezine Notifications
Article RSS Feeds
New Stuff
About Us
Site Blog
Forum
Link to Us
Add Your Site Link
Contact Us
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service
article marketing info page

Highly Recommended

WIN $1,000,000
BY JUST CLICKING ADS

"Your Money Making Portal, Make Money At Home!"
pixel advertising information page
Pixel Advertising,for High Traffic!
CatererGlobal
Copyright ©2006Articleowner.com a free article directory to submit articles for fresh web content for websites & article writing submission for internet article ezine email marketing,for top ranking for search engines link building backlinks by rss feeds by self publishing, adsense, make money at home online money making home based business work at home opportunities for online information quality articles directory & stress management, free articles on insurance review, wealth, pixel advertising, web content, traffic, software, money making ideas & articles
Terms of Service | Submission Guidelines | Contact Us | Link to Us| Privacy Policy | About Us
Get PAID to Watch Never Before Seen Movie Trailers
Get a Free psychic reading

Powered by Article Dashboard