NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION FOR DIRECTORS

Steven Armstrong

steve@armstrongconsulting.ca

HOW IS A MESSAGE DELIVERED? Verbal (words)

Vocal (volume, pitch, rhythm, etc)

Body Movements (mostly facial expression)

HOW IS A MESSAGE DELIVERED? Verbal (words) – 7%

Vocal (volume, pitch, rhythm, etc) – 38%

Body Movements (mostly facial expression) – 55%

According to A. Barbour, author of Louder than Words: Nonverbal Communication

TYPES OF NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATIONHow many can you name?

TYPES OF NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION1. Facial Expression

Facial expressions are responsible for a huge proportion of nonverbal communication. Consider how much information can be conveyed with a smile or a frown. While nonverbal communication and behavior can vary dramatically between cultures, the facial expressions for happiness, sadness, anger and fear are similar throughout the world.

TYPES OF NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION2. Gestures

Deliberate movements and signals are an important way to communicate meaning without words. Common gestures include waving, pointing, and using fingers to indicate numeric amounts. Other gestures are arbitrary and related to culture.

TYPES OF NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION3. Paralinguistics

Paralinguistics refers to vocal communication that is separate from actual language. This includes factors such as tone of voice, loudness, inflection and pitch. Consider the powerful effect that tone of voice can have on the meaning of a sentence. When said in a strong tone of voice, listeners might interpret approval and enthusiasm. The same words said in a hesitant tone of voice might convey disapproval and a lack of interest.

TYPES OF NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION4. Body Language and Posture

Posture and movement can also convey a great deal of information. Research on body language has grown significantly since the 1970's, but popular media have focused on the over-interpretation of defensive postures, arm-crossing, and leg-crossing, especially after the publication of Julius Fast's book Body Language. While these nonverbal behaviors can indicate feelings and attitudes, research suggests that body language is far more subtle and less definitive than previously believed.

TYPES OF NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION5. Proxemics

People often refer to their need for "personal space," which is also an important type of nonverbal communication. The amount of distance we need and the amount of space we perceive as belonging to us is influenced by a number of factors including social norms, situational factors, personality characteristics and level of familiarity. For example, the amount of personal space needed when having a casual conversation with another person usually varies between 18 inches to four feet. On the other hand, the personal distance needed when speaking to a crowd of people is around 10 to 12 feet.

TYPES OF NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION6. Eye Gaze

Looking, staring and blinking can also be important nonverbal behaviors. When people encounter people or things that they like, the rate of blinking increases and pupils dilate. Looking at another person can indicate a range of emotions, including hostility, interest and attraction.

TYPES OF NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION7. Haptics

Communicating through touch is another important nonverbal behavior. There has been a substantial amount of research on the importance of touch in infancy and early childhood. Harry Harlow’s classic monkey study demonstrated how the deprivation of touch and contact impedes development. Baby monkeys raised by wire mothers experienced permanent deficits in behavior and social interaction. Touch can be used to communicate affection, familiarity, sympathy and other emotions.

TYPES OF NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION8. Appearance

Our choice of color, clothing, hairstyles and other factors affecting appearance are also considered a means of nonverbal communication. Research on color psychology has demonstrated that different colors can evoke different moods. Appearance can also alter physiological reactions, judgments and interpretations. Just think of all the subtle judgements you quickly make about someone based on his or her appearance. These first impressions are important, which is why experts suggest that job seekers dress appropriately for interviews with potential employers.

NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATIONBreaking it down further

What roles do these types of communication have in directing?

FIVE CATEGORIES OF GESTURESCategory Description Example

Emblem Non-verbal acts that can be translated or defined in a word or short phrase

Raising a hand to indicate stop

Illustrator Movements that are directly tied to speech and illustrate what is being said verbally

Indicating the size of an escaped fish with both hands

Affect display

Muscle movements, generally facial, associated with a display of emotion

Smiling to greet a friend or acquaintance

FIVE CATEGORIES OF NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATIONCategory Description Example

Regulator Acts that maintain and regulate the back-and-forth nature of speaking and listening between two parties

Direct body orientation and eye contact to indicate interest in the communication

Adaptor Behaviors often learned in childhood and maintained by habit

Scratching any part of the head or face

FIVE CATEGORIES OF NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATIONAs directors, how does each category apply to us?

Emblem

Illustrator

Affect Display

Regulator

Adaptor

FIVE CATEGORIES OF NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATIONA deeper look at Illustrators

SIX TYPES OF ILLUSTRATORSType Description Example

Batons Movements that accent or emphasize a particular word or phrase

Thumping on the table with a fist when saying ‘No’

Ideographs Movements that sketch a path or direction of thought

Indicating the direction of a stream with a hand movement

Deictic Movements

Point to a present object Pointing out desired items to a shopkeeper

SIX TYPES OF ILLUSTRATORSType Description Example

Spatial Movements

Depict a spatial relationship Moving hands far apart to indicate a large object

Kinetographs

Depict a bodily action Patting the stomach to indicate sufficient food

Pictographs Draw a picture of the referent

Tracing through the air the shape of a pretty girl

THANK YOU!