COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Sanjay Kumar, Currently Associate Professor of

English at JK Lakshmipat University (JKLU), Jaipur

Pushp Lata, Currently Head, Department of Languages,

BITS, Pilani

Oxford University Press 2011

Chapter: 10

Non-verbal Communication

Oxford University Press 2011

Introduction

Body language

Aspects:
Paralinguistics Proxemics Haptics

Oxford University Press 2011

Body Language

Body Language

Personal Appearance

Posture

Gestures and Hand Movements

Eye contact

Facial Expressions

Oxford University Press 2011

Personal Appearance
Dress, make-up, shoes, and hair style
If she dresses like this, she must be really unorganized with her work also

Make a habit to dress well

Oxford University Press 2011

Posture
The way we sit, stand, and carry ourselves.
A professional has to cultivate and maintain elegance in his or her sitting standing and walking postures during professional meetings, interviews, group discussions, presentations, and other formal occasions.

Oxford University Press 2011

Gestures and Hand Movements

A gesture can communicate all that the speaker feels, consciously or unconscious.

Common gestures: Waving hands

Making a fist Thumbs up Pointing Crossed arms Hands on knees Rubbing the eye Locking the hands behind Try to associate meaning to the following gestures

Oxford University Press 2011

Eye Contact
Learn to look into the eyes of your co-

communicators.
Avoiding eye contact is seen as an indication of evasion, fear, doubt, vulnerability, inadequacy, and confusion. Connect and communicate through your eyes.

Oxford University Press 2011

Facial Expressions
Dos
Smile Willingness Honesty Integrity Conviction

Don'ts
Frown Raising or narrowing Eyebrows Dull face Smirk

Oxford University Press 2011

Paralinguistic Features
Rate

Pauses

Aspects of voice

Volume
Pitch, intonation, cadence, voice modulation Pronunciation and articulation

Oxford University Press 2011

Proxemics (Use of Space, distance)

1. Intimate Zone 2. Personal Zone

Shared by Spouses, children, parents, very close relatives and friends (15-46 cm)
Oxford University Press 2011

Business gatherings, social functions, gettogethers (46cm- 1.2m)

Proxemics (Use of Space, distance)

3. Social Zone 4. Public Zone

Strangers or occasional visitors (1.2- 3.6m)

Between speaker and Audience

(over 3.6m)

Oxford University Press 2011

Haptics
Use of touch (like shaking hands, patting, hugging, etc.) in professional meetings.

IMPORTANT: Observe and adopt the pattern followed by other senior professionals around.

Oxford University Press 2011

Recapitulation
Non verbal communication includes aspects like body
language, Paralinguistic, Proxemics, and Haptics

Effective communicators enter professional

situations 1. in a well-groomed manner; 2. they take care of their personal appearance; 3. walk confidently in a business like manner; 4. use graceful gestures; 5. maintain elegant sitting and standing postures;

Oxford University Press 2011

Contd
6. use hand movements to emphasize their
ideas; 7. display conviction and friendliness through their facial expressions; 8. maintain eye contact with their listeners throughout their speech and presentation

Bear in mind the importance of the paralinguistic features to create the right kind of impact on our listeners: proper voice modulation, correct pronunciation, well-timed pauses, and crisp articulation

Oxford University Press 2011

Contd
We must practise space distancing and haptics as per the
common code of professional behaviour. Learn to appreciate the subtleties of non-verbal communication and use them in your per sonal and professional communication

Oxford University Press 2011

Thank You!!!

Oxford University Press 2011