Nonverbal and Verbal Communication are the two elements of communication. Both of these combined give a clearer picture as to what a person is trying to communicate.
Nonverbal Communication Examples:
Eye Contact
- Demonstrates honesty and approachability
- Americans tend to maintain eye contact with the person they are talking to.
Personal space
- Americans generally prefer a fair amount of personal space.
Facial Expressions
- Americans tend to smile and respond well with similar warmth reciprocated
Gestures
- Nod to signify that you are listening during conversation
- Crossing the index and middle finger indicates a wish for good luck
- Touching the thumb and index finger to make a circle with the remaining three fingers outstretched is the symbol for “OK”
- In America, waving is a form of saying “hello”
Nonverbal communication is a wonderful, nuanced, interesting aspect of communicating. Consider focusing on improving this aspect of your communication if you are looking to grow your communication skills.