Nonverbal Communication for Business, Part 1: Introduction
“Every interaction you have with a coworker or customer is an opportunity to practice the art of interaction.”
Now that robots are here to do all of our work, the time is right to level up our people skills.
Reading body language and nonverbal signals is like a superpower. While anyone has the capacity to do it, few make the decision to tap into this invaluable skill. By learning to understand and use nonverbal communication, I have witnessed a profound transformation in various aspects of my life, including my career.
I first started paying attention to body language and nonverbal cues several years ago after working to improve my posture and noticing how people reacted differently to me when I walked into a room. Just by standing up straight and making appropriate eye contact, I noticed immediate improvements in my day-to-day interactions. From there I began learning more about nonverbal communication through various books, online research, and practical application.
Along the way, I’ve received particular inspiration from Olivia Fox Cabane’s The Charisma Myth, Amy Cuddy, and by recently graduating from Vanessa Van Edwards’ “People School”. Over the years, I’ve also read a handful of books, such as Joe Navarro’s What Every Body is Saying, Allan Pease’s The Definitive Book of Body Language, and Jack Schafer’s The Like Switch.
Why should you care about learning the language of gestures, tonal cues, facial expressions, and postures?
Well, depending on what study you review, “most experts agree that 70 to 93 percent of all communication is nonverbal.” Whether you consciously learn nonverbal communication skills or not, you are using them every day. If you’re gonna do it anyway, you may as well learn to do it right. Understanding the impact of your nonverbal cues can be a game-changer. They unveil the hidden messages you unknowingly convey. (You may not be happy when you find out what you’ve been telling the world).
Imagine being able to impress people in a meeting without saying a single word. Or seeing your big ideas adopted because you communicate them with confidence. Consider how charisma and likeability can elevate your value, making you the go-to person whom colleagues enjoy being around.
These are all teachable skills. It is unfortunate that our culture perpetuates the myth that some individuals are naturally gifted with people while others are not. Those who excel with people have developed a skill that can be learned. Through training and practice, you can remove unconscious signals that undermine your goals and observe and respond to others effectively.
“Our bodies change our minds and our minds can change our behavior and our behavior can change our outcomes.”
Furthermore, learning to use nonverbal communication doesn’t just help you look more confident or charismatic – it helps you feel that way too.
For example, smile right now. I bet if you pay attention, you will notice you not only look happier but also feel happier.
That same principle applies to body language. By assuming a confident posture, you will feel more confident. Using body language isn’t about manipulating the impressions of others, it’s about creating positive feelings in yourself. Amy Cuddy has done a lot of work on this principle through Power Poses. Essentially, Fake It Til You Make It is a real phenomenon.
Moreover, learning to read nonverbal communication is valuable because it is more honest. Spoken words can be deceiving, as they are shaped by social conventions and personal agendas. However, nonverbal cues offer an unfiltered look into a person's true thoughts and emotions.
Imagine the tremendous advantage you would gain by accurately reading these cues and avoiding misunderstandings and misinterpretations.
I remember when I first went down this path. It felt as though I had awakened, like Neo in The Matrix when he started seeing the code. I realized an entire conversation had been happening around me that I had never noticed.
This is the first entry in a series I am putting together on what I know about nonverbal communication for business situations. In future entries, I will explain fundamental principles I’ve learned and how they can be applied in specific scenarios, ranging from job interviews to presentations to Zoom meetings.
By honing your nonverbal communication skills, you give yourself an advantage over everyone around you.
Read Next: Nonverbal Communication for Business Part 2: Fundamentals