Analysis of Nonverbal Cues In The Workplace

To be successful in business, one must be able to perceive and use nonverbal cues to one’s advantage. It has been noted by communication experts that when two people have face-to-face communication only a small percentage of the message is delivered through the words they use. The majority of the message is understood and received through nonverbal communication behaviors. These behaviors include gestures, postures, facial expressions, and even clothing; all of which can interfere with the verbal messages that a person is trying to deliver. Although, the importance of nonverbal cues has not been examined extensively in the workplace, it makes sense that they would have a strong impact on any communication both in and out of the realm of business. The ability to perceive and to use nonverbal cues to one’s advantage in the workplace gives the business individual the necessary skill and power to achieve their desired level of success.

Body Language

Eye Contact

Nonverbal cues fall into two basic categories, nonverbal messages produced by the body or nonverbal messages produced by the broad setting (Tidwell). This paper will focus towards nonverbal messages produced by one’s body. Eye contact and posture are two of the most significant nonverbal cues that one can use to make or break a situation. Imagine a customer chatting with a sales agent discussing the perks of the item for purchase. If the sales person does not make eye contact with the customer or is constantly glancing away there is reasonable cause to assume that the customer is either going to feel as if the sales agent is shady or that the agent is otherwise preoccupied. This will lead the potential customer to feel non-important to the agent and the customer ma...

... middle of paper ...

...ned to one office space or building; it is projected across the world. One’s use of or ability to decode nonverbal cues would make them an asset and earn them a good reputation as an individual in business globally. It is without doubt that the ability to perceive and to use nonverbal cues to one’s advantage in the workplace gives the business individual the necessary skill and power to achieve their desired level of success, and is therefore a necessary skill to learn, develop, and master.

Works Cited

Matsumoto, D. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/science/about/psa/2011/05/facial-expressions.aspx

Tidwell, C. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.andrews.edu/~tidwell/bsad560/NonVerbal.html

Turak, A. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/augustturak/2010/12/17/the-business-of-nonverbal-communication-how-signals-reflect-your-brand/