HOLISTIC EDUCATION

NON VERBAL
COMMUNICATION
ICE BREAKER
ACTIVITY
 WHAT IS COMMUNICATION?

• It is a process by
which we exchange
meanings, facts,
ideas, opinions &
emotions. It is
essential to our
existence & the most
important activity of
ours.
 Importance of communication

• We communicate by simply being alive.

• It is to do everything we do.
• It is critical to the success of any organization – family,
school, college, community & all the more to a business
organization as it links the various components & the internal
world with the external world.
• It is a tool with which we exercise influence on others, bring
about changes, establish & maintain relations.
• Our activities succeed or fail, our goals achieved or not
according to the ability communicate effectively.
• “NO INDIVIDUAL CAN BE EFFECTIVE IN HIS JOB UNLESS
HE IS ABLE TO COMMUNICATE”.
 Methods of communication
• Verbal - oral
• - Written
• Nonverbal – Sign language - visual signs
• - Audio signs
• - Body language -
Gestures,Appearance, Facial expressions,Eyes,
Touch,Voice ,Pitch, Tone, Pauses,Time,Space,

Artifacts.
 What is non verbal
communication?
• It is all the impressions
we receive & the
interpretations we make
from what we perceive
through our senses. It
may accompany verbal
communication.
 Need for understanding
nonverbal communication

• Most often a person’s nonverbal behaviour

sends more messages than the verbal
communication. Every spoken message has a
vocal element (tone,pitch) & visual element (face
& body) coming from not what we say but how
we say it.
• “You never get a second chance to make a
good first impression.”
John Molly
 Example
• You are interviewing applicants for the job of customer
relations representative.You notice one resume that seems
far superior to the others: the candidate received almost
perfect grades in top universities,had a similar position in a
leading company,& came with impressive letters of
recommendations.During the interview ,you notice that she
rarely looks you in the eye.
• Ashok is the president of a major transportation company.
He attended an executive seminar with several of his
employees.Because of his poor posture,the seminar leader
first perceived him as an employee rather than the boss.
 SIGN LANGUAGE

• Visual sign : They are

signs that are seen &
understood. They make
immediate impact.
Some signs are
universal. Eg. Traffic
lights, Neon hoardings,
Direction boards,
Cartoons, Maps,
Graphs etc.
 Some examples
• A nurse with finger on
her lips indicates
silence
• A student gesturing to
another, asking for a
pen / pencil
• A student indicating to
another that someone
has come to meet him
/ her
 Advantages
• Makes communication interesting &
motivates the viewers.
• Illiteracy not a hindrance.
• Effective
• Instant conveyance of message & large
audience
 Audio signs
Fire alarms,
factory sirens,
College bell,
Calling bell,
Whistles,
Vehicle horn etc.
 Advantages

• Useful in time management.

• Streamlining of work in organizations
Disadvantages of sign language

• Can convey only elementary & simple ideas.

• Requires an artist’s skill to draw effective
pictures,cartoons,etc.,to convey the messages.
• Sounds & sign language can be used with verbal
communication but cannot be used as complete
substitutes.
• Can easily be misunderstood.
• No spot correction can be made.
 Body language

• When a person’s actions & words appear

contradictory, the actions often communicate the
true feelings / meanings. It is estimated that
when communicating one-to-one, 90 % is
communicated non verbally. Some of the
elements are laughing, coughing, throat
clearing, vocal pitch, pauses, space, time,
sight, taste, smell, touch, clothes, colour,
sound, environment, weather, lighting &
objects.
• “ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.”
How do we communicate without
words?
• BODY
MOVEMENT
 Kinesics

• It is the study of body movement. It can

significantly reinforce verbal message.
Such movement adds variety to overall
delivery, as opposed to standing rigidly
in one spot.
 Gestures

• There is no doubt
that effective
gestures enhance &
supplement verbal
messages.
 Example

• To indicate that the food

served is enough
 Appearance

• The clothes we
wear often
communicate our
status in life & our
degree of self-
confidence. What
one wears to work
can be as important
as the job itself.
 Example

• Our appearance / dress is good if we like

the occasion, like on Ethnic day / Photo
session.
• Some students / teachers always dress
neatly, showing their interest in
themselves.
 Facial expression
• Facial expression can convey the
following meanings:surprise, fear,
happiness, contempt,disgust, anger,
interest, determination & sadness.
 Example
• Teacher glaring at students shows that
he / she is angry & likes the class to be
quiet
• The expression of joy on spotting a friend
• Yawning when a class is in progress
indicating that the class is boring.
• Laughing sheepishly while a question to
which answer is not known
 Eyes
• Eye contact is necessary to establish &
maintain a beam of communication
between you & your listener/ s. eye contact
also makes it possible to receive all the
feedback from your listeners which, in turn,
permits you to respond to their behaviour &
reactions. Constant eye contact greatly
enhances credibility & makes the
messages more personal.
 Touch

• It can signal both positive &

negative attitudes, depending on
the individual & culture.
(Hepatics is the study of
communication through touch).
 Paralanguage

Vocalics is “How we say” rather than “

What we say”. Where have you been?
• Where have you been?
• Where have you been?
• Where have you been?
• Where have you been?
 Time
• Most of us are time conscious & time plays a vital
role in the messages we convey. To many people,
time represents status & power. A boss can keep his
worker waiting & can also late for a meeting. The
more influential you are, the more command you
have over time – both yours & others.
 Example

• Students are usually on time

when going to meet friends,but for
exams or, if they have to attend a
function which they don’t like they
get delayed.
 Space

• We take our space seriously. Signs

declaring “No trespassing”, ”Keep
out” & ”Private property" are some
that everybody understands.
Territorial behaviours is evidenced
in our homes, offices & even in
public spaces.
 Example

• They speak keeping a

distance when conversing with
their teachers while they are at
a close range with their class
mates / friends
 Artifacts

• Objects in our possession

transmit a clear message about
us that can enhance / hinder a
speaker’s oral presentation.
Wedding band, wedding ring,
badge & uniforms are examples.
 TIPS FOR DEVELOPING
NONVERBAL
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
 Eye communication

• Eyes should involve the person you are

communicating with.
• While talking to another person, look at them
for 5 – 10 seconds before looking away.
 Posture & movement

• How you hold yourself physically can reflect

how you hold mentally. How you hold yourself
is usually how others regard you.
• Stand tall. Poor upper body posture often
reflects low self-esteem
• Do not lean back on one hip while standing
• Move around while speaking
Gestures & facial expression

• Keep your hands & arms at your sides

when at rest.
• Smile often, even under pressure.
• Be as open as possible in your face &
gestures.
 Voice & vocal variety

• Don’t read speeches. Use notes & outlines of main

ideas when you speak. This will force you to be
active, animated & natural.
• Emphasize the right word.
• Use a dictionary to learn at least one new word a day
& use it.
• Vary the speed of delivery & insert pauses
appropriately.
• Add good humour.
 Mathematics Metaphysics
• What equals 100 per cent ?
• What does it mean to give MORE than percent ?

• Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving
more than 100 percent ?

• We have all been in situations where someone wants

you to GIVE OVER 100 percent.
• How about ACHIEVING 101 per cent ?
• What equals 100 percent in life ?
 …..Mathematics Metaphysics

• Here is little mathematical formula that might

help answer these questions:

• If A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V
W X Y Z are represented as: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 23 24 25 26 .

• H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K
• 8+1+18+4+23+ 15+18+11=98 PER CENT.
 …..Mathematics Metaphysics
• And K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5=96 per cent.

• But A-T-T-I-T-T-U-D-E
• 1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5=100.

• Then, look how far the Love of God will take you:
• L-O-V-E-O-F-G-O-D
• 12+15+22+5+15+6+7+15+4=101 per cent.
 Mathematics Metaphysics
• There fore, one can conclude with
mathematical certainty that: While
Hard Work and Knowledge will get
you close, and Attitude will get you
there, it is the Love of God that will
put you over the top !
THANK YOU