Make no mistake about it, verbal and non-verbal
communication sends a very powerful message to the receiver when used
correctly. However, for the person
delivering the message, communication that is delivered incorrectly can be ambiguous
and very noticeable by your audience. Inconsistency
in communication can cause a loss of credibility and the audience may be less
trusting of what the speaker is trying to convey.
When it comes to body language, I am very aware that I use it
as a main factor for my communication style. “Understanding body language is essential
because over 50 percent of a message’s impact comes from body movements”
(Denning, 2011). As an instructor,
Denning’s statement speaks volumes about my performance in my current career
position; body language is a very large part of how I deliver information and
how my students receive information from me.
During the later years in my military career, I often found
myself communicating to several different audiences, while having to address
the same message. The problem for me is
that I have a problem of showing my nonverbal expressions at the wrong time. To compound that, I can be impatient with
some people and it shows sometimes in my nonverbal body language. McKay and
Davis (2009) stated that some of these non-verbal signs of impatience include
sighs, frowns, and crossed arms and legs. To this statement, I am 100% guilty. At times, I worked closely with senior
management, while managing first and second line supervisors under me and subordinate
employees. Many times information was
provide to me that I did not agree with. My nonverbal expression would often
show my disagreement but it did not matter, because my job was to follow
orders. On the same note, I had to
deliver this information to all subordinates under me and show I supported it
100%. However, in this situation, I had
to be very aware of my nonverbal. I want
to make sure that my nonverbal expressions did not undermine my verbal
message.
This process is often carried over into my personal life. In my personal life, my wife is the first
person to point out to me when my verbal and nonverbal communication
contradicts with each other. As I said
earlier, I am a very impatient person and if I am not interested in something
someone is saying, I will not give them the attention they deserve. My children know me very well when it comes
to my nonverbal communication. To this
day, they know when I rub my bald head over and over and when the wrinkles
appear on my forehead thay know I am either stressed or upset…no matter what my
voice communicates. I used to think they were exaggerating until my wife
confirmed this.
This week’s reading assignment confirmed I am very aware of
my strengths and weaknesses when it comes to my communication skills. To this day I am still learning to modify my communication
approach, reducing the delivery style conflict and improving the communication
processes I use. I now try not to come
off as being insincere or disingenuous.
References:
Denning, S. (2011). The Leader’s
Guide to Storytelling: Mastering the Art and Discipline of Business Narrative.
San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons/Jossey-Bass.
McKay, M., Davis, M., Fanning, P.
(2009). Messages: The Communications Skills Book. (3rd ed.) Oakland, CA; New
Harbinger Publications, Inc.
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