The Importance of Nonverbal Communication

The Importance of Nonverbal Communication

Strengthens or Weakens Verbal Communication

One of the most crucial aspects of nonverbal communication is its ability to strengthen verbal communication. For example, if you tell your spouse you love him and then you follow up your oral communication with loving and endearing actions, the message of love is strengthened. On the contrary, if you tell your teenager not to smoke, yet you smoke in front of them daily, the verbal message and nonverbal message will contradict one another causing confusion and disbelief.

Provides Cues

Nonverbal communication provides cues to other people to help guide or instruct him. For example, if a police officer is in the middle of an intersection and he faces his hand at your car, you know this means to stop. The nonverbal cue to stop could save your life and the lives of the other passengers on the road. Other cues in American society could be clapping hands, winking with the eye or a shrug of the shoulders.

Clarifies

Nonverbal communication clarifies the verbal message. This can be seen in a presentation. The speaker is verbally communicating and uses nonverbal visual aids to help the listeners understand more effectively. A nonverbal aid in this situation can be a graph, chart or slide show. Incorporating nonverbal communication in an interpersonal or group conversation will provide greater clarity and comprehension.

Creates Culture

Whether a culture is created in a family or a corporation, it is the nonverbal communication that is responsible for it. In every relationship and group there are certain norms and expectations that are not verbally communicated. Most of the time these rules of engagement are created through nonverbal expressions whether it is touch, time or gestures. Nonverbal communication can make a culture hostile, comforting or awkward.

Adds Depth

Nonverbal communication adds depth to verbal communication. This is seen