Nonverbal Communication is an important component of communication. According to most of the social psychologists, nonverbal communication makes up about two-thirds of all communication between two people or between one speaker and a group of listeners. People are more likely to believe that the first things they learn are truths. When the other person or a group absorbs the message, they are focused on the entire environment around them—using five senses in the interaction. According to Deborah Bull, “Body language is a very powerful tool. We had body language before we had speech, and apparently, 80% of what you understand in a conversation is read through the body, not the words. Sight makes up 83% of impact on brain from the information gained during a visual presentation. Taste makes up 1%, hearing makes up 11%, smell 3% and touch 2%.” With such a high percentage of body language in the message being communicated, it is almost impossible to neglect or overlook it. Organizations deal with various means of communication. While cyber communications prevail, it does not mean that gestures and body language can be ignored. Proper use of body language leads to proper code of conduct and the development of an individual in an organization. This paper deals with the importance of body language and some usual errors at workplace.

Communication is generally defined as has having both verbal and nonverbal components. Verbal communication often refers to the words we use in communication, nonverbal communication refers to communication that is produced by some means other than words (eye contact, body language, or vocal cues, for example) (Knapp and Hall, 2002). The five primary functions of nonverbal behavior (Argyle, 1988) are:

1. Expression of Emotion: Emotions are expressed mainly through the face, body, and voice.
2. Communication of Interpersonal Attitudes: The establishment and maintenance of relationships is often done through nonverbal signals (tone of voice, gaze, touch, etc.).
3. Accompany and Support Speech: Vocalization and nonverbal behaviors are synchronized with speech in conversation (nodding one’s head or using phrases like ‘uh-huh’ when another is talking).
4. Self-Presentation: Presenting oneself to another through nonverbal attributes like appearance.
5. Rituals: The use of greetings, handshakes or other rituals.

Communication is much more than verbal. Unfortunately, many people are of the opinion that communication is only oral or written verbal interaction. Verbal interaction accounts for only a small quotient of the messages that people send and receive. Researchers say that between 70% and 90% of the entire communication spectrum is nonverbal. Subsequently, we need to be aware of the different forms of nonverbal communication that occur more often.

Soft Skills Journal, Training, Evaluation, Various, Approaches, Applications