ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION FOR SURVIVAL: AN ANALYSIS (part 9)

CATEGORIES OF NONVERBAL MESSAGES
by
Charles Lamson

Since the nonverbal component in the human communication process is critical to ongoing effective communication, several common nonverbal categories need to be mentioned. each major nonverbal category is listed below and briefly discussed.

Dress and Artifacts.    Often the first message a person sends to another person is generated by our physical appearance. People judge others by physical appearance. If our physical appearance is not acceptable, other persons may elect not to communicate with us. General physical appearance, dress, clothing style, and type, and the artifacts or accessories, with which a person adorns their body, convey messages about the person. For example, if an interviewee wears a tie decorated with vignettes about Bart Simpson, then interviewers may respond differently, than if the interviewee wears a more appropriate tie.

In the arena of dress, clothing, and artifacts, several ideas need to be taken into consideration, by people moving into an organization, or moving up in an organizational structure:

• Wear clothing that corresponds with the formal, or informal, dress code of the organization.
• Wear colors of clothing that suggest a business orientation, such as; black, grey, navy, or burgundy.
• Keep accessories to a minimum (two for men; a watch and a ring - five for women - watch, ring, earrings, necklace or bracelet). Women should not wear more than five accessories. Women also should should avoid the following mistakes - a flashy scarf, several necklaces, a double-breasted jacket with many gold or silver tone buttons. For both men and women, "less is better" is the basic rule.
• Wear fabrics that are wrinkle-free and do not scrunch easily and yet are organizationally appropriate.
• On dress down days, or informal days, do not go sloppy. Go casual. Check with other more experienced employees about the casual dress code.
• Men and women should try to dress similarly to the person who is one level above them, unless that person's dress is completely inappropriate for the organization.
• Managers may be allowed to be more idiosyncratic in their dress and clothing choices than their subordinates. Peons must follow the rules.

 

Gestures And Body Movements.    The study of the communicative aspects of gestures and body movements is referred to as kinetics. This area focuses on the movement of hands, arms, legs, torso, limbs, postural cues, walking behavior, head movement, and many other gestures and movements. Even the way in which a person sits can send cues to the other person. If the person sits with legs toward another, this may mean unresponsiveness. There are many differences between the gestures and movements of high status, versus lower status persons. The following movements and gestures send cues in the organizational settings:

• Lower status persons should use appropriate posture (sitting more erect when speaking with higher status persons). Whereas, higher status persons are allowed to have a more relaxed body posture, when communicating with others.
• Lower status persons should use more positive gestures, when speaking with higher status persons. Whereas, higher status persons can send more negative gestures when speaking with others. 
• Lower status persons should use more attentive, and interested body posture. For example, lean toward a manager, when communicating. Higher status persons can use a less attentive, even casual, body posture. For example, feet on the desk when communicating with other people.
• Lower status persons should move or walk as if they are interested, and involved in the job. Higher status persons can move more slowly, slouch, and seem less involved in the job.
• The posture of a higher status person may be marked by a sideward or backward tilt of the torso, loosely extended legs and fingers, or arms extended casually, head resting on back of a chair. Lower status persons will sit, or stand, more erectly, seem more formal, and certainly never rest their head on the back of a chair.
• Persons of higher status are afforded the right to have a more relaxed body position, when communicating with employees. Whereas, persons of lower status are usually expected to have a more tense, more adaptive body position, when speaking with persons of higher status.

*SOURCE: ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION FOR SURVIVAL...*

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