The World of Nonverbal Communication

THE WORLD OF NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION (PatientSpeak, 2008)

EAL-MedWheel 7.jpg

 GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION:

  •  90 – 94% of communication is nonverbal

  • 50-60% of any message is based on how it is delivered

  • Nonverbal communication does not translate well

  • Nonverbal communication adds an emotional level to communication

  • Nonverbal communication is always changing

TECHNICAL TERMS to HELP YOU EVALUATE YOUR OWN NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION STYLE:

  •  Proxemics (space)

  • Paralanguage (volume, pitch, rate, emotion)

  • Kinesics (body language)

  • Haptics (touch)

 

SUGGESTIONS for IMPROVING YOUR OWN NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION STYLE:

  •  Awareness

  • Cultural sensitivity

  • Understanding the verbal message

  • Talk about nonverbal issues that arise – Don’t internalize

  • Ask questions to clarify discrepancies

  • Practice, practice, practice

 

IDEAS TO PONDER, SKILLS TO DEVELOP 

  • Expect miscommunication but learn how to deal with it

  • If communication is poor between you and a colleague know that communicating about the communication will help – communication is cyclical

  • Communication is not something we lean once – it is a process

  • Communication is a created system – created by imperfect humans

  • Communication skills are learned then lived

  • Communication is complicated but worth every complication

  • Written communication is permanent

  • E-mail is a form of communication and should be professional

  • Communication is interactive

  • Simple communication is best, remember the simple

  • Communication is more than delivering a message

  • Communication can be therapeutic

  • Communication is powerful

  • Effective communication is essential to your professional life

  • Communication is not separate from who we are, it is who we are

  • Communication is what makes us human

  • Communication is . . . 


TOP TEN COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES

10.   Be aware of your own communication style

9.     Understand that communication is inexact and imperfect

8.     Embrace the idea that communication is inevitable

7.     Comprehend that every communication act has a consequence

6.     Learn to shift your communication style based on who you are communicating with

5.     Be flexible with your communication

4.     Understand that interpretation is important to effective communication

3.     Understand that writing is a form of communication

2.     Know that you spend most of your day listening

1.     Continue practicing awareness



“Copyright© 2004 Patientspeak Consulting. All Rights Reserved.”