Effective Body Language in Organizations

Abstract

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.