Assignment No 3: Body language use at workplace

PrO: Mention the examples of body language use at workplace with suitable pictures and
images

CO:C22009. b. Communicate skillfully using non-verbal methods of communication

Sample Practical
Communication in the workplace is essential to performing tasks and working as a team. The
words spoken by staff members are only part of the communication puzzle. Body language
communicates a colleague's feelings or intentions. Those nonverbal clues may align or conflict
with the words coming out of his mouth. An awareness of your body language helps you assess
the message you are sending your colleagues.

Body language is related to gestures, posture, facial expressions and eye contact. Body language
expresses emotions through different parts of the body and their physical movement. It also deals
with the posture of standing or sitting as well as with eye and facial expressions. Through body
language people communicate meaning to others in interpersonal interactions. Various kinds of
emotions and feelings such as joy, sorrow, smile, smirk, love, hatred, satisfaction, guilt etc can
be shown with the help of kinesics
Here is a list of some examples of Body Language:
1) Nodding your head to approve or disapprove.
2) Waving your hands to draw attention or bid goodbye.
3) Showing the thumbs up sign for all the best or best of luck.
4) Pointing the index finger as mark of accusing.
5) Tapping feet indicates that one is nervous. It can also be interpreted for appreciating
music. This is subject to the situation.
6) Raising the hand to draw attention or showing approval.
7) Shrugging shoulders indicates indifferent attitude.
8) Scratching the head indicates you are facing a problem

Importance of Body language: / Aspects of body language:

Body language is like a mirror to our personality. We talk with the help of our vocal cords, but
we communicate with the facial expressions, our tone of our voice, space, time and our whole
body. Every small gesture, facial expressions, movements of hands, fingers and legs send an
unspoken message to the receiver.
The different features of body language are as follows

1. Facial expressions: Just as eyes are regarded as the windows to the souls, the face is
considered an index of our mind. The face is called as ‘the organ of emotions’ because it
expresses a large range of emotions like happiness, surprise, fear, anger, sadness and more.
2. Eye contact: eyes are the windows to the soul. Maintaining an eye contact with your
speaker and listener is the most important part of non verbal communication.
Importance of Eye Contact:
 Looking into a person’s eye is the best way to understand his/her attitude to all that
you speak.
 If you avoid eye contact you indicate the signs of fear, doubt, confusion, shyness,
nervousness etc.
 On the other hand making eye contact shows that you are confident.
 Eye contact also attracts person’s attention. Thus we can make sure that the listener is
attentive.
Therefore, one must express willingness to connect and communicate through one’s eyes.

3. Vocalic/paralanguage: Vocalics refers to voice modulation. “para” means like.

Paralanguage deals with expressions of emotions and feelings with the help of different
tones of our voice. The voice of a person also reveals important traits of personality.
Though we cannot change our voice, there are different tones of voice which can be
worked on to create the impact on our listener while we deliver a speech, participate in a
debate or make a presentation. Voice is a very powerful tool for communication. It can
convey feelings of delight, excitement, grief, boredom and much more. Following
examples indicate meaning of different tones of voice:
A good officer has a commanding voice, singers usually have a sweet and soft voice, a
nervous person has a shaky voice, a person scared of something has a shrieking voice. A
person who is very gentle has a sweet voice, a person who is confident has a commanding
voice, an anxious person usually has a brittle voice and an important person has a snappy
voice. We often use voice to express our ideas or emotions. We speak in a soft voice to
 express our sympathy, a gentle voice to express our respect and a loud voice to express
anger. Therefore, the style and tone of our voice changes as per the emotions we are going
through.

4. Gesture: Just as a picture can silently speak a thousand words; a gesture can communicate
all that the speaker feels, consciously or subconsciously. Gestures are often used in
conjunction with verbal messages. They are simultaneously with the words they use to
illustrate or come before them. It is advisable to use gestures appropriately, so that the
impact created by them is graceful and suits the occasion. Following examples indicates the
meaning of various gestures;
 Waving of hand indicates hello or goodbye
 Making a fist indicates anger
 The standard crossed arms gesture with the fists tightly clenched signifies a hostile, or
an offensive attitude
 Locking hands behind one’s back indicates arrogance
 Thumbs up sign shows appreciation or agreement
 Nodding of head from right to left means saying “no” and moving it up and down
reveals understanding, approval and agreement
 Using hands to support head indicates boredom
 In conversation, hand behind head may be read as a sigh of uncertainty, conflict,
disagreement, anger or disliking. It usually reflects negative thoughts, feelings and
mood.

5. Posture: posture refers to the way we stand, sit and carry ourselves. It tells how bold,
confident, submissive or timid a person is. A person who stands, sits and walks upright
commands respect and attention. Therefore, a professional has to cultivate and maintain
elegance in his/her own sitting, standing and walking posture. A few tips are as below
 which will be useful during meetings, group discussions, presentations and other formal
occasions.
 Do not droop your shoulders.
 Lift your feet clearly off the floor while walking, avoid dragging them
 Do not sit on the edge of the chair, it communicates unease and discomfort
 Avoid crossing your legs while sitting or standing before your audience
 Do not lean on the lectern.

6. Dress and appearance: The physical appearance of a person conveys the attitudes, likings,
life style and social status of a person. Appearance is a blend of clothes, hair and
presentation style. A person who does not maintain himself/herself well is not likely to win
the appreciation of the audience. If the choices go wrong, one cannot expect the right
results. For example if you wear a crumpled dress for on an interview, you will surely lose
the job. Our choices of clothes, hairstyle, the jewelry we wear, can talk a great deal about
our belief, attitude, values and status it is also important to adapt our appearance according
to the occasion like dressing for formal, semi formal and informal situations.

7. Haptics: Haptics is communication by touch. It conveys emotions like affection, concern,

friendliness, anger, displeasure, hate, violence, happiness and encouragement. Handshakes
are common and easily accepted in professional situations. Other forms of haptics are
hugging, patting on shoulders, holding hands of your friends to express concern or care,
exchange or blows to express anger. Following examples indicates the meaning of various
Haptics:
 Putting hand on friend’s shoulder shows friendliness, concern or encouragement.
 Hugging shows love, affection and care,
 Holding on to person’s arms shows companionship and trust.
 A push shows anger or resentment.
 Hitting a person shows intense anger or hurt.
 Holding a person’s hand for a long time reflects care and intimacy.