Decoding the Truth

If a person says one thing but communicates something different through intonation and body language, tension and distrust can arise;

The visual part of nonverbal communication is often called body language. It included expressions eye movement, posture, and gestures. The face is the best communicator of nonverbal messages. By "reading" a person's facial expression, we can detect unvocalized feelings.

Appearance is important, people do judge a book by its cover, and most of us react favorable to an expected image. In terms of dress, color can convey meaning (brown can convey trust; dark colors, power), as does style (pure fibers such as wool or silk suggest higher status). Posture is important--a relaxed posture, such as sitting back with legs stretched out and hand behind the head, signals confidence.

If a person says one thing but communicates something different through intonation and body language, tension and distrust can arise; the receiver will typically choose the nonverbal interpretation because it is more reliable than the verbal. For example, if you ask your boss when you will be eligible for a promotion and she looks out of the window, covers a yawn, and says, "I would say you might have a chance in the not-to-distant future," you should not count on being promoted soon.

ACTION POINT: Consider the importance of body language, appearance, and posture in the process of communication.