Nonverbal Communication

What Is Nonverbal Communication?

Nonverbal communication is a way to share information without speaking. It includes many different cues, like facial expressions, hand gestures, body language and tone of voice. It allows you to show feelings and ideas through your actions, movements and the way you present yourself.

Some signals can strengthen a conversation, like a smile or a nod. Others, like offering too strong a handshake and slouching in a chair, may send different messages. Learning to notice and adjust these cues is an important step in building your nonverbal communication skills.

Types of nonverbal communication

The different types of nonverbal communication include:

• Appearance: This is how you present yourself in front of others to make a first impression. Your clothing, grooming and overall look can affect how people see you.
• Body language: This includes how you sit, stand or move when around others. Your posture, how you enter a room and even small movements with your arms, legs or feet can show confidence, nervousness or boredom.
• Eye contact: Giving eye contact can show interest in a conversation. But not everyone’s comfortable or able to make direct eye contact. What matters most is showing you’re listening in a way that feels right for you.
• Facial expressions: Your face often shows how you feel, even if you don’t say it out loud. Smiling, frowning or looking frustrated can change how someone receives your message.
• Gestures: Hand and arm movements — like pointing, nodding or crossing your arms — add meaning to your words. Tapping someone on the shoulder communicates getting someone’s attention.
• Social space: How close you stand or sit to someone matters. Being too close can feel uncomfortable, while being too far away can feel distant.
• Tone of voice: How you say something can matter more than the words themselves. The pitch (how high or low your voice sounds), speed and volume (how loud or soft your voice is) can show calmness, confidence, anger or other unsaid feelings.

It’s important to remember that types of nonverbal communication can mean different things in different cultures. For example, in some cultures, eye contact shows respect, while in others it may feel uncomfortable.

Why is nonverbal communication important?

Nonverbal communication is important because it helps people fully understand what you mean. Without it, conversations can feel flat. This is a reason why we add emoticons or emojis to emails or text messages to help readers understand our meaning and tone. It would also be hard to sense feelings if body language and tone didn’t exist.

It builds stronger connections, too. A gesture or tone of voice can show care, comfort and understanding in ways words alone can’t.

Sometimes, nonverbal communication can replace speech. For example, sign languages use hand movements, facial expressions and body language to share ideas and feelings without spoken words.

How much of communication is nonverbal?

A large part of communication is nonverbal. How much exactly is up for debate. This means people often rely on more than just words to understand each other. Tone of voice, facial expressions and body language all play a major role.

In many everyday situations, nonverbal cues can carry as much or more meaning than spoken words, especially when emotions are involved. For example, you may notice someone’s mood from how they sound or move before they explain how they feel.

Words are still important. But they’re only one part of communication. Most messages are understood through a combination of words, tone and body language, not words alone.

Paying attention to all of these signals helps you better understand what someone is feeling or trying to say.

What causes someone to be nonverbal?

There are many reasons why someone may be nonverbal. Each person starts out as nonverbal when they’re a baby. They then learn and develop language skills.

Sometimes, something affects parts of the brain that control speech and language. This may make someone nonverbal. It may affect their vocal cords that control speech. Some mental health conditions may cause someone to feel too afraid or unable to speak.

Some common causes include:

• Aphasia
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Brain tumor
• Intellectual disability
• Progressive neurological conditions
• Selective mutism
• Stroke
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

If you or a loved one is having trouble with speech, talk with a healthcare provider. They can help find the cause and suggest the right support.

How to improve your nonverbal communication skills

Here are simple ways you can strengthen your nonverbal communication skills:

• Face the person you’re talking to: Turning your body toward someone shows you’re interested and present.
• Keep an open posture: Try not to cross your arms or hunch over. An open posture helps people feel comfortable around you.
• Lean in slightly: A small lean forward shows you’re paying attention. But be mindful of personal space.
• Make comfortable eye contact: Looking toward someone’s face shows you’re listening. If direct eye contact feels hard, brief glances toward their face also work.
• Relax: Tension in your shoulders, arms or hands may send the wrong message. Take a breath and let your body loosen.
• Use gestures: Smiling, nodding or a simple wave can encourage the other person to keep sharing.
• Be aware of your voice: Speak at a calm pace and volume. Try to match the tone to what you want to express and avoid interrupting.
• Respect personal space: Standing or sitting at a comfortable distance helps others feel safe and respected.
• Show empathy: Small touches (like a handshake or pat on the shoulder) can show care and support. But only do it if the other person is comfortable with it and it’s appropriate to the situation. For example, a handshake at the end of a meeting.