THE POWER OF NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION

Experts contend that somewhere between half and up to 80% of all interpersonal communication is non-verbal. There’s no doubt, non-verbal communication is impactful, and can make or break a message. This type of communication goes far beyond simply lacking the spoken word. It’s hand gestures, eye contact, posture, body movement, and the way we tilt or nod our heads. It’s how we present ourselves and how audiences receive us. Non-verbal communication plays an important role in conveying intended – and unintended – messages, so it’s important to take it seriously and get it right. Students of communications study numerous examples of non-verbal communication, including noteworthy moments in history where our learning in this area grew. Consider the famous 1960 Nixon-Kennedy debate, the first of its kind to be televised. Up to this point, campaigners gave live speeches, spoke on radio, or appeared – often edited – in print. Most Americans didn’t see candidates outside of a still photo. In the Nixon-Kennedy debate, Nixon’s non-verbal communications did not match the intelligence or intent of his message. His facial expressions were dour. He appeared pale and sweaty from a recent hospitalization. He didn’t have a confident stance or posture. By contrast, Kennedy appeared calm, friendly, and confident. Both verbalized articulate messages to the 74 million people who watched the debate. Kennedy won the election by a narrow margin, and many historians attribute his win to this particular debate.

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