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Contents
 Definition & Importance
 Elements of Nonverbal
Communication
 Methods of Improving Nonverbal
Skills
 Delivery Checklist
 Arrangement Checklist
Definition & Importance
Non Verbal Communication is “Any
message you give other than the literal
interpretation of your words – the way
you move, speak or appear”.
The phrase nonverbal communication
refers to “communication effected by
means other than words"
 Elements of Nonverbal
Communication
BODY LANGUAGE
 POSTURE
 The way you stand or sit. Your Posture
indicates your confidence, openness and
attitude. Whether you are sitting or
standing, do so in a relaxed manner.
 Standing – comfortably upright,

squarely facing audience with your

weight distributed evenly. Avoid overly
“ATTENTIVE” position.
 Sitting – Site in a relaxed comfortable and
confident position.
Elements of Nonverbal
Communication continued…
GESTURE
 It’s the Body movement while
talking, which reinforces what you
want to say.
 Example: using your hands to say ‘A-
One’ or ‘Victory sign’ etc
 Gestures may be ‘warm’ or ‘cold’.
Warm gesture include leaning
towards people, smiling and
touching.
 Avoid nervousness, ie., scratching
your arms, tugging your ears or
licking your lips.
Elements of Nonverbal
Communication continued…
 FACE & EYES
 Our Face and Eyes are most expressive
part
 Raising or Lowering our Eye brows,
smiling, nodding & winking
 When you want speak, express by
opening your mouth so that the other
person knows that you want to talk
 Do not avoid eye contact while talking to
your boss
 Too much eye contact is perceived as
aggressive, dominant and uncomfortable.
 Effective persons maintain more eye
contact than ineffective ones
 Elements of Nonverbal
Communication continued…
 VOICE
 Paralanguage – Sound of the voice
 The pitch, rate and volume make you
sound more expressive
 Difference between Good intonation and
mono-pitch
 To develop an effective speaking voice…
 use effective pitch
 Speak with a correct rate and slowly
enough so you can be understood
 Express clearly like ‘Did you’ instead of
‘Didjya’ or ‘Want to’ instead of ‘Wanna’
Elements of Nonverbal
Communication continued…
SPACE AROUND YOU
 STANDING
 Public speaking needs min of 12
feet of space
 Social Space - 4 to 12 feet

 Personal Space – 18 inch to 4 feet

 Intimate Space – 0 to 18 inches

 SEATING
 Leaders sit at either end of the table

 People who are concerned with

relationship and participation sit on
the middle seats
Elements of Nonverbal
Communication continued…

 TOUCHING
5 categories of Touching:
 Functional / Professional
 Social / Polite

 Friendship / Warmth

 Love / Intimacy

 Sexual Arousal
Elements of Nonverbal
Communication continued…
OBJECTS AROUND YOU
 Effected by the objects
around you ie., arranging
of chairs / office and dress
 Formal dressing / Informal
dressing
 Dress appropriately for the
audience you face
Methods of Improving
Nonverbal Skills
 Practice & Arrangement
 Practice
 It improves your wording, content &
Delivery and increases your self-
confidence
 Some helpful practice techniques are:

– Rehearse out loud & on your feet

– Stimulate the situation in which you will
be speaking
– Speak into the mirror to improve facial
expressions
– Time yourself to avoid going overtime
Methods of Improving
Nonverbal Skills continued..
 Arrangement
 Lack of arrangement may ruin your
presentation

 Make the arrangement yourself or

write explicit instructions to someone
else and make sure your instructions
are carried out

 Make sure your audience is notified,

check your room arrangements,
visuals, equipment, charts, slides and
handouts etc
Methods of Improving
Nonverbal Skills continued..
 Relax & Gain Confidence
In order to avoid stage fright different people relax in different ways before
making speech :

 Physical Relaxation (relaxing your body)

 To relax your head : Side Neck Rolls, Front/Back Neck Rolls/ Full Neck Rolls
 To relax your shoulders : Do Shoulder Rolls
 To Relax Arms & Hands : Shake outs, Fist Clinches
 Progressive Relaxation Technique : tensing & Relaxing all muscle groups
 Isometric Exercise : Clenching & Quickly relaxing your muscles

 Mental Relaxation
 Relaxation As You Speak
Methods of Improving
Nonverbal Skills continued..
 Physical Relaxation (relaxing your
voice)
 Use Humming & Breathing as vocal
warm up exercises
 Be awake 2-3 hours before speech

 A hot shower can wake up your voice

 Avoid drinking milk or consuming

dairy products before speech
 Use warm liquids in case of tired voice

 Get enough rest the night before any

presentation
 Methods of Improving
Nonverbal Skills continued..
 Mental Relaxation
 Try the systematic desensitization technique: Force
yourself to relax as you imagine or act out a series of
successively more anxiety ridden situations
 Think Positive : If you act as if you were brave, you
will soon feel brave
 Think non-judgmentally : Avoid both positive &
Negative evaluations of your ability. Only describe it
then instruct yourself by concentrating on a visual
image and trust your body to acquire the desired
behavior
 Rational Emotive System : ABC’s of emotional
reactions
 Before you begin, give yourself a pep talk, play down
your audience’s importance and repeat positive
phrases
 Methods of Improving
Nonverbal Skills continued..
 Relaxation As You Speak

 Looking at your positive listener

s will increase your confidence

 Remember that you probably

look better than you think you
look

 Concentrate completely on
communicating information to
people