One of the most important traits of a good leader is the ability to communicate effectively with clients, partners, and employees. While verbal communication is important, the most successful leaders understand that being skilled in delivering clear and supportive nonverbal signals is essential.
Nonverbal communication such as body movements, eye contact, facial expressions, and tone of voice all contribute to how you are perceived and how much of your message is understood. Get it right, and it can enhance your ability as a leader to influence and inspire others; get it wrong, and it can undermine your authority and credibility.
Fortunately, every leader can take steps to improve their nonverbal communication skills in order to enhance their relationships in the workplace and beyond. Following are various types of nonverbal signals to be aware of, including information about how they impact the delivery of your message.
Eye Contact
Many people underestimate the power of eye contact. Making consistent eye contact is a simple way to show others that you’re interested in what they have to say. If you’re looking around the room and not focusing on the person talking, you’ll look distracted or disinterested, making people feel undervalued and ultimately damaging trust. When you’re talking, offering only quick glances can imply a level of insecurity; people may even think you’re trying to hide something.
On the other hand, too much eye contact can be intimidating. As a general rule, try to make eye contact 50 percent of the time while speaking and 70 percent of the time while listening.
Tone of Voice
According to communications analytics company Quantified Impressions, the sound of a speaker’s voice matters twice as much as the content of the message.
As well as helping other people understand how you feel about a certain topic, your tone of voice can make people pay more attention to what you have to say. For example, an animated tone conveys enthusiasm, a calm tone conveys empathy, and a deeper tone of voice conveys authority.
Even if the person you’re talking to isn’t fully aware of its impact, your tone of voice will influence how they receive your messages. Try to be more aware of your voice’s volume, pitch, and speed. All of these factors will shape how people perceive you and affect how receptive they are to you and your message.
Hand Gestures
Research has found that people who use hand gestures while talking tend to be viewed as warm, agreeable, and energetic, while less animated speakers are considered to be cold and analytical. In a study analyzing thousands of hours of TED talks, the most popular viral speakers used an average of 465 hand gestures – almost double the amount used by the least popular speakers. In short, speakers who use hand gestures are viewed more favorably and their messages are more memorable.
For example, displaying open palms at a 45-degree angle signals honesty and openness. When you lightly tap the tips of your fingers together – the steepling gesture – it’s seen as a wise gesture that inspires confidence in yourself and others. Vertical palm gestures with a rigid hand are often used to beat out a rhythm and give emphasis to certain words. Be careful not to go overboard; hand gestures should mainly be confined to the space from the top of your chest to your waist. If you go outside this space, it can be distracting and make you look out of control.
Facial Expressions
Facial gestures have an impact on how your audience perceives your frame of mind and point of view. Like hand gestures, your facial expressions help people understand the meaning behind your message.
Unfortunately, some leaders unintentionally give off the wrong signals, confusing listeners with facial expressions that contradict what they’re trying to communicate. Put simply, leaders should align their facial expressions with their verbal messages. Try to be more alert to how your face looks when you speak.
Also, try smiling more. Research has revealed that the mere act of smiling can increase dopamine and serotonin levels in the body, which increases feelings of happiness and reduces stress. What’s more, it can make you appear more approachable to others. A study from Penn State University found that when a person smiles, they’re viewed as more likable, courteous, and competent.
Pauses
Pausing between words and sentences is a powerful way to emphasize a particular point. Try pausing for a few seconds after you make an important point; this gives listeners time to digest your message and it makes what you say more compelling. However, don’t overuse this technique; too much silence can make people feel uncomfortable. It also gives people the opportunity to cut into a conversation or chime in with their opinions.
Body Orientation
Body orientation is also a key part of nonverbal communication. How you position your feet, shoulders, and head signals to others what you think about them and how you feel about what they say. This is why it’s important to maintain a direct body orientation when interacting with others.
For example, positioning your shoulders parallel to the other person shows you’re committed to the interaction; you’re effectively blocking out other distractions. Similarly, leaning in slightly toward the other person demonstrates an active interest in both the person and the conversation. In contrast, turning your head away – even briefly – from another person can make them feel that they don’t have your undivided attention.
Distracting Gestures
Keep in mind that even small gestures can influence how others feel about you as a leader. Any physical movement that distracts from the meaning of your message or the importance of an idea can interfere with clear communication.
Some leaders unintentionally undermine their verbal messages with distracting gestures such as fidgeting, crossing arms, rubbing the forehead, or playing with jewelry. These gestures can make you look distracted, anxious, unprepared, or even insecure.
Outward Appearance
Finally, it’s worth mentioning how clothing and physical appearance play a significant role in communication. Your appearance makes an impression before you even say a word. It can convey nonverbal messages about your personality, mood, level of confidence, and level of authority.
When dressing for work, choose high-quality clothing that fits well, and make sure you’re well-groomed, especially for meetings and presentations. A sloppy appearance won’t inspire confidence or respect from employees and clients and will ultimately distract from your message.
Wrapping Up
When addressing others, the verbal and nonverbal elements of communication all combine to provide a rich array of information that can either enhance or undermine your impact as a leader. Unfortunately, many leaders still don’t appreciate the impact that nonverbal signals have on how they are perceived and understood.
Even if your nonverbal signals are unintentional, people can jump to the wrong conclusions about your thinking, motivations, and intentions. This is why it’s important to be more self-aware of your nonverbal behavior and ensure that your verbal and nonverbal messages are aligned. By simply practicing some of the tips outlined above, any leader can communicate more clearly and effectively.
The most important thing to remember about nonverbal communication is that it’s not how the speaker feels that matters the most; it’s how the audience perceives how the speaker feels. When push comes to shove, if people have to choose between your spoken words and your body language, people will believe what they see and not what you say.
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