Everything from facial movements to voice pitch to body positioning can help tell a story.
What is nonverbal communication?
Nonverbal communication is any form of communication information or messages from one person to another without using your words.
It can include everything from hand signals to physical appearance to body language.
Most of us have experienced moments when words escape us.
We get too nervous, too shy, or too overwhelmed by emotions to think and speak clearly.
In these instances, nonverbal cues speak for us.
Since conversations are two-sided, that typically means the other person is left to read those nonverbals.
Tips to read people:
Learn to distinguish positive and negative body language.
Pay attention to voice pitch.
The typical pitch of someone’s voice can alter depending on their mood.
For example, when a person is sad, their voice tends to deflate, Cobb says.
This means they’ll talk in a lower octave and at a slower rate.
Faster, peppier, or more cheerful voices tend to indicate happiness.
Pay attention to their breathing.
“If somebody is angry, their face may start to redden,” Cobb says.
This reaction is generally triggered by rapid breathing.
“That increases your blood pressure and your heart rate, and your breathing becomes shallow and fast.”
Look at the curvature of someone’s fingers.
“We don’t walk around with fully extended fingers,” she says, “it looks weird.
Check their lean.
If someone is interested in you or the conversation, they may lean in.
On the other hand, if someone is fearful or uninterested, they may lean back.
It’s important to take in all the context clues in these situations, especially.
Look at their grip.
“You have this pent-up energy that your body has to release.”
Pay attention to their movements.
If a person is moving more than they normally would be, that can be a sign of nervousness.
“Of course, that all depends on the level of nervousness.”
Observe the nuances of their smile.
If a person smiles, that means they’re happyright?
Maybe, but maybe not.
Look at the big picture.
The final tip is definitely the most important.
Looking at facial expressions can be a helpful first step, but those expressions aren’t always accurate.
Other cues, like pitch, body language, etc., tend to give away how we really feel.
Whether you’re speaking virtually or in person, it’s important to get the big picture.
In other words, don’t just read the facial expressions.
Also take in other context clues like the body language or the verbal cues.
Why context matters.
“The environment affects behavior.”
“A hello and a smile don’t mean someone’s hitting on you,” Cobb says.
“It really could be that they’re friendly.”
The bottom line.
Learning how to read these communication signs can help us understand others better.
“you could’t read minds if you know body language,” Rouse says.
