The Non-Verbal me
Day to day we have conversations and interaction with people, but many of us do not pay attention to the non-verbal cues that we portray to others. These cues can be very important when trying to exhibit an emotions or a position u hold on a particular subject. many of these cues can be displayed in with what we consider normal body gestures such as head nods winking of the eyes, scratching of the head or maybe in the way a person walks or looks.
I myself have an array of nonverbal cues that I use. I first want to speak on the use of facial expression by me. Like many people, I use facial expression during conversation to express like or dislike. While in conversation mode, my face tends to be in a relaxed state with certain curiousness to it, my eyes also tend to be glued to that person. This expression or cue signifies that I m am fully engaged with the person who I am having the conversation with. This expression can quickly change to one of confusion or irritation. My face in this instance will tighten up, I am not sure why this happens but I believe it is because I am in thought while that person is talking or relaying info. I also have a bad habit of looking away or focusing other objects or people when I am engaged in meaningless conversation. Most times I try remain focused on the person who I am having a conversation with but sometime other things be on my mind that cause me not to be fully engaged with other people, this sometimes cause people to use words such as arrogant or rude when it comes to describing me. I do feel that sometimes I can be those things and take some responsibility in my actions, but I also believe that it is up to other communicator to recognize the nonverbal cues that are being displayed. This in my opinion is where understanding cultural nonverbal cues comes in handy, with a understanding of different cues communication mishaps can be avoided. I also use hand gesture to communicate also, a simple pound of the fist to a another male that I know, is my way of initiating a conversation or it can be used as just a hello and bye gesture, this gesture will not be used for males that I do not know. I often give them a head nod up. I also use the head nod towards females, this nod is usually a downward nod and I only use it towards females that are my elders. In America the head nod has many uses and I believe how u use it depends on your geographic background and or cultural background. I also give off vibes by the way I walk, when I m in a hurry I walk extremely different then if I had leisurely time. When I’m in a hurry my walk pace is fast an uninterrupted. I usually have my head down, I do this because I want to remain on course for the task, and I do not want to seem like I am open for any conversation. When I do have the leisure time, my walk pace will be slow and my head will be held high with my eyes wondering. During this time, it is usually when my eyes are communication mode. This is another way to communicate nonverbally.
There are many ways to communicate the person you are, the clothes you where can often communicate what mode or state you are in and/ or the type of person you might be. a suit can say that you are a business man/woman or that you mean business, a uniformed person can communicate whatever responsibilities that person dawning the uniform has, a person where sayings on their shirt can portray that you are outspoken. With all the ways I spoke about I hope that you have a better understanding of how I use nonverbal language in my day to day life.