Why Nonverbal Communication Matters
Words are important. They have the power to heal, but also to hurt. They can have a big impact on the people around us, and isn’t that why we have to be careful? After all, we want to get our point across properly. We don’t want to be misinterpreted. But words aren’t the only way we have to communicate with others.
Nonverbal communication encompasses all the ways in which we communicate that aren’t spoken or written. And they are just as important.
Why is that? How can nonverbal communication matter just as much as the spoken or written word?
Why Nonverbal Communication Matters
It’s Considered More Honest
A lot of people consider nonverbal communication more honest. After all, if you see someone’s words and gestures contradict each other, aren’t you going to believe their gestures over their words? That’s how we can tell when people lie to us: what they say and how they act don’t match, even if all they do is make the wrong gesture while talking.
Most of the time, we can’t control our gestures and facial expressions as well as our words. That’s why they’re considered more genuine. They tell others what we truly think, even if we don’t want them to know.
It Improves Relationships
Nonverbal communication has a great impact on relationships. It can help you build trust with someone else and establish a connection. It can attract other people’s attention, make you more relatable to them.
When paired right with verbal communication, it can make conversations more complex and meaningful. It’s what makes your relationships stronger.
It’s Sometimes More Effective
Sometimes words aren’t enough. Whether you’re doing something as simple as describing shapes or you’re comforting a sad friend, you’re going to rely on nonverbal cues to help you communicate what you need.
Sometimes you don’t need words at all. Facial expressions can convey certain feelings far better than words ever will. As a form of communication, they can be far more efficient than spoken or written words.
It Helps Navigate Social Situations
Social situations can sometimes be awkward and confusing. Nonverbal communication is there to help you navigate them as best you can. It can tell you whether someone is listening to you or if they’re interested in what you’re saying. If you catch the signs, you’ll be able to adapt your behavior. That, in turn, can help you strengthen your relationships.
If someone is misleading you or lying to you, nonverbal communication can help you realize this. After all, we are unable to control every single gesture we make. There are many ways in which the smallest of their actions can tell you their words aren’t as truthful as they seem. This is why it’s so important to be able to understand nonverbal communication.
Improving Nonverbal Communication
You may be wondering, if nonverbal communication isn’t something we can fully control, why should we bother to improve it at all?
Nonverbal communication has a vital role in social situations. It can support what we’re saying, or it can betray what we truly mean. So, if we want to be able to communicate better with others, we need to learn how to speak this wordless language.
Stress has a strong impact on nonverbal communication. It can prevent us from reading people properly, and it can even affect the way in which we communicate with others. We might accidentally confuse others simply because we are too stressed. This is common for our clients navigating infidelity and betrayal trauma.
Introspection and stress management are key components to understanding verbal communication. If that’s something you struggle with, and would like to improve, then schedule an appointment with us. Nonverbal communication is a skill, and like all skills, it can be learned.