Sunday, October 18, 2009
Organizational Communication- Personal
A lot of my time has been spent working with other people, and I would not have had it any other way. Great things can be accomplished when people work together towards a common goal, although, I will not be shy about they fact that organizational communication does not always flow easily. People always seem to have different ideas and work ethics. One of the most positive organizations I have ever worked with was Big Sisters. I have already discussed this organization a small amount in my blog, but it is an all female community service organization. I had the opportunity to be co-president of this club which put me into a position of power. This became difficult sometimes because I wanted all the girls to love me, but I also wanted them to listen to me when I asked them to attend an event or simply be quiet. For downward communication, we used posters, emails, phone calls, face to face contact, etc. You name it- we did it. Because we had so many girls, we knew that some channels would not work and we had to create a sense of redundancy. We also knew how busy the girls were, so reminders for events were imperative. For upward communication, we asked the girls constantly what events they wanted to participate in. We also asked that they voted on big decisions that would change the way the club was run. We felt that this provided the girls with a sense of empowerment so they felt like it was a club that could easily cater to what made them happy. If something wasn’t working, we would meet as a board to discuss what could happen to change the problem. Board meetings were held every week, with two teacher sponsors, and although my co-president and I would facilitate these meetings, we would ask that the communication be a collaborative effort. Meetings with the board and all 100 girls were held every other week. At the meetings, we would play games so that the girls would feel more comfortable working together at events. Many times, we would also have food at the meetings as a reward for those who came. The board would stay after meetings and talk with the girls in order to form relationships with them so that we could “reduce barriers”. I wanted the girls to know that when they entered the organization they gained 107 friends. It was a difficult time, but it was without a doubt, one of the most wonderful times in my life. I would repeat the year in a heartbeat. The experience prepared me to work with others in any job.
Organizational Communication- Applied
To help you better understand how organizational communication is used, I thought I would build an organization that prides itself on positive communication within its borders in order to perform its goal(s). I will call this specific organization “Peach Tea Cupcakes & Coffee”. This business will be located in a metropolitan area, and will cater to anyone with a sweet tooth and a need for great coffee. Its customers will range in age from 0-infinity, and the shop will pride itself on carrying a huge variety of products, not to mention those that can be picked by people who are on specific diets. As you can see, the employees will have their work cut out for them. This will be a, “work-hard-play-hard culture.”
In terms of the organization of power, there will be one owner, one manager, five bakers, three baristas, five people that take orders, three “cleaners”, and two people who run errands for the business. The owners will make decisions that change the image of the business; they will also provide the funds. The managers are second in power. They will “run” the business, and make sure everything goes smoothly. All other workers will be on the same level. The people that the owners employed were hired based on their ability to communicate, work in teams, problem solve, and think creatively. Communication will be used by the business to ask that things get done, to promote healthy relationships between workers, and to create a sense of unity and understanding. The managers and owners know that they must support their employees, and also promote individual empowerment. Because this is a smaller business, relationships will be very important. Supervisors will not be controlling, and no one will be “hovering” over the workers. Every morning, goals will be mapped out on a board for that day as a means of supervisory communication. For instance, the board could says that, that day they need to bake 500 cupcakes, deep clean the kitchen, develop new flavor ideas, and mark down certain products. Meetings and announcements will be placed on a board that all employees know about, and are asked to check daily as a means of “downward” communication. Emails will also be sent out for redundancy, and everyone will have each other’s phone number. For “upward communication”, all employees will meet once a week to discuss ideas, problems, financial issues, and communicative matters. This way, the employers receive feedback on how they are doing their jobs, and it mirrors how efficient the “downward” communication is. Workers will not be asked to do a horrible and stressful amount of work because the managers want them to focus on a greater quality of work. Workers will feel comfortable expressing their feelings and emotions because the managers and owner will promote it in their environment. Affective and cognitive trust will be enforced in order to maintain a sense of peace within the business. If employees are doing their job in a positive way, they will be rewarded sometimes with extra vacation days or raises.
If something is going wrong, all workers will meet immediately and communicate means for a change. Barriers between everyone at the business will be greatly reduced, and the idea of teamwork will increase. “Peach Tea Cupcakes & Coffee” will hopefully be a very fun and lucrative business. Though if it is not, that is what communication is for!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Organizational Communication- Definitional
Humans spend a great deal of time working as parts of a whole. We tend to assume that organizational communication can only be most effectively used in a business field when in fact; it is used in sororities, fraternities, extra-curricular clubs, and schools. Organization communication is defined as, “human communication that occurs within the context of organizations.”(468) It is imperative that we realize that we live in a culture that involves a great amount of organizational communication.
As soon as we are hired for a position, we tend to pick up on verbal and non verbal cues that allude to the norms of the business. This can include clothing, timing, and the use of space. Deal and Kennedy state that there are four types of culture, and four leadership styles that are identified with each. A tough-guy-macho culture deals with high risk situations that involve matters of life or death (i.e. surgeons, police men, and firemen.) Organizations that define themselves as having a work-hard-play-hard culture are very focused on sales, and customer approval. If a company must put themselves in a high risk situation with slower feedback it is considered a bet-your-company culture. A process culture is purely concerned with evolvement of how something is completed. Because we have had such great changes in demographics, the assessment of good organizational communication is incredibly important.
Research has showed a huge parallel between communication and employee productivity. When asked how much time they spend communicating during a work day, many employees answered around 90 percent. In fact, when companies are hiring, the first thing they look for in a person is great, “communication and interpersonal skills”, followed by, “ability to work well in teams.”(472) Most companies understand the need for their employees to work well together, and they have significantly increased their teamwork. Other companies have also realized that works should feel empowered to make decisions, and are therefore given slightly more flexibility. Fisher defines empowerment as- (authority x resources x information and accountability). Communication seems to perform three specific functions in an organization. The first is the command function, which states that people will be given directions so that they may offer feedback. The second function of communication is the relation function. This function serves to use communication as a means to create relationships that will affect job performance. If people develop great relationships with those that they work with, their satisfaction with their job increases. The third function is called ambiguity management. Many times in large or small companies, there will be a lot of people working together who have different characteristics, ideas, and ways of completing tasks. In this way, communication gets everyone “on the same page.”
Anyone who serves as supervisor in an organization has an incredibly significant role. Everyone who works under them has so constantly know what is being asked of them. A supervisor should use a great deal of supportive communication. They should help an employee problem solve and develop new skills. They also should not be afraid to praise a job well done, and they should encourage their workers to speak up and make decisions. No employ wants a supervisor constantly breathing down their neck. For this reason, a supervisor should use non controlling communication. A non controlling supervisor doesn’t force employees to accomplish tasks in the same way the supervisor would. This communication allows employees to complete the task in his or her own way. Trust between a supervisor and an employee can affect productivity. Trusting someone is based on two components- one is rational (cognitive) and the other is emotional (effective). In a relationship with a supervisor, cognitive trust will be established if the person is professional, reliable, and they have a good track record. Affective trust occurs when people can share feelings and emotions. There two people can also talk freely and they can share their problems with each other. Five important qualities that help supervisors establish trust are behavioral consistency, behavioral integrity, sharing and delegation of control, communication, and lastly, demonstration of concern.
Second in importance to supervisory communication is the idea of downward communication. In downward communication, communication is, “initiated by the organization’s upper management and then filters downward through the chain of command.”(478) Employees will hear about news, tasks and other important information via many different channels. These channels include email, voice mail, department meetings, telephone calls, speeches, and memos. In many cases, workers are so busy, that the contacting them is very difficult. When it comes to keeping up with an excess of new material, people usually adapt to the information in seven different ways. Some people will omit the information all together which means they fail to handle the task. Other people can “error” which means they ignore the information. Those that prefer “queuing” tend to let the information build up. If a person ranks the task in importance they are usually “filtering”. And if an employee accomplishes the task, but not thoroughly, they are said to be doing an “approximation.” And lastly, if a person fails to handle the information at all, it is called an “escape”. The effectiveness of downward communication can be assessed in a number of ways. Most have found that when relaying information, a channel that combines oral and written messages is most effective. If a message is sent more than once using different channels it is considered redundancy. This redundancy helps busy people remember their tasks more. Though, if a person receives too many messages and memos they will likely become too busy to finish all their tasks. This is why the law of diminishing terms is important- it states that, “more is better, up to a point.”(480) In downward communication, the use of power usually comes into play. Researchers have identified five types of power. Three of the types (legitimate, reward, and coercive power) are used by the supervisor. Legitimate power is the power a person has simply by being in their position. Reward power is the ability to give rewards such as bonuses or time off. Coercive power is, “the ability to influence individuals by withholding rewards.”(282) The other two types of power are for personal means. Expert power gives a person the ability to influence another through his or her knowledge. A person will use referent power when they wish to be parallel with the “higher” powered source. The selective use of objective criteria, forming coalitions, and cooptation are as used as power tactics. A use of objective criteria gives people the ability to make only certain decisions based on what they need. Because a there is power in numbers, people have found it successful to influence others with the use of a coalition. A cooptation tactic is used to gain something by asking the person in higher power to become a partner.
Upward communication is defined as, “the process whereby the ideas, feelings, and perceptions of lower-level employees are communicated to those at higher levels in the organization.”(484) Upward communication has five important functions. It will provide management with information in order to make decisions. It will allow employees to relive the stress they deal with in the work situation. There will be a larger sense of participation. It will be used to determine how effective the company’s downward communication is, and it could suggest other better uses of downward communication. Some companies don’t use upward communication as much as they should. A boss should have a large upward receptivity which is, “the willingness to receive messages from subordinates.”(485) A type of upward communication is ingratiation which is an attempt made my employees, “increase their attractiveness in the eyes of others.”(286) There are three psychological barriers that can alter upward communication. If an employee believes that disclosing something will not allow them to complete a personal goal, they will not share the information. If a supervisor rewards the disclosure of feelings, employees will most likely feel better about sharing. Also, if a supervisor tends to be open, his employees will often share their feelings. For an employee to create change using downward communication they must package their ideas in a professional manor. This can include the use of statistics, graphs, charts, and visual aids. If there is a need for a specific changes, employees should get involved on committees, task forces, and teams. It is imperative though, to understand that change is a process and it will not come about in a second.
Horizontal communication is the messages relayed between people on the same level of an organization. The four functions of this type of communication are task coordination, problem solving, information sharing, and conflict resolution. The linking-pin function serves as a means to overlap organizations and groups in order communicate information upwards, downwards, and across the system. For this type of communication to be effective, barriers have to be reduced. Four different tactics have been used to reduce barriers. A good way to reduce barriers is to encourage each department to be successful in order to make the whole operation successful. If a company is highly interactive and is in frequent communication, information will be processed more easily. The rotation of people in positions will increase people’s empathy. If a company avoids a win-lose situation they will offer rewards to everyone, pool resources, and they will not put departments in competition. Organizations use team building activities to increase the relationships between employees.
Effective communication is imperative for change to occur within an organization. Organizational change can sometimes be difficult because of the need for cultural change. An evolving organization is seen as a web of relationships. Sometimes chaos can actually mean that an organization’s order is decreasing. Little things that occur within an organization can actually create huge problems.
Within an organization, many different informal channels are used. Rumors will usually develop, and three variables contribute to them- importance, ambiguity, and critical sense. For instance, rumors become larger if the information being said is not clear. As messages are passed from person to person they undergo three changes. If a message is leveled, certain details are left out. When the message is sharpened, it is exaggerated. If a person assimilates a message they will alter it in order to go along with their own ideas. People usually hear messages via the “grapevine.” Researchers have found this to be the fastest way that messages travel, and oddly, it is considered 80-90 percent effective. Alternatives to the grapevine are informal conversations, social activities, and companywide meetings. Information is mostly relayed via a person’s supervisor though.
As I learned more and more about organizational communication I realized how much I experience it in my life. Many times I have worked in a position as a subordinate, or as a leader. It is crucial that humans learn how to be most effective in the work place. Especially at this time of financial crisis, people must keep their jobs by being productive.
Bibliography:
Tubbs, Stewart, & Moss, Sylvia (1974). Human Communication. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill .
As soon as we are hired for a position, we tend to pick up on verbal and non verbal cues that allude to the norms of the business. This can include clothing, timing, and the use of space. Deal and Kennedy state that there are four types of culture, and four leadership styles that are identified with each. A tough-guy-macho culture deals with high risk situations that involve matters of life or death (i.e. surgeons, police men, and firemen.) Organizations that define themselves as having a work-hard-play-hard culture are very focused on sales, and customer approval. If a company must put themselves in a high risk situation with slower feedback it is considered a bet-your-company culture. A process culture is purely concerned with evolvement of how something is completed. Because we have had such great changes in demographics, the assessment of good organizational communication is incredibly important.
Research has showed a huge parallel between communication and employee productivity. When asked how much time they spend communicating during a work day, many employees answered around 90 percent. In fact, when companies are hiring, the first thing they look for in a person is great, “communication and interpersonal skills”, followed by, “ability to work well in teams.”(472) Most companies understand the need for their employees to work well together, and they have significantly increased their teamwork. Other companies have also realized that works should feel empowered to make decisions, and are therefore given slightly more flexibility. Fisher defines empowerment as- (authority x resources x information and accountability). Communication seems to perform three specific functions in an organization. The first is the command function, which states that people will be given directions so that they may offer feedback. The second function of communication is the relation function. This function serves to use communication as a means to create relationships that will affect job performance. If people develop great relationships with those that they work with, their satisfaction with their job increases. The third function is called ambiguity management. Many times in large or small companies, there will be a lot of people working together who have different characteristics, ideas, and ways of completing tasks. In this way, communication gets everyone “on the same page.”
Anyone who serves as supervisor in an organization has an incredibly significant role. Everyone who works under them has so constantly know what is being asked of them. A supervisor should use a great deal of supportive communication. They should help an employee problem solve and develop new skills. They also should not be afraid to praise a job well done, and they should encourage their workers to speak up and make decisions. No employ wants a supervisor constantly breathing down their neck. For this reason, a supervisor should use non controlling communication. A non controlling supervisor doesn’t force employees to accomplish tasks in the same way the supervisor would. This communication allows employees to complete the task in his or her own way. Trust between a supervisor and an employee can affect productivity. Trusting someone is based on two components- one is rational (cognitive) and the other is emotional (effective). In a relationship with a supervisor, cognitive trust will be established if the person is professional, reliable, and they have a good track record. Affective trust occurs when people can share feelings and emotions. There two people can also talk freely and they can share their problems with each other. Five important qualities that help supervisors establish trust are behavioral consistency, behavioral integrity, sharing and delegation of control, communication, and lastly, demonstration of concern.
Second in importance to supervisory communication is the idea of downward communication. In downward communication, communication is, “initiated by the organization’s upper management and then filters downward through the chain of command.”(478) Employees will hear about news, tasks and other important information via many different channels. These channels include email, voice mail, department meetings, telephone calls, speeches, and memos. In many cases, workers are so busy, that the contacting them is very difficult. When it comes to keeping up with an excess of new material, people usually adapt to the information in seven different ways. Some people will omit the information all together which means they fail to handle the task. Other people can “error” which means they ignore the information. Those that prefer “queuing” tend to let the information build up. If a person ranks the task in importance they are usually “filtering”. And if an employee accomplishes the task, but not thoroughly, they are said to be doing an “approximation.” And lastly, if a person fails to handle the information at all, it is called an “escape”. The effectiveness of downward communication can be assessed in a number of ways. Most have found that when relaying information, a channel that combines oral and written messages is most effective. If a message is sent more than once using different channels it is considered redundancy. This redundancy helps busy people remember their tasks more. Though, if a person receives too many messages and memos they will likely become too busy to finish all their tasks. This is why the law of diminishing terms is important- it states that, “more is better, up to a point.”(480) In downward communication, the use of power usually comes into play. Researchers have identified five types of power. Three of the types (legitimate, reward, and coercive power) are used by the supervisor. Legitimate power is the power a person has simply by being in their position. Reward power is the ability to give rewards such as bonuses or time off. Coercive power is, “the ability to influence individuals by withholding rewards.”(282) The other two types of power are for personal means. Expert power gives a person the ability to influence another through his or her knowledge. A person will use referent power when they wish to be parallel with the “higher” powered source. The selective use of objective criteria, forming coalitions, and cooptation are as used as power tactics. A use of objective criteria gives people the ability to make only certain decisions based on what they need. Because a there is power in numbers, people have found it successful to influence others with the use of a coalition. A cooptation tactic is used to gain something by asking the person in higher power to become a partner.
Upward communication is defined as, “the process whereby the ideas, feelings, and perceptions of lower-level employees are communicated to those at higher levels in the organization.”(484) Upward communication has five important functions. It will provide management with information in order to make decisions. It will allow employees to relive the stress they deal with in the work situation. There will be a larger sense of participation. It will be used to determine how effective the company’s downward communication is, and it could suggest other better uses of downward communication. Some companies don’t use upward communication as much as they should. A boss should have a large upward receptivity which is, “the willingness to receive messages from subordinates.”(485) A type of upward communication is ingratiation which is an attempt made my employees, “increase their attractiveness in the eyes of others.”(286) There are three psychological barriers that can alter upward communication. If an employee believes that disclosing something will not allow them to complete a personal goal, they will not share the information. If a supervisor rewards the disclosure of feelings, employees will most likely feel better about sharing. Also, if a supervisor tends to be open, his employees will often share their feelings. For an employee to create change using downward communication they must package their ideas in a professional manor. This can include the use of statistics, graphs, charts, and visual aids. If there is a need for a specific changes, employees should get involved on committees, task forces, and teams. It is imperative though, to understand that change is a process and it will not come about in a second.
Horizontal communication is the messages relayed between people on the same level of an organization. The four functions of this type of communication are task coordination, problem solving, information sharing, and conflict resolution. The linking-pin function serves as a means to overlap organizations and groups in order communicate information upwards, downwards, and across the system. For this type of communication to be effective, barriers have to be reduced. Four different tactics have been used to reduce barriers. A good way to reduce barriers is to encourage each department to be successful in order to make the whole operation successful. If a company is highly interactive and is in frequent communication, information will be processed more easily. The rotation of people in positions will increase people’s empathy. If a company avoids a win-lose situation they will offer rewards to everyone, pool resources, and they will not put departments in competition. Organizations use team building activities to increase the relationships between employees.
Effective communication is imperative for change to occur within an organization. Organizational change can sometimes be difficult because of the need for cultural change. An evolving organization is seen as a web of relationships. Sometimes chaos can actually mean that an organization’s order is decreasing. Little things that occur within an organization can actually create huge problems.
Within an organization, many different informal channels are used. Rumors will usually develop, and three variables contribute to them- importance, ambiguity, and critical sense. For instance, rumors become larger if the information being said is not clear. As messages are passed from person to person they undergo three changes. If a message is leveled, certain details are left out. When the message is sharpened, it is exaggerated. If a person assimilates a message they will alter it in order to go along with their own ideas. People usually hear messages via the “grapevine.” Researchers have found this to be the fastest way that messages travel, and oddly, it is considered 80-90 percent effective. Alternatives to the grapevine are informal conversations, social activities, and companywide meetings. Information is mostly relayed via a person’s supervisor though.
As I learned more and more about organizational communication I realized how much I experience it in my life. Many times I have worked in a position as a subordinate, or as a leader. It is crucial that humans learn how to be most effective in the work place. Especially at this time of financial crisis, people must keep their jobs by being productive.
Bibliography:
Tubbs, Stewart, & Moss, Sylvia (1974). Human Communication. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill .
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Nonverbal- Applied
When it comes to nonverbal communication, I ask you- who does it better than Britney Spears? We hear about her antics in the tabloids every day, and she rarely speaks to why she acts in the crazy ways that she does. Last year, she was seen hitting a photographer with an umbrella. Obviously, she was a little bit angry to attack him in such a harsh manor. Instead of asking the man to stop shooting photos, she decided that it was time to communicate her hatred nonverbally. Shall I even talk about the infamous shaving of the head? Photos all around the world were posted which showed Britney in a barber shop, shaving her own head. At this point, most people are questioning her sanity. Many psychologists were asked about her behavior, and they responded that she was most likely nonverbally, “crying” for help. Another matter all together, is her clothing. She rocks fishnets, neon tops, jean skirts, and crazy bras like it is her job. Every time I see her in these outfits, I wonder how she wants to be defined. Is she simply trying to rebel, or does she actually like these clothes? One week she will be wearing something rather conservative, and people will sigh in relief because that seems to communicate that she is sane. When she wears something totally bizarre, the media runs headlines such as, “Britney is in dire need of help,” or, “she’s back in rehab.” In a way, I feel bad for her because she seems to communicate her insanity very well, and it covers up the fact that she could be a somewhat normal mother. Most of what we think about celebrities has been communicated to us nonverbally through pictures. It seems unfortunate to me that we believe everything we see, when we do not have the opportunity to speak the individuals. Another part of me thinks that Britney Spears communicates exactly what she wants us to know. Perhaps she is sad, lonely, and a tad bit crazy? From what I have seen, I might be drawn to that conclusion.
Personal- Nonverbal
For my personal connection on non verbal communication I thought I would take you way back with me to seventh grade. At this point in my life I was sassy! I tended to be very verbally sparring when it came to matters of opinion. I was still a very kind person, but I got a great deal of satisfaction out of disagreeing with someone. As I grew up, I became more and more non confrontational. But anyways, during my seventh grade year I had a social studies teacher who I really did not like. She was young and rather moody all the time. Every day she would come in and ask us to do about 100 book questions. She would then lecture us on things that did not even connect to what we were reading. Our assignments were long and tedious. I began to despise social studies! After awhile, when she explained our assignment, I would roll my eyes and sigh loudly. I was far too scared to actually speak to her about my anger, so I would communicate my disgust unconsciously, and nonverbally. The problem was that I was a good student, and I always completed my assignments for her class, but she began to dislike me as much as I disliked her class. I had been sighing and rolling my eyes for so long, that it happened naturally and the thought did not even occur to me that she would view me as a “brat”. She began to call on me all the time to answer questions, and she would ask to speak to me after class about silly things. I would go home and cry, complaining to my mom that my teacher was treating me unfairly. Like any mother, my mom called this teacher up and asked her what I had done in order to be treated this way. The teacher, of course, replied that I frequently rolled my eyes and sighed in class which communicated the fact that I did not like her teaching method. When my mom told me this I immediately understood the teacher’s reasoning. I began to carefully watch my nonverbal communication so that the teacher knew I respected her. She was after all, an authority figure, and I had no right to conclude that she couldn’t do her job well. The next day we straightened things out, and from that day on, I started to enjoy her class. This teacher and I actually became friends, and I went to talk to her about things in the future. I think that many people have the tendency to communicate things unconsciously that they really would not want to communicate. Although I did not enjoy her class, I know that I would not want to convey my judgment as I respected her as a teacher.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Defintional- Nonverbal Communication
In order to define non verbal communication we have to decipher between what is verbal, nonverbal, vocal and non vocal. If communication is verbal and vocal, speaking will occur. Non verbal and non vocal communication involves things such as hand placement, clothing, and gestures. All of these things can convey confidence in a person. An example on nonverbal/vocal communication would be a sigh or a groan because although I am not using words I am still communicating something. In verbal/non vocal communication, words are used but they are not spoken. An example of this would be a highway mileage sign.
It is incredibly important that we study non verbal communication because, “as much as 65 percent of all social meaning in face-to-face communication in conveyed through nonverbal cues.”(105) Non verbal cues are physical movements that get across a message. For example, when we first meet someone we usually smile. Non verbal cues are incredibly important when it comes to forming first impressions of people. Non verbal messages can replace, reinforce, and contradict verbal messages. An important part of non verbal communication is kinesics, which is the study of body movements. When a person’s verbal message contradicts their nonverbal message we call it a kinesic slip. As humans, we have to understand that everything we do, or everything we don’t do, communicates a message.
An important part of understanding nonverbal communication is interpreting what it means to have personal space. Personal space is defined as someone’s “personal bubble” that they carry with them wherever they go. A violation of personal space can result in a great amount of tension. Research on personal space focuses on the connection between “spatial arrangements…and human feelings and interaction.”(109) Everyone has a differing view of personal space, but it is important that we look for their cues so that we do not make them uncomfortable. Proxemics deals with the way humans communicate through their use of a space. An intimate distance is defined by being 0-18inches apart. This message is usually said in a whisper and is secret. Those with a personal distance are 1.5-4ft apart from each other, and they usually speak softly conveying personal “subject matter.” Social distance will be about 4-12ft, and a person’s voice will be at full volume and their message will be nonpersonal. And finally, public distance will be about 12-25 plus feet and this would include conveying public information to a group.
Throughout the world we will encounter high- and low- contact cultures. An important term when deciding this is co-culture which is a group of people that have distinctive characteristics that set them about from other members of a culture. In a high contact culture you will most likely find people who touch each other, stand closer to each other, make eye contact, and speak higher more often. An example of this would be they way that in Europe a common greeting includes being kissed on both cheeks. Those in a low contact culture will not make high contact and sit as closely as often. The United States is not defined as being high or low because we have such a mix of cultures.
Our orientation says a lot about our relationship with another person. Orientation is the, “angle of your body as you interact with another person.”(113) If you stand side to side with someone you will find that although you are closer to each other, you lack eye contact. If you stand in a vis-à-vis frame you actually stand facing the other person and you maintain eye contact. If we sit directly across someone at a rectangular table, we are usually conveying a sense of competition. The aspect of time is something that adds a great amount to the study of nonverbal communication. Chronemics is the study of how we communicate using time. A lot of times we convey something nonverbally long before we even speak. For example, if a person is running on the street in work appropriate clothes we can automatically assume that they are running late. It varies from culture to culture what is considered early or late. The United States has a reputation for moving very quickly. Time that is monochronic is linear and segmented. Monochronic people accomplish one task at a time and are very committed to their jobs. In polychronic time, many things are happening at once. Polychronic people tend to be distracted easily and they change their plans often.
The most important visual cue is facial expression. We use facial expression to, “identify a person’s social category membership,” to understand personality traits, to examine a person’s attention, to understand sincerity, and to comprehend someone’s thoughts or feelings. (118) Charles Darwin tried to discover whether or not facial expressions tend to be universal. From his studying he concluded that people express their emotions instinctively, and they are not learned. According to Matsumoto, the six universal facial expressions include disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, surprise, and anger. These expressions are also used by animals. Many cultures have different cultural display rules and mold people to express their emotions in a certain way. Thus, if we are members of a culture, we are better at deciphering someone’s emotions of the same culture. We also tend to mimic each other unconsciously, which is called the chameleon effect. The results of this effect include increased liking and affiliation. Being able to discern someone’s facial features says a great deal about their emotional intelligence.
A person who studies eye contact, eye movements, and pupil dilation is concerned with oculesics. A human spends, “30 to 60 percent of our time in eye contact with others.” (120) Rules about eye contact include the knowledge that if someone looks away from us, they are rejecting us. If they maintain our eye contact they are accepting our “invitation”. There is more mutual eye contact between people who are friends. Speakers who maintain eye contact are more, “believable and earnest.” If someone replaces short gazes for long gazes, a person can usually conclude that they view the relationship as more important than the task at hand. Eye contact functions to regulate the flow of communication, assess feedback, express feelings, and communicate the state of the relationship.
If we observe someone’s body movements we can learn a lot about how they feel. If a person is ready for a relationship they will display signs of courtship readiness. This includes the adjustment of a tie or the fixing of hair. Positioning tells us whether or not two people are attracted to each other. If two people sit face to face and lean forward we can conclude that they are eager to get to know each other. If the woman starts flirting with the male she is giving an action of appeal. Ekman concluded that our facial expression and eye contact conveys a specific emotion, and our body gives a person an idea of the depth of that emotion.
Humans are different than animals in the way that we posses great, “manual dexterity.” Our hand gestures rank second in our non verbal cues. A person who stands with their palms up is conveying that they are a nonthreatening individual. On the other hand, if a person stands with their palms down they are putting themselves in an authoritative position. In some cultures, if a person closes their palms and points their fingers it is considered offensive. Pointing is also something that many people consider offensive. A study also concluded that using hand gestures increases our thinking skills. People who are deaf can only use hand gestures to communicate which says a lot about how much we can convey through using them.
Haptics deals with how someone uses touch to communicate. Touch from others is essential for children to grow and for adults to be emotionally stable. Different relationships have different views on touch. Friends will usually hug whereas a couple will kiss. Touch varies in gender and culture. Our touch can increase, “self disclosure and compliant behavior.”(126)There are seven different types of touch researchers have found. Positive affect touches include, “touches of support…affection, physical attraction, and sexual interest.”(126) Playful aggression and affection is conveyed through playful touch. A control touch is used to ask for compliance. A greeting or goodbye is signaled using ritualistic touches. If the greeting or departure includes affection it is a hybrid touch. An example of a task related touch would be saying that you like a certain fabric while rubbing it. When we unintentionally brush someone it is an accidental touch. If a person has touch avoidance they have a negative attitude towards the use of touch, and it can affect, “proxemics and nonverbal communication.”(127)
Our physical appearance can say a lot about us as individuals. Objectics studies how we use physical objects to communicate nonverbally. How we present ourselves to others through clothing speak a great depth about our confidence. For instance, someone who wears sweats and never does their hair is most likely going to be viewed as someone who does not care about their physical appearance. On the other hand, someone who takes pride in themselves and dresses nicely understands that first impressions are formed based on appearance. What someone wears also tells us about their status. A person with a navy uniform is obviously in the navy, and a person wearing scrubs most likely works in a medical field. Objects are also things that convey messages easily. These objects can include displaying an American flag, or a pink ribbon for breast cancer. The norms of clothing, appearance, and objects differ greatly from culture to culture. In America, a lot of people tend to buy large houses and drive sports cars because they know it conveys their social class.
There is a huge difference between what is said and how it was said. Paralinguistics is, “the study of vocal phenomena.”(130) There are two components of paralinguistics- voice qualities (pitch, range, resonance, lip control, and articulation and control), and vocalizations such as laughing, sighing, or crying. If emotions are similar, our ability to identify them becomes less. If we speak at a low volume we become a source of interference for the listener. Researchers have found that aggressive people tend to speak loudly, whereas submissive people tend to speak quietly. In order for us to know whether our volume is appropriate we have to look for feedback from the listener. Rate of speech is defined as the, “number of words you utter within a specified time.”(131) The normal speaking rate is around 125-150 words per minute. Faster speech has been linked with feeling nervous or scared. Speaking rate differs from person to person, and some people have the ability to maintain control despite their emotions. Speaking rate differs from person to person, and some people have the ability to maintain control despite their emotions. Our rate of speech and number of pauses affects our fluency, or our ability to stay consistent. This is why it is important to refrain from using, “like, um, or er.” Our pitch is the high or low level of our voice. A speaker who varies their pitch is usually more captivating than a speaker who stays monotone. A person who is expressing something naturally will usually use a variety of pitch tones which conveys sincerity. Every person in the world has a different voice quality which makes us unique. Factors that affect this are the size and shape of our bodies. In our culture we do not like hoarseness or harshness. It is true that having, “an attractive voice is a distinct advantage.”(134) We can improve or vocal quality with training.
The study of nonverbal communication can be incredibly important in helping us to determine whether a person is lying or telling the truth. Research has found that humans are far better at detecting truth than they are at detecting deception. Even if we have a close relationship with someone, it doesn’t necessarily mean that we will have an easier time telling if they are deceiving us. People who lie tend to display more nonverbal cues that connect with deception. This might include a higher rate of speech or frequent pauses. Liars usually decrease their movements, which is a common misconception. If someone smiles and maintains eye contact it does not mean they are telling the truth either. When it comes to eyes, blinking and pupil dilation can tell us a lot about whether or not the individual is being truthful or not. A person who is deceiving will usually speak in a higher pitch with greater “vocal stress.” These two things are defined as leakage or signs of deception. If a speaker responds quickly, it can usually indicate that he or she is presenting a prepared lie. Someone who is telling the truth will usually take a moment to gather their thoughts. If a person’s voice is flat and deeper toned we can usually conclude that they are experiencing “over control” because they fear leakage. A technology that has been used for almost 15 years is voice stress analysis, and it can be very helpful in, “registering subtle emotion changes.”(137) Our feedback says a lot about whether we believe a person or not.
As we study non verbal communication, we not only become more fluent ourselves, but we also become more emotionally intelligent. Non verbal cues are all around us! All we have to do is sit back and take them in.
Bibliography:
Tubbs, Stewart, & Moss, Sylvia (1974). Human Communication. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill .
It is incredibly important that we study non verbal communication because, “as much as 65 percent of all social meaning in face-to-face communication in conveyed through nonverbal cues.”(105) Non verbal cues are physical movements that get across a message. For example, when we first meet someone we usually smile. Non verbal cues are incredibly important when it comes to forming first impressions of people. Non verbal messages can replace, reinforce, and contradict verbal messages. An important part of non verbal communication is kinesics, which is the study of body movements. When a person’s verbal message contradicts their nonverbal message we call it a kinesic slip. As humans, we have to understand that everything we do, or everything we don’t do, communicates a message.
An important part of understanding nonverbal communication is interpreting what it means to have personal space. Personal space is defined as someone’s “personal bubble” that they carry with them wherever they go. A violation of personal space can result in a great amount of tension. Research on personal space focuses on the connection between “spatial arrangements…and human feelings and interaction.”(109) Everyone has a differing view of personal space, but it is important that we look for their cues so that we do not make them uncomfortable. Proxemics deals with the way humans communicate through their use of a space. An intimate distance is defined by being 0-18inches apart. This message is usually said in a whisper and is secret. Those with a personal distance are 1.5-4ft apart from each other, and they usually speak softly conveying personal “subject matter.” Social distance will be about 4-12ft, and a person’s voice will be at full volume and their message will be nonpersonal. And finally, public distance will be about 12-25 plus feet and this would include conveying public information to a group.
Throughout the world we will encounter high- and low- contact cultures. An important term when deciding this is co-culture which is a group of people that have distinctive characteristics that set them about from other members of a culture. In a high contact culture you will most likely find people who touch each other, stand closer to each other, make eye contact, and speak higher more often. An example of this would be they way that in Europe a common greeting includes being kissed on both cheeks. Those in a low contact culture will not make high contact and sit as closely as often. The United States is not defined as being high or low because we have such a mix of cultures.
Our orientation says a lot about our relationship with another person. Orientation is the, “angle of your body as you interact with another person.”(113) If you stand side to side with someone you will find that although you are closer to each other, you lack eye contact. If you stand in a vis-à-vis frame you actually stand facing the other person and you maintain eye contact. If we sit directly across someone at a rectangular table, we are usually conveying a sense of competition. The aspect of time is something that adds a great amount to the study of nonverbal communication. Chronemics is the study of how we communicate using time. A lot of times we convey something nonverbally long before we even speak. For example, if a person is running on the street in work appropriate clothes we can automatically assume that they are running late. It varies from culture to culture what is considered early or late. The United States has a reputation for moving very quickly. Time that is monochronic is linear and segmented. Monochronic people accomplish one task at a time and are very committed to their jobs. In polychronic time, many things are happening at once. Polychronic people tend to be distracted easily and they change their plans often.
The most important visual cue is facial expression. We use facial expression to, “identify a person’s social category membership,” to understand personality traits, to examine a person’s attention, to understand sincerity, and to comprehend someone’s thoughts or feelings. (118) Charles Darwin tried to discover whether or not facial expressions tend to be universal. From his studying he concluded that people express their emotions instinctively, and they are not learned. According to Matsumoto, the six universal facial expressions include disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, surprise, and anger. These expressions are also used by animals. Many cultures have different cultural display rules and mold people to express their emotions in a certain way. Thus, if we are members of a culture, we are better at deciphering someone’s emotions of the same culture. We also tend to mimic each other unconsciously, which is called the chameleon effect. The results of this effect include increased liking and affiliation. Being able to discern someone’s facial features says a great deal about their emotional intelligence.
A person who studies eye contact, eye movements, and pupil dilation is concerned with oculesics. A human spends, “30 to 60 percent of our time in eye contact with others.” (120) Rules about eye contact include the knowledge that if someone looks away from us, they are rejecting us. If they maintain our eye contact they are accepting our “invitation”. There is more mutual eye contact between people who are friends. Speakers who maintain eye contact are more, “believable and earnest.” If someone replaces short gazes for long gazes, a person can usually conclude that they view the relationship as more important than the task at hand. Eye contact functions to regulate the flow of communication, assess feedback, express feelings, and communicate the state of the relationship.
If we observe someone’s body movements we can learn a lot about how they feel. If a person is ready for a relationship they will display signs of courtship readiness. This includes the adjustment of a tie or the fixing of hair. Positioning tells us whether or not two people are attracted to each other. If two people sit face to face and lean forward we can conclude that they are eager to get to know each other. If the woman starts flirting with the male she is giving an action of appeal. Ekman concluded that our facial expression and eye contact conveys a specific emotion, and our body gives a person an idea of the depth of that emotion.
Humans are different than animals in the way that we posses great, “manual dexterity.” Our hand gestures rank second in our non verbal cues. A person who stands with their palms up is conveying that they are a nonthreatening individual. On the other hand, if a person stands with their palms down they are putting themselves in an authoritative position. In some cultures, if a person closes their palms and points their fingers it is considered offensive. Pointing is also something that many people consider offensive. A study also concluded that using hand gestures increases our thinking skills. People who are deaf can only use hand gestures to communicate which says a lot about how much we can convey through using them.
Haptics deals with how someone uses touch to communicate. Touch from others is essential for children to grow and for adults to be emotionally stable. Different relationships have different views on touch. Friends will usually hug whereas a couple will kiss. Touch varies in gender and culture. Our touch can increase, “self disclosure and compliant behavior.”(126)There are seven different types of touch researchers have found. Positive affect touches include, “touches of support…affection, physical attraction, and sexual interest.”(126) Playful aggression and affection is conveyed through playful touch. A control touch is used to ask for compliance. A greeting or goodbye is signaled using ritualistic touches. If the greeting or departure includes affection it is a hybrid touch. An example of a task related touch would be saying that you like a certain fabric while rubbing it. When we unintentionally brush someone it is an accidental touch. If a person has touch avoidance they have a negative attitude towards the use of touch, and it can affect, “proxemics and nonverbal communication.”(127)
Our physical appearance can say a lot about us as individuals. Objectics studies how we use physical objects to communicate nonverbally. How we present ourselves to others through clothing speak a great depth about our confidence. For instance, someone who wears sweats and never does their hair is most likely going to be viewed as someone who does not care about their physical appearance. On the other hand, someone who takes pride in themselves and dresses nicely understands that first impressions are formed based on appearance. What someone wears also tells us about their status. A person with a navy uniform is obviously in the navy, and a person wearing scrubs most likely works in a medical field. Objects are also things that convey messages easily. These objects can include displaying an American flag, or a pink ribbon for breast cancer. The norms of clothing, appearance, and objects differ greatly from culture to culture. In America, a lot of people tend to buy large houses and drive sports cars because they know it conveys their social class.
There is a huge difference between what is said and how it was said. Paralinguistics is, “the study of vocal phenomena.”(130) There are two components of paralinguistics- voice qualities (pitch, range, resonance, lip control, and articulation and control), and vocalizations such as laughing, sighing, or crying. If emotions are similar, our ability to identify them becomes less. If we speak at a low volume we become a source of interference for the listener. Researchers have found that aggressive people tend to speak loudly, whereas submissive people tend to speak quietly. In order for us to know whether our volume is appropriate we have to look for feedback from the listener. Rate of speech is defined as the, “number of words you utter within a specified time.”(131) The normal speaking rate is around 125-150 words per minute. Faster speech has been linked with feeling nervous or scared. Speaking rate differs from person to person, and some people have the ability to maintain control despite their emotions. Speaking rate differs from person to person, and some people have the ability to maintain control despite their emotions. Our rate of speech and number of pauses affects our fluency, or our ability to stay consistent. This is why it is important to refrain from using, “like, um, or er.” Our pitch is the high or low level of our voice. A speaker who varies their pitch is usually more captivating than a speaker who stays monotone. A person who is expressing something naturally will usually use a variety of pitch tones which conveys sincerity. Every person in the world has a different voice quality which makes us unique. Factors that affect this are the size and shape of our bodies. In our culture we do not like hoarseness or harshness. It is true that having, “an attractive voice is a distinct advantage.”(134) We can improve or vocal quality with training.
The study of nonverbal communication can be incredibly important in helping us to determine whether a person is lying or telling the truth. Research has found that humans are far better at detecting truth than they are at detecting deception. Even if we have a close relationship with someone, it doesn’t necessarily mean that we will have an easier time telling if they are deceiving us. People who lie tend to display more nonverbal cues that connect with deception. This might include a higher rate of speech or frequent pauses. Liars usually decrease their movements, which is a common misconception. If someone smiles and maintains eye contact it does not mean they are telling the truth either. When it comes to eyes, blinking and pupil dilation can tell us a lot about whether or not the individual is being truthful or not. A person who is deceiving will usually speak in a higher pitch with greater “vocal stress.” These two things are defined as leakage or signs of deception. If a speaker responds quickly, it can usually indicate that he or she is presenting a prepared lie. Someone who is telling the truth will usually take a moment to gather their thoughts. If a person’s voice is flat and deeper toned we can usually conclude that they are experiencing “over control” because they fear leakage. A technology that has been used for almost 15 years is voice stress analysis, and it can be very helpful in, “registering subtle emotion changes.”(137) Our feedback says a lot about whether we believe a person or not.
As we study non verbal communication, we not only become more fluent ourselves, but we also become more emotionally intelligent. Non verbal cues are all around us! All we have to do is sit back and take them in.
Bibliography:
Tubbs, Stewart, & Moss, Sylvia (1974). Human Communication. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill .
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