Communication at work Flashcards
Non-verbal communication
The process of communicating without using written or spoken language.
Can be done through:
Body movement- hand gestures, nodding, shaking head
Posture- legs/armed crossed, slouched shoulders, sitting
Eye contact- pupil dilation, blink rate, patterns of fixation
Para-language- vocal segregates (uh), pitch, tone of voice
Proximity- how close/ far the person is/ personal space
Facial expression
Artefacts- clothes, accessories
Physiological changes- sweating, blushing
Meaning may vary from culture/ can lead to faulty commuication
People may not always be fully aware of this as it may be done unconsciously.
Cultural universal in facial expression
Means that certain expressions are the same across different cultures.
Sticking tongue out:
Seen as a mocking gesture in Western countries
Seen as a greeting and gesture of reverence in Polynesia
Cultural differences in personal space
Every person has a personal bubble they keep to themselves when communicating.
There are 4 zones depending on the situation and people involved.
Intimate space- used for close encounters such as embracing and whispering
Personal space- interactions with close friends and family members, used for haptics
Spacial space- interaction among acquaintances. Mostly used in work or school spaces
Public space- for strangers or public speaking
There are strong cultural differences on these factors
Women preferred more personal space from strangers than men in almost all of the countries studied.
People living in warmer places tended to keep less distance than those in colder climes. And the older you are, the farther away you stand.
Effects of e-mail communication
It is electronic mails used for transmission of messages over communication networks between individuals or organisations
Benefits:
Makes communication easier and possible regardless of time, location and proximity
Can reduce intimidation especially for shy or self-conscious individuals
This anonymity can encourage less stereotyping and more disclosure than face to face encounters
Negative effects:
Lack of non-verbal cues- the only cue could be the font of the text, its size and its general presentation. Can make it difficult to develop work relationships. Also mean content can be interpreted in different ways.
There can also be a form of egocentrism about e-mail messaging. Egocentrism occurs when the sender of a communication perceives the message from their own point of view and is unable to see the message from the point of view of the receiver. Therefore messages might not be interpreted the same way.
The role of feedback in email communication is an issue. In face-to-face communication it is able to understand how out message is being understood, due to non-verbal cues.
