Identify and give examples of two ways to improve your nonverbal communication skills

Answer:

Answers can vary but might include: One way you can assess your own and others' nonverbal communication is to examine how it interacts with verbal messages (Jones & LeBaron, 2002). That is, how congruent (similar) are the two sets of messages? When the two types of messages are congruent, they are often genuine (or we assume them to be so). For example, a positive verbal message ("I like you") combined with a positive nonverbal message (smile, forward body lean, relaxed posture) usually conveys a convincing positive message. In addition to assessing the congruence of the verbal and nonverbal components of a message, you improve your comprehension of nonverbal messages by analyzing the context, your knowledge of the other person, and your own experiences. For example, if you are playing basketball and a teammate slaps you on the rear and says "good going," the message may be clear. Given the context, you may read it as a compliment and perhaps a sign of affection or intimacy. But what if the slap on the rear occurs at work after an effective presentation? Given that such behavior is generally inappropriate in a business context, you probably will (and should) more closely assess its meaning.