Here are 10 nonverbal communication skills you want to have for the workplace

When someone asks your opinion at work, does your face say a thousand words? Are you more than qualified for a job opening, but find it difficult to build rapport during interviews? Maybe your co-workers aren’t responding positively to your suggestions for some reason.

If you’re experiencing these or similar situations, enhancing your nonverbal communication skills could be the solution. Honing these skills can help you build credibility and positive relationships in your personal and professional life, ace an interview, and ensure your continued career success. 

In this article we identify the nonverbal communication skills you want to have for the workplace and why they’re important, including:

• What is nonverbal communication?

• Why improve nonverbal communication skills in the workplace?

• 10 examples of nonverbal communication skills 

• How to improve nonverbal communication skills

What is nonverbal communication?

The phrase “actions speak louder than words” springs to mind when defining nonverbal communication skills. Nonverbal cues can be described as conveying your thoughts, feelings, and mood visually, rather than through words. This can include your facial expressions, eye contact, gestures, body posture, tone of voice, touch, and personal space. 

Nonverbal communication can be broken down into three main categories:

• Conscious. Body movements, such as waving to someone you know or shaking the hiring manager’s hand at an interview, are conscious nonverbal communications.

• Semiconscious. Automatic gestures that articulate your thoughts and ideas but are not a fully conscious thought, such as nodding your head in agreement.

• Unconscious. Nonverbal communication indicators that happen unconsciously, such as eye contact, body posture, or micro-facial movements. 

Why improve nonverbal communication in the workplace?

Nonverbal communication is a powerful tool to communicate your intent, so it’s important to get it right. Sending the wrong signals can lead to mixed or contradictory messages. Here are some examples of why improving your nonverbal cues is vital in the workplace:

Nonverbal communication for interviews

Nonverbal communications are important at the start of an interview. Renowned behavioral psychologist Dr. Albert Mehrabian’s 7-38-55 rule illustrates this point well, essentially that 7 percent of all communication is verbal, 38 percent is tone of voice, and 55 percent is body language. In the first few minutes of the interview, make sure you smile, make eye contact, deliver a confident handshake, and project some energy and enthusiasm.

Building relationships with co-workers 

Nonverbal communication is a key way to build trust with your co-workers because it creates a positive work environment and reduces misunderstandings. When it comes to building strong relationships with peers, understanding other people’s body language and being aware of your own will help you achieve this goal.

Observe your co-workers’ nonverbal communication and reflect on your own nonverbal style. Factor in our top ten nonverbal communication skills to help you build authentic relationships at all levels.

Examples of 10 nonverbal communication skills

Ready to get started? Here are the top 10 nonverbal communication skills that will help you excel in the workplace and move forward in your career:

1. Open posture

Posture is an often overlooked, but extremely important, nonverbal communication tool. How you stand, walk, and sit influences how others perceive you in terms of your confidence, comfort level, and engagement with your surroundings.

Open posture is the best approach in the workplace because it conveys that you are trustworthy, credible, and approachable. For example, keep your chin up and stand tall and straight. Avoid any closed body language, such as folded arms or crossed legs, because this can convey defiance and defensiveness. 

2. Gestures 

Gestures are body movements that help you articulate your thoughts and reinforce your verbal communications, such as greeting someone by waving or pointing when giving directions. 

Try to match your gestures with your words to promote better understanding. For example, if you’re trying to unite a project team, gesturing a circle with your hands reinforces your message of bringing things together in a positive way. Using such approaches can help foster more collaborative work environments.

3. Eye contact

According to body language experts, eye contact is one of the greatest indicators of confidence, which can also translate into charisma. Eye contact establishes connection, shows sincerity, and projects self-esteem and credibility.

When you meet an interviewer, take note of that person’s eye color to ensure you have the right amount of eye contact. This typically will take about two or three seconds. Less than two seconds demonstrates nervousness, more than three seconds of eye contact can start to feel awkward.

4. Confident handshake

A handshake may seem like a minor formality, but it can set the tone of your business meeting, job interview, or networking opportunity. A firm and confident handshake exudes confidence, trustworthiness, and enthusiasm.

Beware of going overboard with a bone-crushing grip. Sticking with a firm but confident handshake, appropriate eye contact, and open posture will ensure your business encounter gets off to a positive start.

5. Active listening

Active listening is a secret weapon in your communication tool set. The ability to be an engaged listener who is able to deliver insightful feedback are traits that every employer is looking for in a potential or existing employee.

Using other forms of nonverbal communication in tandem with active listening can help you make a great impression. You can model active listening via non-verbal cues by smiling, nodding in agreement, maintaining eye contact, and leaning forward to show you are present, interested, and actively part of the conversation.

6. Voice and tone

The tone, loudness, pitch, and inflection of your voice can have a major impact on how your words are interpreted. Imagine saying “that’s really interesting,” in an enthusiastic tone that matches your verbal communication, or conversely, in a flat and quiet voice that could infer disinterest or sarcasm. 

In the workplace, use your tone to convey positivity and engagement in your work. Obviously, there will be situations where you need to be more animated, such as a sales pitch or presentation, and others where an even, consistent tone is more appropriate. 

7. Positive facial expressions

Facial expressions are one of the most visible forms of nonverbal communication. Your eyebrows, eyes, mouth, and facial muscles all tell a story, from the typical emotions of anger (frowning), joy (smiling), and sadness (crying), to the trickier microexpressions. 

Microexpressions are unconscious, extremely quick (a fraction of a second in some cases) facial expressions that reveal your true emotions in the moment. For example, when people are surprised, their eyebrows will fleetingly be raised and curved.

Knowing how to manage your facial expressions in the workplace is vital in order to improve your communication skills, leadership capabilities, and rapport-building with co-workers. 

8. Personal space

Your personal space is your own bubble where you feel comfortable communicating. You may start to feel invaded if someone is making gestures and entering your personal bubble, or  you may encroach on someone else’s personal space by accident.

Appropriate personal space depends on the situation, cultural norms, and your relationship with another person. As a rule, intimate space is up to 14 inches and personal space is from 1.5 to four feet.

9. Professional appearance

While it may seem superficial, personal appearance is one thing we all notice immediately. During a job interview or when meeting a new client, it’s vital that your appearance creates a good first impression.

Choosing appropriate clothing for a professional environment is vital. Personal grooming is also important in backing up your professional image. 

You can conduct some research on the company website if you’re struggling to pin down the dress code.

10. Professional representations 

Is your LinkedIn profile photo a selfie or grainy and pixelated? Did you choose an email address based on your pets? Do your pictures on Instagram give a good sense of your attitude and personality? 

Social media screening is one way employers get a snapshot of you and your personality. Companies are increasingly using this method to screen candidates and to check whether existing employees are posting appropriate content. Having a professional email address also reinforces your professionalism, so keep it simple and just use your first and last name for any work-related correspondence. 

How to improve nonverbal communication skills

It can be tricky to pin down which nonverbal communication skills you are acing, those that need a little tweaking, and any negative nonverbal cues you want to eliminate. Here are some tips to help you improve your nonverbal communication skills:

Phone a friend!

Ask a good friend, family member, or mentor to help you identify any gaps in your nonverbal communication skills. You may have a tendency to avoid eye contact or perhaps you make an unconscious facial expression when you aren’t impressed about something.

Complete a mock interview or practice and record a presentation so you and your advisor can see how you use facial expressions and posture. You can then build your self-awareness, identify any gaps, and get some constructive advice to strengthen your nonverbal communication skills. 

Stress management

If you start to feel stressed, it can be easy to send nonverbal signals that negatively impact the message you are trying to convey. Crossing your arms, fidgeting, or avoiding eye contact are all signs that you are defensive, uncomfortable, and keen to leave as soon as possible. 

For example, stating “I’d love to work for ABC Company as your next Sales Associate,” while avoiding eye contact and fidgeting may leave the interviewer questioning your honesty and commitment to the role.

Practice remaining calm in a stressful situation so you can avoid sending mixed or contradictory messages. Try to take a moment to reset and refocus. Strategies such as taking three deep breaths or focusing on a positive thought can really help you manage stress in the moment.  

If you feel a bit stressed about an upcoming interview, make sure you check out Careerio’s interview preparation tool to squash those jitters and ace the interview process.

Key takeaways

1. Strengthening your nonverbal communication skills can help you thrive in the workplace, whether that is making a great first impression at an interview, building positive co-worker relationships, or demonstrating your potential as a future leader.

2. Check out our top 10 nonverbal communication skills and factor these into your next interview or workplace interaction. 

3. Build up and improve your nonverbal skills by developing your self-awareness and securing feedback from a friend or mentor.

4. Becoming hyper self-aware can lead to overthinking and negatively impact your interactions. Be confident and be yourself!