by Ann H. Tang, PhD
Effective communication is a crucial component of leadership skills. Body language belies confidence or insecurity despite what you say. Understanding nonverbal communication is crucial in influencing others. AWIS invited Jacqueline Hartmann to lead an experiential workshop on Oct 30, 2014, to illustrate the basic elements that are the foundation for nonverbal communication.
Learning about nonverbal communication to influence others is not about practicing what postures to strike but rather how to adapt your body language to the situation at hand. Jacqueline first invited attendees in groups of 3 into a ring with a horse and instructed them to try to lead the horse to follow them without speaking. Group after group fawned over the horse but failed to lead him. The group that did succeed acted disinterested in the horse. The next group duplicated the strategy but could not draw the same results. Next, Jacqueline brought a second horse into the ring. The general lack of interest displayed by the second horse elicited frenzied behavior from the first. The effectiveness of body language is not governed by a formula but rather by self-awareness.
Leila then led the next part of the workshop. She instructed participants to walk around the room and attune themselves to how the different styles of walking (i.e., with the head, chest, or core) made them feel. She stressed the importance of adapting a style according to one’s purpose and comfort level over a style that is not true to oneself.
In the final exercise to illustrate how body language may affect the speaker, the audience, and the message, Jacqueline asked participants to talk about a topic that is important to themselves while adapting a small, hunched posture versus an erect, engaging one. One’s affect is a composite of posture, gestures, and words. Importantly, Jacqueline advised awareness and experimentation over rote delivery of stock postures.
Learning about nonverbal communication to influence others is not about practicing what postures to strike but rather how to adapt your body language to the situation at hand. Jacqueline first invited attendees in groups of 3 into a ring with a horse and instructed them to try to lead the horse to follow them without speaking. Group after group fawned over the horse but failed to lead him. The group that did succeed acted disinterested in the horse. The next group duplicated the strategy but could not draw the same results. Next, Jacqueline brought a second horse into the ring. The general lack of interest displayed by the second horse elicited frenzied behavior from the first. The effectiveness of body language is not governed by a formula but rather by self-awareness.
Leila then led the next part of the workshop. She instructed participants to walk around the room and attune themselves to how the different styles of walking (i.e., with the head, chest, or core) made them feel. She stressed the importance of adapting a style according to one’s purpose and comfort level over a style that is not true to oneself.
In the final exercise to illustrate how body language may affect the speaker, the audience, and the message, Jacqueline asked participants to talk about a topic that is important to themselves while adapting a small, hunched posture versus an erect, engaging one. One’s affect is a composite of posture, gestures, and words. Importantly, Jacqueline advised awareness and experimentation over rote delivery of stock postures.