ORAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS Nonverbal Communication Nonverbal communication plays a huge role in how we interact with others. Some estimates suggest that over 50% of our communication is nonverbal! This includes facial expressions, gestures, eye contact, posture, touching behaviors and how physically close we stand to others in conversations. Our faces convey a lot about our emotions. A simple smile or furrowed brow can drastically change the meaning and tone of what we say. As humans, we have evolved to pick up on even the most subtle of facial cues. Have you ever noticed that when talking with someone, your eyes will naturally follow their mouth moving as they speak? We are wired to watch faces for clues. Beyond facial expressions, our hands move quite expressively when we converse. Whether it's a pointing gesture to emphasize a point, holding up fingers to indicate a number, or waving hello. Gestures help bring our messages to life, almost like a physical accompaniment to our words. Cultural differences do exist though - what's considered an acceptable gesture in one place, may have a completely different or even offensive meaning elsewhere. Proxemics, or physical space between communicators, is also significant. In most Western cultures, standing closer than about arm's length apart would feel intrusive. Whereas some Latin American or Mediterranean cultures use much closer interpersonal distances when talking. Factors like gender, familiarity and context all influence our comfort levels with how close others get physically. Violating someone's "personal space" without permission can negatively impact communication. Eye contact is a whole field of nonverbal study itself. The amount of eye contact varies depending on culture and situation, but generally holding steady eye contact for part of a conversation and then varying gaze shows engagement and openness. Staring without blinking can come across as aggressive or intense. But avoiding eye contact may give an impression of shifty, dishonest behavior. Touching also carries meaning and needs consideration between gender, affection level and context. A friendly pat on the back differs vastly from an unwanted caress. Leaders often use touching behaviors strategically to build trust and rapport when appropriate. But going beyond accepted social norms for touch risks making others uncomfortable and damaging communication. Overall, being aware of nonverbal cues we give and receive can dramatically improve our interpersonal interactions. Careful consideration of things like proximity, eye behaviors and thoughtful gestures can help reinforce our message or put others at ease. But sometimes the absence of certain nonverbals is equally, if not more meaningful. Barriers to Effective Listening Really focusing on what another person is saying is harder than it seems. Our minds are naturally distracted and we can easily get preoccupied with our own inner thoughts. However, developing strong listening skills is so important for building relationships and resolving conflicts smoothly. Some common barriers to effective listening include: Preparing a response instead of focusing on understanding can sabotage active listening. Our instinct may be to immediately think of what we want to say next rather than prioritizing comprehending the other viewpoint. But responding without understanding runs risk of further disconnect. Distractions in our environment or our own fidgeting behaviors interfere with concentration on the speaker's words. Things like an ongoing side conversation, loud noises or simply drumming fingers can fragment attention. Minimizing external distractions and internal fidgets helps focus listening ears. Personal biases or assumptions negatively shape how we receive information that counters our preconceived ideas. Even subconsciously dismissing opinions that don't align with previous beliefs prevents truly hearing another perspective. Suspending judgement and recognizing others can see things differently improves open-minded listening. Lack of eye contact conveys you're not fully engaging or you have something to hide. Occasional eye contact demonstrates active involvement while too much staring can intimidate. Varying eye contact with the speaker and surroundings shows attentive listening. Daydreaming or mind wandering causes a listener to drift mentally away from the present exchange. Checking out mentally for portions of a discussion means missing important pieces of the dialogue. Actively concentrating efforts on what the other shares maximizes understanding. Addressing barriers like preparation for response instead of understanding, distractions, biases and daydreaming helps strengthen truly listening with an open and attentive ear. Speaking Styles Effective speakers have a good understanding of their audience and adjust delivery accordingly. Skilled public speakers recognize different situations may call for varying speech styles. Some common speaking styles include: Informal style is conversational in nature with a relaxed, welcoming tone. It mimics everyday discussion and feels natural, building comfort. Informal is best suited to casual settings among peers or with a familiar crowd.