"The best listeners listen between the lines.” 

                                       ―Nina Malkin, Swoon

Types of Non-verbal Communication 

Facial Expressions, Posture, Gesture, Eye Contact, Touch, Space and Voice 

Non-Verbal Communication

Why Non-Verbal Communication Matters

The gestures we make, the way we sit, the way we talk, our posture and how much eye contact we make sends strong messages. Even when we do not speak we are still communication. Sometimes what comes out of our mouth is different then the body language in which we are portraying. So when given mixed signals the listener usually believes your non verbal messages because its natural and show your true feelings at that time. 

Non Verbal communication can play five roles: 

Repetition- Listeners can repeat the message the person is making verbally.

Contradiction- They can misinterpret and contradict the message the person is trying to say.

Substitution- Instead of verbal communication, nonverbal can take its place because eye contact can persuade a situation instead of words.

Complementing- Can add a compliment to a verbal message.

Accenting- It can underline a verbal message, like stomping your feet. 

You can really show if you care about a certain situation based on nonverbal communication. If your non verbal communication skills do not match your verbal communication skills it can add confusion and mistrust.

Did You Know?

Some did you know's that I bet you didn't know:

85% of what we know we know from listening.

75% of the time we are usually preoccupied and simply not paying attention.

45% of the time we actually spend listening. 

20% of what we hear will be remembered.

7% of meaning are in the words that are spoken.

55% of meaning is all in the facial expressions.

7 out of every 10 minutes we are communicating, 45% of time is spent listening, 30% of time talking, 16% spent reading and 9% writing.

Everyone's Gotta Do It!

Job interviews are hands down known as NERVE WRACKING! You are going into a situation that you have no idea what to expect. Your meeting new people and trying to make an everlasting impression on them in hopes to get the job...

Thoughts ...

Not just in a job interview but in a everyday setting is it extremely important to have good listening skills. Now a days I strongly believe that we are so concerned with keeping up with the conversations via texting. When was the last time you had a decent conversation on the phone with someone? When was the last time you had a decent conversation face to face and engaged and ACTUALLY paid attention? My professor actually opened my eyes when she introduced us to mini presentations. Mini presentations meaning that each member in the class must stand up for a minute or so and just discuss a topic relevant to business communications (chosen from a list). While students were presenting other students around took notes, some did not and some just had no interest as they were on their laptops and/or cellphones. Once all students were done presenting their short pieces she asked if we can remember what each student talked about. I could not. I could remember a few. The only reason that I remembered the ones I did was because the speaker said something to me that stood out. My mind was not letting me soak in a lot of information as I was thinking about what I was going to do that night or what should I buy myself for lunch. This is why I chose this topic "what demonstrates good listening skills in a job interview"... not to just know what to do in a job interview but also what I can do to enhance my listening skills and communication skills in general.

TOP 6 TIPS TO ENHANCE LISTENING SKILLS

Here is what good listeners know... a.k.a what you SHOULD be doing to enhance your communication and listening skills during a job interview:

1. Face the Speaker - Your body language does say a lot, so it is important to sit up straight to show your attentiveness.

2. Maintain Eye-Contact - Keep good eye contact with the speaker. Make sure it is comfortable eye contact and it does not seem like a "stare".... Awkward.

3. Say NO to external distractions - Whatever you may think will distract you, turn it off or put it away. It could be your cell phone, laptop or book.

4. Respond - To show you are engaged... add a few comments once and a while. A nod is okay too. Just to show that you comprehend what is being said and do not be afraid to ask any questions.

5. Focus - Limit yourself to just focus on that conversation and do NOT let your mind wander. .

6. Engage yourself - Ask questions to show you are paying attention. Ask questions to clarify answers but wait until the speaker has finished. Do not interrupt because you might ruin their train of thought