Week 7 - Two Principles in Nonverbal Communication

1). Return to the eight principles of nonverbal communication. Pick two principles, and provide new examples of how they operate in a group or team.

The first principle of nonverbal communication that I want to share is the quality of the relationships between group members is established and perpetuated through nonverbal behavior. In Harris and Sherblom illustrates, “We provide a great deal of communication nonverbally to others that indicates how we feel about them” (Harris/Sherblom 118). The authors reveal that the nonverbal behaviors from an individual can definitely draw the other people’s attention. In terms of this principle in nonverbal communication, I want to share an example that happens in the church. In 2008, there was a pastor from Texas who shared his experience in South America. Because of his low voice and without any humor in his sharing, I had found lots of people left the conference room or went to rest room. Under this issue, I have known the pastor completely unsuccessfully brought his message to the audiences. The audiences’ nonverbal behavior completely let other people knew the sharing was really bored.

The second principle in nonverbal communication that I want to discuss is nonverbal communication becomes meaningful when one or more parties assign meaning to it. Harris and Sherblom say, “The importance of this is demonstrated when someone in our group assign meaning to our action, even when we did not intend to communicate that meaning” (Harris/Sherblom 119). In author’s statement, both of them reveal the further action depends on some particular nonverbal behaviors in group individuals. For instance, if someone needs to give a seat to an old person in the transportation vehicle, then he or she may stand up and let the old person to sit in. Under this issue, we have known the action is assigned under the nonverbal communication.