Listening to non-verbal messages

Listening to non-verbal messages
People listen with their eyes as well as their ears. The renowned communication researcher Mehrabian found that..
only 7 per cent of a message's effect is carried by words; listeners receive the other 93 per cent through non-verbal means. After conducting extensive research, Bird-whistell suggested that spoken words account for no more than 30 to 55 per cent of all social interaction. Thus, any nonverbal sources of information available to listeners are worth reviewing. Non-verbal communication can be divided into facial expressions, postures, gestures, and spatial messages.

Facial expressions
Facial expression is probably the most universal form of human communication. A smile or frown is known around the world. The wide array of facial expressions used by such communication "experts" as Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Jack Benny shows how diverse and dynamic this form of communication can be. Just as Charlie Chaplin developed different masks for the silent movies. adults know the right expression for most communication circumstances. It is relatively easy to turn on and off such facial expressions as an-gel', disapproval, happiness, and fatigue. For this reason, the face is the most flexible .source of non-verbal communication as well as the best at misrepresentation. A manager needs to be aware of the vast amount of information he can read from the face; however, he must be wary. of the possibility that it can mask feelings or intent.
Usually, the eyes provide the. fIrst facial signal that a
person notic~s. The expressions "shifty-eyed" or "evil
eyed" as. descriptions of overall personality probably