Types of Non-Verbal Communication
Gestures are woven into your daily life - you wave, point, and use your hands when speaking without even thinking about it. Just remember that gesture meanings can vary dramatically across cultures, so be mindful in diverse settings.
Your stance and posture communicate a wealth of information about you. The way you sit, walk, stand, or hold your head affects how others perceive you before you even speak.
Proxemics refers to the amount of space people prefer during conversations - how physically close you get to others. Comfort levels with personal space vary culturally and personally, so pay attention to these boundaries.
Remember This: Haptics (the language of touch) is the most sophisticated and intimate of the five senses, including handshakes, hugs, and pats on the back.
Paralanguage includes tone, stress, volume, speed of delivery, and even non-linguistic sounds like sighs or groans. Your appearance - clothing, grooming, and style - influences first impressions and reflects your status and professionalism. Finally, chronemics (how you use time) communicates importance - being early shows respect, while being late can signal carelessness.