Nonverbal Communication
Improvement Proposal
Submitted by Isaac Ikaaka Ha’o IV
Salt Lake Community College
COMM 1010-038
October 24, 2011
Overview
For my Personal Improvement Proposal, I decided to work on my nonverbal communication
skills.
This is one of my communication drawbacks, and I believe that improving this skill will
help me function better at school, with friends, and at work. My recommendations and
approaches will help me to dispose of old nonverbal communication habits and build new
behaviors that will help me to improve the overall quality of my nonverbal communication. This
will, in turn, increase my communication skills as a whole.
Description of Problem
As I was looking through the text, I recognized a few communication concepts that I
could expand on. Nonverbal communication is definitely the area in which I need the most
development, being described as “communication that involves messages expressed by other
than linguistic means.” (Adler & Elmhorst, page 103). The book spends a lot of time talking
about the importance of such communication and how negative nonverbal communication can
greatly affect someone’s perception of you. “You may not always intend to send nonverbal
messages, but everything about your appearance, every movement, every facial expression,
every nuance of your voice has the potential to convey meaning. (Adler & Elmhorst, page 103).
I never have it in mind to communicate negative nonverbal information, but I have been
told in a number of instances that I seem frustrated, angry, or withdrawn. My supervisor once
apprised me that I often display a sullen attitude when he is giving me instructions. My friends
have told me that they were afraid to talk to me when they first met me because I seemed
threatening and unapproachable. After asking my friends, family, and supervisor, I learned that I
habitually communicate these attitudes through facial expression, and the inflection of my voice.
I communicate all these messages without even recognizing I am doing so. I want to improve my
nonverbal communication so I can more successfully communicate with these people. I do not
want to give off an impression that affects others negatively. I want to learn how to camouflage
my frustration when it is necessary and interrelate with others civilly in spite of it. This difficulty
has a negative influence on a lot of my relationships including those with friends, family, and
coworkers. My absence of skill with nonverbal communication distances others and can create
unnecessary conflicts. In one instance, my wife thought that I was annoyed at her based on my
nonverbal behavior. In reality I was only frustrated with the situation, but unsuccessfully
communicated my feelings effectively.
Assets and Constraints
There are a number of resources I can use to help me develop my nonverbal
communication skills. The first is in the communications textbook entitled “Communicating at
Work” by Ronald B. Adler and Jeanne Marquardt Elmhorst. The text provides specific ways to
improve nonverbal communication. I can also use my network as resources. I can ask them for
suggestions about how to communicate more optimistic nonverbal messages. I can also ask my
supervisor to describe how I am communicating a negative attitude when he gives me
instructions and attempt to change those behaviors. In conclusion, I want to isolate precisely
which behaviors I need to suspend in order to move headfirst with my own advancement.
There are a few constraints that could possibly delay my progress in this particular area. I
do not have much free time. The bulk of my time is spent at work or school. Once I identify the
behaviors that I need to change, I can work on changing my communication behaviors and work
on building better practices.
Recommendations
The book suggests several ways that will help me to become a better nonverbal
communicator. One way I can improve is to monitor my own nonverbal behavior. “High selfmonitors are good at knowing when to adapt their nonverbal behavior to suit the situation. By
contrast, low self-monitors don’t even recognize the impact of some of their behaviors.” (Adler
& Elmhorst, page 116). This sentence from the book describes my situation and my tendency to
not notice the effect of my nonverbal behaviors on others’ observations of me. I will use this
recommendation by frequently asking myself questions about how others perceive me and which
behaviors are influencing their perceptions. I will observe others carefully and pay attention to
their nonverbal communication in order to evaluate my own. Others’ behavior will help me to
identify the effect of my own actions. I will pay special consideration to my facial expression,
and voice inflection, as I know that these are difficult areas with my nonverbal communication.
Another suggestion that the book gives is to show interest in others. Others are more
likely to respond to you in a positive way if you show interest in them as a person as well as
what they are saying. Immediacy refers to “verbal and nonverbal behaviors that demonstrate
closeness and liking. These include closer proximity, more direct eye contact, more forward lean,
more relaxed posture, a positive facial expression, and welcoming vocal qualities.” (Adler &
Elmhorst, page 116). To apply this suggestion, I will make an effort to pay attention when others
are talking and use closeness to let them know that I am interested in what they are saying. This
will help others to see that I am alert and reactive to their needs. It will help them see me as a
better nonverbal communicator.
Summary
I often give off the impression that I am aggravated, angry, or withdrawn when people
are talking to me, most particularly my supervisor, my friends, and my family. I do not want to
give off a negative impression of myself through nonverbal indications. My specific weaknesses
are vocal inflection, and facial expression. In order to develop my nonverbal communication I
will follow instruction from the book. I will examine my own nonverbal behavior, pay attention
to others’ nonverbal behavior, display interest in others, and do my best to portray positive. This
proposal will help me to develop the class of my communication at work, at school, and at home.
Works Cited
Adler, R., & Elmhorst, J. (2010) Communicating at Work (10th ed.) New York, NY: McGrawHill