Know How to Decode Unspoken Messages
15 April 2013
Read by 1922 persons
Heavy silences, sly smiles, withholding information... At work, who hasn't experienced these difficult-to-decode "unspoken messages"? Whatever their form, whether strategic or involuntary, these unspoken messages are frequent in companies. Learn to decipher and avoid them!
Limiting the Spread of Unspoken Messages
When unspoken messages become the dominant mode of communication, they risk polluting the work atmosphere. At the individual level, they can awaken a kind of anxiety of exclusion in anxious personalities who need verbal communication. At the team level, unspoken messages open the door to a series of negative effects: misinterpretations, feeling "in the spotlight," hidden conflicts, etc.
Before learning to decode unspoken messages, it is best to try to combat them!
Knowing How to Find the "Blanks" in Communication
If you are faced with a colleague or superior who tends to overuse silences, start by asking yourself: what type of unspoken message is it? Does it seem strategic or unconscious on the part of my interlocutor? Does it have the intention of manipulating me? Or is it rather the mark of a personality who lacks confidence and doesn't dare to say what they think?
Unspoken Messages: A Strategy of the Careerist
Silences in communication are often the favorite weapon of those who fear losing their power. As a result, they tend to remain silent and not release any strategic information that could serve others. This leaves you out of any key information in the company. As a result, these silences accumulate, raising tension between you and undermining the professional relationship. It is therefore better to prevent this interlocutor from making silence their strategy.
How? By preferring a "low profile" attitude to a frontal attack. You can, for example, take advantage of an informal opportunity to attract their attention: "Tell me, you didn't inform me of this essential point in this mission: is there information that I wasn't supposed to know?" By using the register of influential communication, the careerist will probably be less tempted in the future to trap you!
Using Reformulation to Understand Involuntary Unspoken Messages
A colleague or client uses a lot of silences? This can reveal a certain difficulty in expressing their opinion or thought, or even doubt. In such a situation, show that you are paying attention to this behavior. For example, question your counterpart about what seems to make them hesitate. If necessary, use body language to try to understand their unspoken messages. Your interlocutor frowns without saying a word? Use this clue to get them to express the reason for their discomfort. This will avoid any risk of misinterpretation and cleverly advance the discussion.
Posted on April 15, 2013.
Etre-bien-au-travail.fr
Limiting the Spread of Unspoken Messages
When unspoken messages become the dominant mode of communication, they risk polluting the work atmosphere. At the individual level, they can awaken a kind of anxiety of exclusion in anxious personalities who need verbal communication. At the team level, unspoken messages open the door to a series of negative effects: misinterpretations, feeling "in the spotlight," hidden conflicts, etc.
Before learning to decode unspoken messages, it is best to try to combat them!
Knowing How to Find the "Blanks" in Communication
If you are faced with a colleague or superior who tends to overuse silences, start by asking yourself: what type of unspoken message is it? Does it seem strategic or unconscious on the part of my interlocutor? Does it have the intention of manipulating me? Or is it rather the mark of a personality who lacks confidence and doesn't dare to say what they think?
Unspoken Messages: A Strategy of the Careerist
Silences in communication are often the favorite weapon of those who fear losing their power. As a result, they tend to remain silent and not release any strategic information that could serve others. This leaves you out of any key information in the company. As a result, these silences accumulate, raising tension between you and undermining the professional relationship. It is therefore better to prevent this interlocutor from making silence their strategy.
How? By preferring a "low profile" attitude to a frontal attack. You can, for example, take advantage of an informal opportunity to attract their attention: "Tell me, you didn't inform me of this essential point in this mission: is there information that I wasn't supposed to know?" By using the register of influential communication, the careerist will probably be less tempted in the future to trap you!
Using Reformulation to Understand Involuntary Unspoken Messages
A colleague or client uses a lot of silences? This can reveal a certain difficulty in expressing their opinion or thought, or even doubt. In such a situation, show that you are paying attention to this behavior. For example, question your counterpart about what seems to make them hesitate. If necessary, use body language to try to understand their unspoken messages. Your interlocutor frowns without saying a word? Use this clue to get them to express the reason for their discomfort. This will avoid any risk of misinterpretation and cleverly advance the discussion.
Posted on April 15, 2013.
Etre-bien-au-travail.fr
