CHAPTER 9
Nonverbal Communication:
The Messages of Action,
Space, Time, and Silence
Do not the most moving moments of our lives find us all without words?
MARCEL MARCEAUThe power of communication to draw others near or to drive them away derives as
much from how we appear as from the language we deploy.
CAROLINE KEATINGSometimes one creates a dynamic impression by saying something, and sometimes
one creates as significant an impression by remaining silent.
THE DALAI LAMAT
he alarm clock on your iPhone tells you that this day you thought would never
come has finally arrived. After more than four years of life as a university student,
graduation day is only weeks away. It’s the end of late-night cram sessions, mass lec-
ture classes, endless meals of instant ramen, and part-time employment. Life begins
today! (You hope.) Your first interview at the company went well, and today’s
follow-up is the final hurdle before being offered your dream job. Knowing the impor-
tance of making a good first impression and recalling what you learned about nonver-
bal messages in a communication class, you pay particular attention to every detail of
your appearance. After showering and a quick glance in the mirror, you begin to won-
der about your short beard. After a moment of reflection, including a fleeting thought
about selling your soul to corporate America, off goes the beard, followed by a dash of
aftershave for that clean scent. Next come the freshly ironed shirt, new tie, and the
shined business shoes. As you pick up your new leather briefcase and head for the
door, your roommate offers a“thumbs-up”for good luck.
At precisely 9:20 A.M., right after placing a small breath mint into your mouth, you
enter the building, approach the receptionist and inform her that you are there for a
9:30 appointment. Ten minutes later, you are ushered into a large, carpeted corner
office. An engraved nameplate on the elegant oak desk lets you know this is the office295Copyright 2017 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).