Communication skills: Language, Nonverbal, Listening

       I chose to watch “Living Single” in which I have never seen before.  While watching the non-verbal behavior of the show.  I saw quite of lot of nonverbal cues such as touching, using hands to communicate, facial expressions, and a lot of body language.  In fact, as I viewed the show with the sound off, I concluded that the show was about friendship and the feelings of others.  All characters of the show demonstrated nonverbal codes such as kinesics, the way their body movements and gestures sent messages.  In addition, there was the feeling of closeness of all the characters by their nonverbal behaviors.  Before I watched the show with the sound on.  I decided to see if I was right about what I saw in the non-verbal cues by making a story of the observation.  My story was that one of the friends was jealous of two or her friends doing things together without her.  One of the men in the show was tired and could not sleep, however when he was at his friend’s apartment, he console one of the girls that was upset at her friends, and then he fell asleep on the bed.  I thought that was rude and insensitive to her needs.

            However when I watched the show with the sound on I found I was right, except for the guy who was sleepy had found that her bed was squeaking and that is what made him fall asleep.  He had brought a new box spring for his bed and he missed the squeaking noise that helped him sleep nightly.  Although I was right about the girls and jealously due to the lack of not being involved in having fun with the other girls.  In conclusion, it could be because I have an Aunt who is death and I have watched television shows many times without sound.   

            This experience has taught me that I have a good eye for non-verbal cues.  In addition, I need to use this ability in everyday life to help with my communication.  The “aha” moment came when I found out I was on right about the verbal and non-verbal of the show and it is important to observe the non-verbal, as it is to listen to the verbal cues.  To my colleagues, I would advise to watch more shows with the sound off to build non-verbal skills.

Reference:

Hair, D. & Wiemann, M. (2009).  Real communication: an introduction.  New York: Bedford and St. Martin’s