In my work in helping clients deal with team communication issues, we often spend time talking about the unspoken communication that takes place between team members. We all know that in many cases it is our body language that tells the real message rather than the actual words we use.

People are always asking me about how they can become more proficient at reading and understanding the nonverbal messages of others. There are several good books out there on this topic, but my favorite for readability is The Definitive Book of Body Language by Allan and Barbara Pease. This book is full of illustrations, examples and pictures that will help you to more effectively recognize and decode the nonverbal messages of others. If you are a meeting facilitator, trainer, team leader, manager or just a person looking for a way to improve your communication effectiveness, this book is worth your time.

The book covers a wide range of nonverbal behaviors such as hand gestures, body postures, and eye signals. The section on the thirteen most common gestures is interesting, providing tips on the meaning of different head nods, stances and sitting postures.

Another of my favorites on this topic is The Power of Body Language by Tonya Reiman. If her name sounds familiar it is because you have probably seen her offering her opinion on The O’Rielly Factor, Fox News, The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet, The Today Show, or Access Hollywood – to name a few.  She provides helpful tips on:

• Reading the messages on a person’s face
• Understanding the message sent by the body during conversations
• Understanding proxemics and personal space
• Gauging truthfulness in the other person

But it gets even better. Not only does she help you to better read the unspoken messages of others, she also provides practical information on how to master your own nonverbals and controlling the messages that you send to others.

For those interested in a deeper analysis of how emotions are displayed on the face, I recommend Emotions Revealed by Dr. Paul Ekman.

Communication is at the heart of all that we do. Whether you are a team leader, manager, meeting facilitator, or trainer, it is essential that you master the art of communication. Understanding how to use your own nonverbal signals as well as interpreting those of others is a skill that very few take the time to perfect. Those that do are most likely to enjoy greater personal and professional success.

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