Why is non verbal communication important? Well, as Jory MacKay states in his article “What someone is telling you goes beyond the words themselves.” (MacKay, 2015)
I strongly agree with this concept. In MacKay’s article he also asks some questions to the reader about specific signals and the meanings behind them, such as the positioning of one’s feet, and the size of their pupils, giving the reader an idea of some specific cues to look out for and provoking thought on what other potential signs an interviewee might display. This can be crucial not only when conducting interviews but in all the interactions we experience though a life time.
In order to build connections with the people around us, it’s natural to ask questions and inquire about others’ personal views, opinions and experiences. Asking these questions allows us to build relationships. But how do we go about asking the right questions? Not everyone is willing to verbally express exactly how they’re feeling at any given time, in fact it’s usually quite the opposite. This is why reading between the lines and picking up on any and all signals is such a valuable and useful skill.
Observing body language and other visual signals that are present can change your entire interpretation of what is being said. Like all skills, practice makes perfect. As journalists or as individuals in general, this is a practice I believe we should all take part in, not just to better ourselves, but to better understand all who cross our paths, and in turn help shape who we are.
Reference:
MacKay, J. (2015, April 8). How to interview like a journalist (no matter what your job is). Crew. Retrieved from
https://crew.co/blog/interview-questions/
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