Communication Exercise: Read Me

Purpose

This is an exercise in communication with the aim to increase awareness of body language and non-verbal communications.

Objective

Delegates to recognise and develop sensitivity to different individual’s non-verbal communications, body language and responses.

What You Need

• A copy of the worksheet for each participants (below)
• Pens

Setup

• Distribute the form to all delegates.
• Ask the delegates to consider each case when they wanted to communicate that feeling or need to others. Ask them to evaluate their non-verbal body language for each case.
• They must include how they felt emotionally, what were their posture, eye movement and stress level for each case.
• Give delegates 10 minutes to complete this exercise.
• Ask the delegates to share their observations with each other and find similarities or differences.
• Follow with a discussion.

Timing

Explaining the Test: 5 minutes.

Activity: 15 minutes

Group Feedback: 10 minutes.

Discussion

Discuss how differences in personalities, expectations, needs and even culture determines our non-verbal communications. Encourage delegates to discuss the dangers of interpreting non-verbal communications without considering individual differences.

Worksheet