1. What are we really “saying”? Non-verbal communication in advising
Mississippi Advisors Meeting
Dr. Allison Pearson
Professor of Management
Mississippi State University
Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008

2. Advising Students Advisor Student
Take Action
Make Decision
Advisor
Message
Student
Question
What is the appropriate atmosphere for advising interactions?

3. Advising Context
What is the appropriate atmosphere for student growth & development? What is the tone we want to set?
I’m here to help you.
I care about you/your problem.
I’m listening.
I want you to succeed.

4. Face-to-Face Advising
Highest in information richness
Words are important
Documents are important
Curriculum Sheets
Transcripts
Policies
What about what we don’t “say”?
Non-words?
Actions?

5. An estimated 65-90% of the meaning in a message is conveyed through nonverbal communication.
Nelson & Quick, 2006
Advisor Question: Am I sending a clear & intended message to the students I advise?

6. Non-verbal communication includes all non-word communication.
Advisor Question: Do my word & non-word messages to students match?

7. Non-Verbal Communication
Facial & Eye Behavior
Use of Space
Body Movements & Posture
Variations in speech

8. Non-verbal Communication?
Test of the old adage:
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Advisor Question: What message do my actions, i.e., non-verbal communications, send to my students?
Advisor Question: How will these non-verbal messages influence student behavior & decisions?

9. What is he “saying”?
Would his non-verbal communication influence how you interact with him?

10. What is she “saying”?
Would her non-verbal communication influence how you interact with her?

11. Facial & Eye Behavior
Face & Eyes add cues/emphasis for receiver of message.
Face often gives unintended clues of “real feelings” of the sender.
Eye Contact (US): honesty, truthfulness, forthrightness, paying attention.

12. Facial & Eye Behavior
Other common Facial/Eye Behaviors – what message do they convey?
Smiling: __________
Frowning: ___________
Scowl:__________
Rolling Eyes: _________
Pursed Lips: __________

13. What do the facial expressions say?
What do the eyes say?
What do the facial expressions say?
Advisor Question: What message do my eyes and facial expression send to my students?

14. Identify this eye behavior
Stink eye?
Skunk eye?
Snake eye?
Stink Eye, Snake Eye, or Skunk Eye!
What is the message?

15. Use of Space “Don’t invade my space!” Intimate Distance: 1-1.5 feet
Personal Distance: feet
Social Distance: 4-12 feet
Public Distance: >12 feet
Advisor Question: At what distance do advising encounters often take place? What does that distance communicate?

16. Use of Space in Advising
Pull people in closer: may open up more because you have invited them into your personal space.
Move people further apart: may clam up because space seems more formal.

17. What does the use of space communicate in these images?
Advisor Question: What use of space is appropriate to effectively communicate with students?

18. Body Movements & Posture
Common Body Movements: What message do they convey?
Rubbing hands together with sharp intake of breath: _____________
Tight fists, hand wringing: ____________
Rubbing temples: ___________
Drumming fingers or pacing: _________
Slumped over, head down: __________

19. What message do these gestures convey?

20. Advisor Question: What do you want your body movements and gestures to say to your students?

21. Paralanguage
Variation in speech, such as pitch, loudness, tempo, tone, duration. What do these convey:
Rapid, loud words: __________
Cluck of tongue: ___________
Sharp, shrill, rapid words: ___________
Advisor Question: What message do we want our paralanguage to communicate to our students?

22. Say What? Do what? Advisor “says” Student “hears” Student reaction
1. Little eye contact with student. Advisor may be on phone; on computer
2. Advisor fails to acknowledge greeting or question
3. Rolls eyes
4. Smiles; makes eye contact; listens even though phone is ringing.

23. Why does non-verbal communication matter in advising?
Am I sending a clear & intended message to the students I advise?
Do my word & non-word messages to students match?
What message do my actions, i.e., non-verbal communications, send to my students?
How will these non-verbal messages influence student behavior & decisions?
What message do my eyes and facial expression send to my students?
At what distance do advising encounters often take place? What does that distance communicate?
What use of space is appropriate to effectively communicate with students?
What do you want your body movements and gestures to say to your students?
What message do we want our paralanguage to communicate to our students?

24. Non-verbal communication messages used to enhance Advising

25. Advising Goal: How to achieve goal:
Communicate effectively through every possible means to support, encourage, educate, correct, and guide student behavior
How to achieve goal:
Take stock of your non-verbal habits
Evaluate if habits send the appropriate message.
If not, break the habit.
If so, use them for emphasis.