Showing Your Stress

By Mike Hartz

People tell more about themselves through their nonverbal communication rather than their verbal communication. However, how much of your nonverbal communication is sending off negative vibes. Negative nonverbal cues can be understood, but in most cases misunderstood. A study done by Whittsett stated how the negative nonverbal cue of a person fidgeting is a major distraction, and is mostly caused from a person being stressed. Also, it is interesting to see how people react to the nonverbal cues when it comes to lending a hand or helping them out. The study found, that people were more likely to offer support to others that expressed verbal behaviors such as describing a problem, complaining, and asking for help. People were less willing to help co-workers that expressed nonverbal behaviors such as crying, sighing, and fidgeting. In addition, it was found that supervisors were more willing to provide help to those workers that expressed nonverbal cues such as distressed vocal pitch, difficulty speaking, and tears forming in the eyes. Now this directly relates to the business world because everyday people are put into stressful situations, and the boss wants to see if you are going to crack. Your supervisor is always reading your nonverbal as well. Fidgeting is only a small negative nonverbal cue that most people don’t even know they do, but it sends a very big signal to your boss. Then, when it comes to helping people out I have to agree with the study. If you have to use negative nonverbal cues, do not take them to the extreme, because crying in the business world is never acceptable. So if you’re going to use a negative nonverbal cue, make them subtle or natural. That’s how you will get the help you need.

Whitsett, D. D., Almvig, T., & Shoda, Y. (2010). Identifying the Distress Cues that Influence Support Provision: A Paired Comparison Approach. Journal of Social Psychology, 150(5), 503-519.

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