EXERCISE 4.1
Emotional Expression
Say It Nonverbally!
Purpose
To practice learning how to use nonverbal communication more effectively.
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20 minutes
This exercise helps people notice their own nonverbal communication in a variety of emotional situations and shows them how to consciously use those behavioral cues to be more effective when communicating intentionally with others.
Outcome
- Increase awareness of one’s own nonverbal communications
Audience
- Members of intact teams
- Members of an unaffiliated group
- Individual working with a coach
Facilitator Competencies 
Easy
Materials
- Say It Nonverbally! Handout
Time Matrix
| Activity | Estimated Time |
| Discuss nonverbal communication | 10 minutes |
| Practice exercise and debrief | 10 minutes |
| Total Time | 20 minutes |
Instructions
1. Discuss the value of nonverbal communication, such as the power of a shrug when you ask whether someone really likes the plan, or the person chuckling when it sounds as though he or she is making him- or herself too important.
2. Distribute the handout and ask each person to practice the exercise in the handout, and then discuss the experience with the entire group.
In this exercise, you will imagine yourself in the various situations suggested in the following instructions. Notice how your body communicates—how it feels, what is it saying, and how it is saying what it is saying, and without speaking! Jot down a few notes to remind yourself. This will work much better if you cover your list with a separate piece of paper and expose the next example after making your notes from the prior experience.
- 1 minute ago your favorite football team just won the Super Bowl.
- 1 minute ago your favorite football team just lost the Super Bowl.
- Your daughter has just announced that she’s going to marry a man she has known for three months whom you have met twice and distrust and dislike.
- Your daughter has finally announced that she and her fiancé of ten months have set the date to be married next year. You think he is perfect for her.
- You are surprised to hear the VP of your work group announce he’s excited to be implementing a cost-saving measure that you developed, but he gives all the credit to a co-worker, who accepts it proudly.
- You need some product information from a vendor who does a lot of business with you. You have been calling and e-mailing all your contacts there for several days, but no one appears to be making any effort to get back to you.
- Your six-year-old has been working diligently all weekend on an art project to surprise your spouse when he returns from a business trip. Thinking she has already presented it, you accidentally spoil the surprise and she runs out of the room in tears.
- You and your team have been working on a project for three weeks, ten and twelve hours a day, including some weekends. Finally, you turn it in by the deadline Thursday morning. Everyone feels exhausted but proud and relieved. At 2 p.m. Friday, your boss calls you into his office and tells you the customer is not happy and wants you to make some changes. It will take you most of the next three days.
- Your boss has a new haircut and it’s a lot shorter. It looks good, but the change is pretty dramatic. Everyone is saying she’s trying to look younger. You walk into the break room just as the conversation dies down and joke that maybe she’s actually trying to lose weight. She is walking in right behind you and clearly hears your comment.