Written By:
Allie Perugini, M.A. Sport & Performance Psychology
Mental Performance Coach, Owner of Embark Mental Performance
As electronic communication continues to grow and grow and become the “go-to” for quick, easy interaction, it’s no wonder that we are starting to notice challenges with in-person communication… in sport and beyond.
Think about it… There are times where we may spend more time each day engaging in electronic communication behind a phone or computer than developing and practicing communication skills in live social settings. In the world of sport specifically, our growing hyper-connected world is making effective communication more and more difficult, sparking issues surrounding giving and receiving feedback, poor non-verbal communication, and external factors (such as social media) impacting focus during interactions.
In this 2-part blog, the importance of effective communication (especially non-verbal) will be discussed as well as how strengthening these skills is a necessity for athletes, coaches, and parents to minimize misinterpretations and breakdowns while better aligning with the 6 communication C’s noted by Glory and associates (2010):
– Clear
– Concise
– Courteous
– Correct
– Complete
– Constructive
Throughout the mini series, various insights and tools will be shared that can help strengthen communication with others, from how messages are sent to how they can be effectively received. To wrap up the blog, ideas will be shared for how this topic can transcend sport. At the end of each mini series, a few reflection questions for readers will be provided as well as specific ideas for putting the knowledge, insight, and tools gained into action.
What’s the Importance?
Communication, in sport in particular, is the underlying foundation that causes everything else to function optimally (or otherwise, breakdown). There’s no doubt that it is a necessity for experiencing team cohesion, trust in relationships, productive conflict resolution, motivation, confidence, and peak performance (Wachsmuth et al., 2017). Whether evaluating, informing, encouraging, instructing, or problem-solving, both verbal and non-verbal communication are at the forefront of all relationships, group functioning and performance.
The continual rise of electronic communication, coming with obvious benefits but also a heavy reliance on texting, emails, and interactions via social media platforms, is causing troubles with how we are sending and receiving messages in-person. Specifically, struggles with the appropriate and effective use of non-verbal language. After all, this type of communication is less important when behind a screen.
So, knowing the importance of various types of communication in the context of sport, what can we work on to strengthen our skills in these settings?
What You (Don’t) Say Matters
It’s true, sometimes actions DO speak louder than words. Consider this scenario:
An error was just made during the game. You throw your hands up in disbelief, shake your head, and walk away with your shoulders slouched and head down. You may not have said anything and you didn’t have to. Our nonverbal messages can give away our unconscious feelings and attitudes, and these actions you display may easily be interpreted as anger, frustration, and disappointment. It’s likely that both you and others are sensing the negative energy.
Or what about this scenario…
A team member is talking to you about how they are struggling with understanding and executing a specific play. You barely make any eye contact with them while they are speaking, your Apple watch buzzes and you check it, and you even turn your back on them at one point to acknowledge another team member. It is very likely that the person who came to you is not feeling seen or heard, and will probably hesitate to approach you again for help after not feeling listened to or understood.
As much as 70% of information conveyed in communication is non-verbal, with one study in particular showing that non-verbal communication increased to 75% for coaches and 66% for athletes in a competition setting (Rata et al., 2012). The power of these cues could not be more clear.
That said, body language alone speaks volumes. Here are a few non-verbal messages to be aware of when considering the information that might be conveyed without speaking:
Posture
This is how we carry ourselves, from how we hold our head to how we move and stand. For instance, control, confidence, and an overall positive perception are often associated with body language such as holding the head and chin up, a tall and straight posture, and a bouncy step vs. a slouched shuffle.
Gestures
Gestures are a movement of a body part (normally involving the hands or head) that typically conveys particular meaning. Think of arm crossing, head nodding, or giving a thumbs up. Giving a thumbs up or up and down head nodding may portray a message of encouragement, agreement, or understanding. While arm crossing or nodding to the left and right might express disagreement, defensiveness, or a lack of openness to others.
Body Position
This consists of the space between our body and others when communicating as well as bodily position in respects to theirs. In most cases, the closer we stand to someone when interacting, with our bodies facing theirs, shows we feel comfortable, safe, and are tuned in. Whereas standing farther away with our bodies slightly turned away, may indicate not feeling close or safe, or even disinterest.
Facial Expressions
Our faces say a lot! Eye contact can be an incredibly important part of communicating feelings. It might convey comfort and interest in an interaction, or a lack thereof can portray the opposite. The eyes, forehead, eyebrows, and mouth all come together to make the face very expressive, and can easily display body language that is interpreted as positive and open, or annoyed and closed-off.
Note: Cultural differences and varying communication styles are important factors to keep in mind. For example, while a smile can be a universal bridge that crosses language barriers, other non-verbal messages such as eye contact, personal space, and certain gestures and facial expressions might vary in appropriateness across cultures.
Wrap Up: Helpful Reflections & Actionable Strategies
To build greater awareness and insight surrounding your own communication patterns and use of non-verbal language, consider these few questions below. Feel free to reflect individually, write down your responses, or discuss with others.
> In my conversations with others, how do I demonstrate that I am actively listening? How can I improve or strengthen my non-verbal communication?
> What does my body language look like when I am feeling confident, encouraged, and optimistic? What about when I am feeling frustrated, nervous, or disappointed?
Lastly, if you are looking for small ways to strengthen your effective communication skills, here are a few strategies to keep on your radar:
> In situations where you may not agree with what others are saying or emotions are high, practice focusing on listening and your non-verbal messages. Attempt to keep your chin up and maintain eye contact, keep your body position facing theirs, and try to display gestures of openness and understanding, such as uncrossed arms and head nodding.
> Take a few moments to reflect on your own style of communication and write down any observations or insights. Specifically, take note of what your posture, gestures, body position, and facial expressions look like in various scenarios.
Stay tuned for part 2 of this mini series where we plan to dive into mastering the art of giving and receiving feedback. Thanks for reading!
References:
Glory, M., Kirubakar, S.G., & Kumutha, N. (2010). Communication skills: A cognitive-behavioral approach to enhance relationship skills in young sport coaches. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 44, i49-i50.
Rata, G., Rata, B., Rata, M., Mares, G., & Melinte, M. (2012). Verbal and nonverbal communication during hammer throw training and competitions. Ovidius University Annals Series Physical Education and Sport/Science Movement and Health, Supplement, 370-377.
Wachsmuth, S., Jowett, S., & Harwood, C.G. (2017). Conflict among athletes and their coaches: What is the theory and research so far? International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 10(1), 84-107.