Definition of Demonstrative Communication

Definition of Demonstrative Communication

Demonstrative Communication is a form of communication that includes nonverbal and unwritten means of communicating. Demonstrative communication involves facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice, hand gestures, and eye contact. This form of communication can have positive and negative effects for the sender and receiver while communicating; it also can be effective or ineffective for the sender and receiver while communicating. Although this form of communication is nonverbal it still involves listening and responding.

Positive Effects for the Sender and Receiver While Communicating

Demonstrative communication can have positive effects for the sender and receiver while communicating. Demonstrative communication can act as a backup for you verbal communication. Say for an example you are having a team meeting and you are trying to discuss issues and come up with possible solutions while working as a team. Your verbal communication is just speaking the words and getting your point across as a sender of the message. Demonstrative communication is your tone of voice which can encourage your team members, the receivers, to openly participate and actively come up with solutions for the problems being expressed. Your tone of voice and eye contact in this team meeting also informs the members of how serious the meeting is and how they will conduct themselves in the meeting. In my line of work demonstrative communication plays a huge role because most of the time the plant is so loud that demonstrative communication is the only way to communicate. Say for an example I just expressed to my workers that if they do not catch the rubber before it runs off the belt it will go under the belt and cause the rubber to wrap around and stop the belt from running. I say this and continue my job as usual but I notice that the rubber is wrapping around the belt and I look up and give my workers a stern look and they attempt to fix the problem and keep the belt problem free. This is an instance where my demonstrative communication has a positive effect for me as the sender of the message. Another example, say the Area Manager is holding a meeting discussing the progress of the plant and how the workers are working and while he is saying we are doing a good job he is smiling and giving us thumbs up and shaking hands. We as workers go back and try to double our numbers and come up with more efficient ways of doing our jobs because of such positive demonstrative communication. This is how demonstrative communication can have such a positive effect on the receivers in the communication process. If your demonstrative communication is interpreted the correct way then these positive effects will take place

Negative Effect for the Sender and Receiver While Communicating

Demonstrative Communication can lead to negative effects for the sender and receiver while communicating. Since demonstrative communication is all about the nonverbal part of communicating then it is left to be interpreted the wrong way during the communication process. The sender may be trying to express a very vital piece of information to the receiver and may very well be unaware if the message is being interpreted the wrong way due to his body language hand gestures, and tone of voice. Say for an example, I am trying to get my workers to do their job correctly and more efficiently so I go and tell them with a serious tone of voice "pay attention at all times and stop scrapping out the rubber".