Love it or hate it, the modern workplace is now a global one. We communicate through screens, speak different languages, and have different cultural upbringings.
Thankfully, a big part of effective communication is nonverbal, but this brings up a whole other set of problems. Many gestures can be considered annoying or even offensive. A new study by Preply, a language learning platform, broke down body language icks. Here’s what they are so you can avoid them.
A brief history of nonverbal communication
You’ve probably heard the phrase that 80% of communication is nonverbal. This comes from the work of Dr. Albert Mehrabian. In 1971, he came up with the 7-38-55 rule, which states that only 7% of communication is verbal. Tone accounts for 38% while 55% is based on body language.
Awareness of your body language is key
Body language is powerful, but Preply’s study found that only 2 in 5 Americans are very aware of their body language. The divide becomes bigger when one factors in age. Gen Z is the most aware. Baby boomers, meanwhile, need to pull themselves up by the bootstraps and put in some work: 1 in 4 were found to be unaware of their body language.
Common hand gestures in America
Americans are not known for talking with their hands like Italians. This doesn’t mean that gestures are not commonly used for communication in the United States. Popular American gestures include giving a thumbs-up, shrugging, and finger-pointing. Another popular gesture isn’t as kind: One in three Americans confessed they utilize their middle finger.
Gesture pet peeves by generation
We all have things that just get under our skin. Some people dislike slow walkers or even mouth breathers. The same concept can be applied to gestures in the workplace.
If you want to annoy a baby boomer or Gen Xer, crack your knuckles. Conventional wisdom used to claim that this was bad for you and caused arthritis. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the conventional wisdom isn’t true, but it might explain why knuckle-cracking is annoying to some.
To offend a millennial, raise your middle finger. This survey finding makes sense; frankly, the middle finger would probably offend most—unless you are communicating in Japanese sign language, in which case it means brother.
To provoke someone from Gen Z, simply roll your eyes. They don’t appreciate the passive-aggressive gesture, according to the survey. It is a sign of disrespect and disapproval that they cannot stand.
Preply surveyed more than 1,000 Americans about gestures, facial expressions, and body language. You can check out the full survey insights here.