What Is Demonstrative Communication

Demonstrative Communication
José L. Nieves
Business Communications and Critical Thinking (BCOM/275)
December 3 2011
Instructor Judy Vandenberg

Several definitions come to mind when I hear the word demonstrative communication, such as what kind of feelings you are projecting on the moment you are receiving or sending a message. During this type of communication we can exchange thoughts, ideas, messages or any type of information needed to bring our point across. Demonstrative communication is a type gestured communication that either one of the sender or receiver(s) can observe and react to certain situations, for example if I am reading a story to my son during the night time and he yawns I understand that he is getting sleepy and I can take him to bed.

When we talk to someone we will always send some sort of facial expression such as “I don’t understand what you are telling me” or “I am really interested in this topic” or perhaps “I am afraid I will get fired”. Such visual cues can demonstrate to the sender what type of message the receiver is decoding on his/her mind.

I believe demonstrative communication is a crucial part of communication, in order to achieve a good interpersonal communication with others demonstrative communication must occur. Imagine someone talking to you and his face is completely still, his body is rigid, his hands are on his lap and he shows no emotion; you probably will think that there is something wrong with that person, right? For this reason we involuntarily communicate demonstrating our conversation with our face, hands, body etc.

The type of feedback we collect from the receiver will dictate how we proceed with the message, if I see a person is giving me the “deer on the headlights look” while I send a message I more than likely will rethink the way I am communicating my information. This type of demonstrative communication happens often during my line of work when I speak with a patient that usually hears a new medical term.

But not always we get a feedback that tells me “I am lost” sometimes we get feedback that communicates good things, for example when my wife I were dating (the year is a secret) we would talk hours to end, and I could see how she would communicate with me by her hand movement; every time I would see her move her hands I will know if she was interested in was I talking and wanted me to continue. Other times she would move her body in a way that would tell me “I’m bored”. In relationships this can constitute as negative or positive too; during a spouse telling their day at work and the other person looking at the television can bring a negative side to the conversation.

During a job interview I pay close attention to the person body language at the same time as the verbal communication. In this case demonstrative communication can be mixed with the listening as well as the responding as asked in the assignment question. I must listen to the person responses but at the same time I should listen to cues from the person being interviewed given off by their responses; “Is it stuttering, Nervous, Etc.?” This type of demonstrative communication will let me know if I should proceed with the next question or topic, or if this person can work under pressure or even if I should offer a cup of water to ease their nerves.

How about during a performance review?

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Notes On Demonstrative Communications

Essay on Demonstrative Communication