{"id":2001,"date":"2014-09-11T00:34:01","date_gmt":"2014-09-11T04:34:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/terrencemetz.com\/?p=2001"},"modified":"2026-04-21T13:49:29","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T17:49:29","slug":"nonverbal-expressions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mgrush.com\/blog\/nonverbal-expressions\/","title":{"rendered":"Nonverbal Expressions: How to (Not) Gesture while Facilitating"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nonverbal expressions<\/strong>, like words (see Facilitate Meaning, Not Words<\/a><\/span>), connote multiple messages.<\/h2>\n

After you finish this article, you will be strongly tempted to embrace the MGRUSH<\/span><\/em> recommendations. Keep your elbows tucked in, your hands below your heart, and keep them open, facing up. Some would call this approach, keeping your hands to yourself.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Nonverbal<\/a>For example, extending the index and little fingers upward, with a fist, shaped like a \u201cV\u201d (with the middle and ring fingers tucked down into the palm, along with the thumb) can signify victory or good luck in the Americas. The same non-beral gesture represents a vulgar insult in Italy.<\/span><\/p>\n

A single thumb up, commonly used to express \u201call right\u201d in the United States, counts as the number one in Germany, the number five in Japan, and is seen as a vulgar insult in Afghanistan, among other places (akin to the middle finger prone upward in the United States).<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Nonverbal<\/a>Scuba divers universally acknowledge the clasping of the thumb and index finger into a circle (or, \u201cAOK\u201d) as the buddy signal that all is fine. The circle will be perceived as a vulgar insult in Russia and Italy. However, it signifies \u201cpay me\u201d in Japan and displays a sense of \u201cworthless\u201d in France.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yes or No?<\/h3>\n

Even a simple nod of the head from side to side typically signifies \u201cno\u201d or \u201cI\u2019m not in agreement\u201d in the United States.\u00a0 However, it may signify \u201cyes\u201d or \u201cno problem\u201d in India and elsewhere. The slight vertical nod of the head up and down signifies \u201cI\u2019m OK with it\u201d in the United States. But it may signify \u201cno\u201d or \u201cI don\u2019t see it\u201d in Greece and elsewhere.<\/span><\/p>\n

While nonverbal cues are intended to simplify understanding, it is rather apparent that they can obfuscate consensus<\/a> in a multicultural setting. As with everything, context<\/a> is critical to understanding, and the role of the facilitator is to police context on behalf of the participants\u2014so be careful, and keep your hands to yourself.<\/span><\/p>\n

______<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Don\u2019t ruin your career by hosting bad meetings<\/a>. Sign up for a workshop<\/a> or send this to someone who should. MGRUSH<\/span><\/a><\/em> workshops focus on meeting design and practice. Each person practices tools, methods, and activities every day during the week. Therefore, while some call this immersion, we call it the road to building high-value facilitation skills.<\/span><\/p>\n

Related articles<\/strong><\/p>\n