Non-verbal messages can be far more important than the words we say. The way we stand, what we do with our hands, the sound of our voice, the way we walk, and the expressions on our face can support, enhance, and even contradict what we say.

In our fast-paced world, we don’t have time to get more than a quick snapshot of how a person looks before we make up our mind about them. They are making up their mind about us at the same time, so it is essential that our non-verbal messages are consistent with what we say verbally.

Remember that one important aspect of providing feedback is to encourage employees to learn and grow. If, for example, an employee gets a low rating on some aspect of a performance appraisal, and you as the supervisor notices the employee’s flushed face or tight lips, but you do not make any observation about it (and the employee asks for no explanation), you are not likely to stimulate improvement. In an even worse case, you could see even less performance.