Nursing Leadership: Digital Body Language

By Cynthia Plonien, DNP, RN, CENP

Nurses as leaders understand that body language is crucial in communicating the intent of messages shared through their words. Tone and the inflection of voice, personal space, physical gestures, posture, facial expressions and eye contact can be the determinates of the outcomes of a crucial conversation. Subliminal gestures influence and have an impact that can weaken or even sabotage a leader’s impact (Gorman, C. 1998).

Today, many professionals accomplish their work through a computer or a smart phone. While the utilization of video conferencing is expanding, more often, direct interactions with colleagues, business associates, staff, students and patients happen through digital resources of on-line emails and reports. Cues obtained through verbal tone and body language are absent in the internet world of communications.   

The term “digital body language” was coined by Steve Woods in 2009 – referencing emails, social media, web visits, Google searches and webinars (Woods, 2009). In the years that have followed, helpful advice for digital body language has come from various directions. Missing however, is evidence-based information. With the explosion of internet communication, scholarly material on the subject is now making its way into journals and on bookshelves.

A book highly recommended for nurse leaders, managers and teachers as well as students, is Digital Body Language: How to Build Trust & Connection No Matter the Distance by Erica Dhawan (2021). The author is an international consultant to business organizations teaching how to collaborate better at work. She states that a digital disconnect in e-communications leads to misinterpretation of information bringing a new wave organizational dysfunction. Specifically identified as a vital element compromised is the ability to care. In her words, we are often “cue-less” (p.8) to emotions that cross-over or do not cross-over in digital communications.

Digital body language involves mindfulness, ensuring that communication is reflective of the intent. The use of emojis and punctuation marks help clarify meaning. For instance, ALLCAPS signify urgency and excitement. Impatience can be signaled with an “?!?”.  (Robson, 2021). Mindfulness also includes avoiding common mistakes in e-communication, such as failure to show gratitude or sending messages in a hurry without proofreading. (Dhawan, 2021).

Stephen Covey (1989) in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, advises the value of “beginning with the end in mind,” with a clear understanding of the destination. His wisdom correlates as well to highly effective communications – electronic or face to face. Digital body language is a new skill for many, one that can be learned requiring focus, attention and practice. It is a skill worth the time invested with payoffs in every area of life.  

Resources:

Covey, S. (1989). 7 Habits of highly effective people. Free Press

Dhawan, R. (2021). Digital body language: How to build trust & connection, no matter the distance. St. Martin’s Press.

Gorman, C. (2018, August 27). 2018. 5 Ways body language impacts leadership results. Forbes.https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolkinseygoman/2018/08/26/5-ways-body-language-impacts-leadership-results/?sh=1eb636d7536a

Robson, D. (2021, June 23). The digital body language cues you send-or don’t send. BBC https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210617-the-digital-body-language-cues-you-send-or-dont-send

Woods, Steve. 2009, June 18. Digital Body Language. http://digitalbodylanguage.blogspot.com/2009/06/what-exactly-is-digital-body-language.html