A COURSE ON:
Communication skills
Client:
Next
Non-Verbal Communication
Start
Objectives
In this lesson, we will focus on Non-Verbal Communication In this lesson, you will learn:
- Understand the significance of Non-verbal communication.
- Develop Core Non-Verbal Techniques.
- To learn how to apply appropriate non-verbal cues
Now, let's get started.
Definition and Context
Non-verbal communication is conveying messages, emotions, and attitudes without words, utilising body language, facial expressions, gestures, posture, and eye contact.
What is Non-verbal Communication?
In the workplace, non-verbal communication signals confidence, attentiveness, and professionalism, especially for women professionals in male-dominated spaces or high-pressure teams. Employers increasingly look for people who can demonstrate presence and credibility without needing to speak first, particularly in meetings, networking events, or client presentations.
Why is it relevant?
Real World Examples
Non-Verbal Communication In Use / Practice
Absence of Non-Verbal Communication
Meet Regina
Meet Anna
Proven Techniques to Develop Non-Verbal Communication
Click on the boxes
Body Language Awarenes
Facial Expression Control
Eye Contact Awarenes
Empathy & Attunement
Gesture Effectiveness
Effective Communications
Start
Lets start with a scenario
A team at Akwaaba Bank Ghana Ltd. is preparing to pitch a new youth savings product to management. The product idea is strong, but how the team communicates it will determine whether it gets approved for funding.
However, something goes wrong
When Communication Breaks Down
At the presentation, the lack of communication skills becomes obvious. The slides are wordy, the speakers talk over each other, and questions from management are met with unclear or conflicting answers.
One executive becomes visibly frustrated, saying, “You people are not saying the same thing — what exactly are you proposing?” The meeting ends without approval. The team leaves feeling disappointed, realizing that poor communication made their great idea look weak.
When Communications is Done Well
Learning from that experience, the team leader — inspired by a training on Effective Workplace Communication — guides the team to prepare again. This time, they assign clear speaking roles, simplify their language, and rehearse their delivery.
The marketing officer opens with a relatable story about a young Ghanaian entrepreneur saving digitally; the IT officer explains the platform features clearly; and the finance officer presents the numbers confidently. During questions, they listen attentively and respond consistently.
Guess What Happened Next?
Why Communication Needs to be Effective
It provides a platform for visibility of performance. It is not good enough to be skilled at work if that work cannot be rightly communicated.
Helps one as the Speaker, Writer, or Content Creator to express oneself clearly and brings one closer to achieving their aims.
It helps to have a better understanding of what others have in mind through being able to listen, hear and read others - peers, managers, friends, and family.
Reduces differences and conflicts that may arise from misunderstanding each other.
When Communication is Ineffective
Poor Listening – Interrupting, ignoring feedback, or failing to pay attention leads to misunderstandings.
Lack of Clarity – The message is vague or confusing, leaving others unsure of what to do or understand.
Negative Tone or Attitude – Harsh words, impatience, or disrespectful language cause tension and resistance.
Information Gaps or Overload – Giving too little or too much information makes it hard for others to act effectively.
The Journey to Career Opportunities: Communication in Action
Start
Meet Ama
Ama, a recent IT graduate from the University of Cape Coast, attended a youth innovation meetup in Accra. She spent most of the networking break scrolling on her phone and avoided introducing herself to others.
Later, she saw an internship post from one of the companies represented at the event. Her email application was short and impersonal: “Hi, I saw your post. I’d like to apply. Please see my CV.”
When she finally approached a recruiter, her introduction was vague — “I’m looking for something in tech” — with no clear mention of her skills or interests.
Continue
- Stabilize your phone: Use both hands or a tripod to avoid shaky footage.
- Record in landscape mode: Especially for presentations, YouTube, or wide visuals.
- Check your background: Keep it clean and relevant to your subject.
- Edit after shooting: Use apps like CapCut, Snapseed, or Canva to enhance colors and crop unwanted parts.
Meet Imelda
Imelda, another IT graduate who attended the same meetup, used her communication skills to make the most of the event. During the networking session, she approached one of the guest speakers from a fintech company, introduced herself clearly, and asked thoughtful questions about digital innovation. Her enthusiasm and active listening made a strong impression.
When she later saw the company’s internship post on LinkedIn, she sent a concise, well-written email referencing their earlier conversation and expressing interest.
Continue
- Stabilize your phone: Use both hands or a tripod to avoid shaky footage.
- Record in landscape mode: Especially for presentations, YouTube, or wide visuals.
- Check your background: Keep it clean and relevant to your subject.
- Edit after shooting: Use apps like CapCut, Snapseed, or Canva to enhance colors and crop unwanted parts.
Meet Imelda
During the interview, she maintained good posture, spoke confidently, and used examples to show her problem-solving and teamwork abilities. When offered the role, she professionally discussed her schedule to balance the internship with an online certification.
Abena’s clarity, confidence, and courtesy helped her turn a simple connection into a real career opportunity.
Continue
- Stabilize your phone: Use both hands or a tripod to avoid shaky footage.
- Record in landscape mode: Especially for presentations, YouTube, or wide visuals.
- Check your background: Keep it clean and relevant to your subject.
- Edit after shooting: Use apps like CapCut, Snapseed, or Canva to enhance colors and crop unwanted parts.
Writing Well: Structure, Purpose, and the Elements of Style
Start
Key Concepts and Keywords
Structure: The organization of your writing (introduction, body, conclusion). A clear structure makes your message easy to follow.
Chat Etiquette: The dos and don’ts of digital communication such as being respectful, brief, and professional even in informal platforms.
Style and Tone: The way your message “sounds.” Your tone should match your audience and purpose — professional, friendly, assertive, etc.
Audience: The specific person or group who will be reading your document.
Take the course
During the interview, she gave unclear answers, avoided eye contact, and replied passively to questions about her goals and expectations with phrases like “Anything is fine.”
Her lack of clarity, confidence, and engagement made it hard for the recruiters to understand her strengths. She didn’t get the opportunity.
During the interview, she gave unclear answers, avoided eye contact, and replied passively to questions about her goals and expectations with phrases like “Anything is fine.”
Her lack of clarity, confidence, and engagement made it hard for the recruiters to understand her strengths. She didn’t get the opportunity.
Practice maintaining open posture (uncrossed arms, upright sitting/standing).
Role-play conversations to maintain natural eye contact
Use mirrors or video calls to self-check engagement.
You Guessed Right!
Management is impressed — not just by the idea, but by their professionalism and teamwork. The product gets approved for pilot testing.
Practice maintaining open posture (uncrossed arms, upright sitting/standing).
Respond with supportive gestures (nodding, leaning slightly forward).
Observe team members’ body language to understand feelings or concerns.
On the same team, another colleague, Regina, presents a similar pitch but avoids eye contact, slouches in her chair, and keeps her arms crossed. Even though her content is strong, the client perceives hesitation and disinterest, leaving the meeting unconvinced. Her ideas are questioned, and the opportunity is delayed.
Practice maintaining open posture (uncrossed arms, upright sitting/standing).
Observe others’ expressions in meetings to learn cues for engagement or concern
Practice conveying emotions through facial expressions in front of a mirror.
Anna is part of a startup team in Accra. During a client pitch, she maintains upright posture, smiles warmly, nods when the client asks questions, and gestures to highlight key points on her slides. The client senses her confidence and engagement, asking follow-up questions and expressing interest in collaboration. Her non-verbal cues reinforce her verbal points and build trust instantly.
During the interview, she gave unclear answers, avoided eye contact, and replied passively to questions about her goals and expectations with phrases like “Anything is fine.”
Her lack of clarity, confidence, and engagement made it hard for the recruiters to understand her strengths. She didn’t get the opportunity.
Practice maintaining open posture (uncrossed arms, upright sitting/standing).
Practice maintaining open posture (uncrossed arms, upright sitting/standing).
Record yourself during a mock presentation to observe gestures and movements
Practice maintaining open posture (uncrossed arms, upright sitting/standing).
Avoid repetitive or distracting gestures by rehearsing presentations.
Use purposeful hand movements to emphasize points.
Practice maintaining open posture (uncrossed arms, upright sitting/standing).
Practice maintaining open posture (uncrossed arms, upright sitting/standing).
Record yourself during a mock presentation to observe gestures and movements
Skill In Demand
During project meetings, the team struggles to align their ideas. The marketing officer has brilliant insights on branding, the IT officer understands the digital side, and the finance officer focuses on cost implications — but none of them seem to connect their points clearly. The team leader realizes that, despite having technical competence, they are not communicating effectively. They need someone who can articulate the product’s value, listen to different perspectives, and synthesize ideas into a clear, persuasive message for management.
What Happens Next?
Communication Course
Jerry Kanyinebi
Created on December 31, 2025
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Transcript
A COURSE ON:
Communication skills
Client:
Next
Non-Verbal Communication
Start
Objectives
In this lesson, we will focus on Non-Verbal Communication In this lesson, you will learn:
Now, let's get started.
Definition and Context
Non-verbal communication is conveying messages, emotions, and attitudes without words, utilising body language, facial expressions, gestures, posture, and eye contact.
What is Non-verbal Communication?
In the workplace, non-verbal communication signals confidence, attentiveness, and professionalism, especially for women professionals in male-dominated spaces or high-pressure teams. Employers increasingly look for people who can demonstrate presence and credibility without needing to speak first, particularly in meetings, networking events, or client presentations.
Why is it relevant?
Real World Examples
Non-Verbal Communication In Use / Practice
Absence of Non-Verbal Communication
Meet Regina
Meet Anna
Proven Techniques to Develop Non-Verbal Communication
Click on the boxes
Body Language Awarenes
Facial Expression Control
Eye Contact Awarenes
Empathy & Attunement
Gesture Effectiveness
Effective Communications
Start
Lets start with a scenario
A team at Akwaaba Bank Ghana Ltd. is preparing to pitch a new youth savings product to management. The product idea is strong, but how the team communicates it will determine whether it gets approved for funding.
However, something goes wrong
When Communication Breaks Down
At the presentation, the lack of communication skills becomes obvious. The slides are wordy, the speakers talk over each other, and questions from management are met with unclear or conflicting answers.
One executive becomes visibly frustrated, saying, “You people are not saying the same thing — what exactly are you proposing?” The meeting ends without approval. The team leaves feeling disappointed, realizing that poor communication made their great idea look weak.
When Communications is Done Well
Learning from that experience, the team leader — inspired by a training on Effective Workplace Communication — guides the team to prepare again. This time, they assign clear speaking roles, simplify their language, and rehearse their delivery.
The marketing officer opens with a relatable story about a young Ghanaian entrepreneur saving digitally; the IT officer explains the platform features clearly; and the finance officer presents the numbers confidently. During questions, they listen attentively and respond consistently.
Guess What Happened Next?
Why Communication Needs to be Effective
It provides a platform for visibility of performance. It is not good enough to be skilled at work if that work cannot be rightly communicated.
Helps one as the Speaker, Writer, or Content Creator to express oneself clearly and brings one closer to achieving their aims.
It helps to have a better understanding of what others have in mind through being able to listen, hear and read others - peers, managers, friends, and family.
Reduces differences and conflicts that may arise from misunderstanding each other.
When Communication is Ineffective
Poor Listening – Interrupting, ignoring feedback, or failing to pay attention leads to misunderstandings.
Lack of Clarity – The message is vague or confusing, leaving others unsure of what to do or understand.
Negative Tone or Attitude – Harsh words, impatience, or disrespectful language cause tension and resistance.
Information Gaps or Overload – Giving too little or too much information makes it hard for others to act effectively.
The Journey to Career Opportunities: Communication in Action
Start
Meet Ama
Ama, a recent IT graduate from the University of Cape Coast, attended a youth innovation meetup in Accra. She spent most of the networking break scrolling on her phone and avoided introducing herself to others.
Later, she saw an internship post from one of the companies represented at the event. Her email application was short and impersonal: “Hi, I saw your post. I’d like to apply. Please see my CV.”
When she finally approached a recruiter, her introduction was vague — “I’m looking for something in tech” — with no clear mention of her skills or interests.
Continue
Meet Imelda
Imelda, another IT graduate who attended the same meetup, used her communication skills to make the most of the event. During the networking session, she approached one of the guest speakers from a fintech company, introduced herself clearly, and asked thoughtful questions about digital innovation. Her enthusiasm and active listening made a strong impression.
When she later saw the company’s internship post on LinkedIn, she sent a concise, well-written email referencing their earlier conversation and expressing interest.
Continue
Meet Imelda
During the interview, she maintained good posture, spoke confidently, and used examples to show her problem-solving and teamwork abilities. When offered the role, she professionally discussed her schedule to balance the internship with an online certification.
Abena’s clarity, confidence, and courtesy helped her turn a simple connection into a real career opportunity.
Continue
Writing Well: Structure, Purpose, and the Elements of Style
Start
Key Concepts and Keywords
Structure: The organization of your writing (introduction, body, conclusion). A clear structure makes your message easy to follow.
Chat Etiquette: The dos and don’ts of digital communication such as being respectful, brief, and professional even in informal platforms.
Style and Tone: The way your message “sounds.” Your tone should match your audience and purpose — professional, friendly, assertive, etc.
Audience: The specific person or group who will be reading your document.
Take the course
During the interview, she gave unclear answers, avoided eye contact, and replied passively to questions about her goals and expectations with phrases like “Anything is fine.”
Her lack of clarity, confidence, and engagement made it hard for the recruiters to understand her strengths. She didn’t get the opportunity.
During the interview, she gave unclear answers, avoided eye contact, and replied passively to questions about her goals and expectations with phrases like “Anything is fine.”
Her lack of clarity, confidence, and engagement made it hard for the recruiters to understand her strengths. She didn’t get the opportunity.
Practice maintaining open posture (uncrossed arms, upright sitting/standing).
Role-play conversations to maintain natural eye contact
Use mirrors or video calls to self-check engagement.
You Guessed Right!
Management is impressed — not just by the idea, but by their professionalism and teamwork. The product gets approved for pilot testing.
Practice maintaining open posture (uncrossed arms, upright sitting/standing).
Respond with supportive gestures (nodding, leaning slightly forward).
Observe team members’ body language to understand feelings or concerns.
On the same team, another colleague, Regina, presents a similar pitch but avoids eye contact, slouches in her chair, and keeps her arms crossed. Even though her content is strong, the client perceives hesitation and disinterest, leaving the meeting unconvinced. Her ideas are questioned, and the opportunity is delayed.
Practice maintaining open posture (uncrossed arms, upright sitting/standing).
Observe others’ expressions in meetings to learn cues for engagement or concern
Practice conveying emotions through facial expressions in front of a mirror.
Anna is part of a startup team in Accra. During a client pitch, she maintains upright posture, smiles warmly, nods when the client asks questions, and gestures to highlight key points on her slides. The client senses her confidence and engagement, asking follow-up questions and expressing interest in collaboration. Her non-verbal cues reinforce her verbal points and build trust instantly.
During the interview, she gave unclear answers, avoided eye contact, and replied passively to questions about her goals and expectations with phrases like “Anything is fine.”
Her lack of clarity, confidence, and engagement made it hard for the recruiters to understand her strengths. She didn’t get the opportunity.
Practice maintaining open posture (uncrossed arms, upright sitting/standing).
Practice maintaining open posture (uncrossed arms, upright sitting/standing).
Record yourself during a mock presentation to observe gestures and movements
Practice maintaining open posture (uncrossed arms, upright sitting/standing).
Avoid repetitive or distracting gestures by rehearsing presentations.
Use purposeful hand movements to emphasize points.
Practice maintaining open posture (uncrossed arms, upright sitting/standing).
Practice maintaining open posture (uncrossed arms, upright sitting/standing).
Record yourself during a mock presentation to observe gestures and movements
Skill In Demand
During project meetings, the team struggles to align their ideas. The marketing officer has brilliant insights on branding, the IT officer understands the digital side, and the finance officer focuses on cost implications — but none of them seem to connect their points clearly. The team leader realizes that, despite having technical competence, they are not communicating effectively. They need someone who can articulate the product’s value, listen to different perspectives, and synthesize ideas into a clear, persuasive message for management.
What Happens Next?