According to Quintanilla (2014) “…since many nonverbal gestures are unconscious or unintentional, it is important to be aware of your nonverbal communication at all times and understand that different gestures carry different meanings to people ” (p. 26). The way people perceive others and are perceived may be due to their nonverbal communication. A person may have excellent content in their message but may behave in a way that others fail to connect with. They may seem too hasty, overly proud, rude, or disconnected because of the tone of their voice. All this can be due to body movements or facial expression. Our behaviors, body movements, facial expressions, voice, and appearance all play into our nonverbal communication. There are four main purposes for nonverbal communication, which are to express emotions, convey interpersonal attitudes, present personality, and accompany verbal communication. Expressing emotions through nonverbal communication can be more effective than verbal communication. You might tell someone "everything is fine" when your facial expression clearly says otherwise. Many people will base their perception solely on your facial expression. Conveying interpersonal attitudes can be useful when observing and interpreting the nonverbal communication of others. Someone might bring up a topic with another person at the wrong time and might not receive the desired response. Knowing the correct time can help you get the answer you're looking for. The third purpose of presenting personality helps us learn which traits or dispositions are appropriate for which situations. It may not be appropriate to joke and laugh at a funeral as if it were a dinner with friends. The last purpose is... middle of the paper......priate for every situation and person we come into contact with. A functional/professional touch would be a handshake with a new colleague or boss. A social/polite touch can be a pat on the back or a hug. Friendship/warm touch is shared between close friends and can include a kiss on the cheek and a hug. The touch of love/intimacy is personal and the most intimate. Hugs can last longer and a kiss on the lips is appropriate. Conclusion Nonverbal communication is just as important as verbal communication. Sometimes it can tell others more than our words. We communicate in many different ways. Learning to communicate in professional and personal environments can help us achieve the results we desire. Works Cited Quintanilla, K., & Wahl, S. (2014). Business and professional communication: Keys to workplace excellence (2nd ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Sage.