When you visit the executive assistant to request important changes to a spreadsheet, he is hard at work; e$-$mailing clients. The moment you arrive, however, he stops typing, turns to face you, and looks you in the eye.

What message is the executive assistant expressing nonverbally?

He anticipates your departure.

He values your time.

He multitasks poorly.

Document appearance can have either positive or negative effects on how an audience receives a message.

In the following situation, consider what message is being conveyed nonverbally through document appearance.

Nathan is hiring a summer intern to assist him in launching a new marketing campaign. He opens a letter of introduction from one applicant and notices three misspellings in the first sentence. Additionally, Nathan notes that while the applicant seems to have the necessary experience, he has not formatted his letter of introduction in a professional manner.