Communicating for Success!

How many times have you heard the phrase " He's all talk" or "His bark is bigger then his bite"! We have all heard it or even said it a few times in our lives, but have we stopped to think about what this really means. How come some people can create reputations of respect and leadership by saying very little, while others talk like a leader but fail to get the following. How come some people seem to have magnetic personalities, or are considered natural leaders, while others are always victims or losers.

Its all about Successful Communication!

Easy you might think. Maybe, but first you have to understand the basics. Communication is so much more than what you say, in fact it has very little to do with the words that are coming out of your mouth. Here are the facts.

The 3 forms of Communication

1. WORDS or Vocabulary
2. VOICE QUALITIES such as Tone, Pitch, Volume
3. PHYSIOLOGY. the way you use your body. Gestures, movement etc.

Pretty straightforward so far, but how much of each of these 3 forms do we as humans actually read to form our understanding and our behaviour.

Words or Vocabulary represent only 7% of what is actually interpreted!

Voice Qualities represent 38%.

Physiology 55%

So, in reality the things you say have very little influence on Human Behaviour, Its how you say it, and how your body communicates it. In short, you can tell someone that you are very disappointed in them, but if your smiling and laughing, and dancing around, your message will be very different. The best way to understand this is with Children. If a child does something very naughty, and you want them to stop, simply telling them to stop is not enough. Your voice, and your body language must reflect what you intend to communicate. Otherwise, a child will respond not to what you have said, but to the other forms of communication.

The next time you are speaking to someone, use your self awareness to observe what you are really communicating.

"Success is simply a matter of luck. Ask any failure."

Earl Nightingale