ABSTRACT Perhaps the best-known numbers within the communication field are those that claim the total meaning of a message is “7 percent verbal, 38 percent vocal, and 55 percent facial.†Despite the fact that this finding is derived from two 1967 studies with serious methodological limitations, these percentages have
“93/7 Rule: 93% of communication occurs through nonverbal behavior & tone; only 7% of communication takes place through the use of words.â€
Facial expressions are responsible for a huge proportion of nonverbal communication. 1 Consider how much information can be conveyed with a smile or a frown. The look on a person's face is often the first thing we see, even before we hear what they have to say.
When we do meet someone face to face, keep in mind that we have all three V's to communicate: VISUAL (how we look), VOCAL (how we sound), and VERBAL (what we say). Make sure each of these V's are aligned to avoid any miscommunication and to convey a powerful and professional image and message.
Albert Mehrabian's 7-38-55 Communication model says that 7% of the meaning of feelings and attitudes takes place through the words we use in spoken communications, while 38% takes place through tone and voice and the remaining 55% of communication of these factors take place through the body language we use (
When speaking with others, your tone clarifies and conveys meaning. A phrase as simple as “I don't know†can be taken in a number of different ways depending on how you decide to express it. Your tone can not only affect how people perceive you but also their willingness to listen to you – especially in the workplace.
In fact, there is a golden rule of negotiation — called the 7-38-55 rule — that says words matter far less than how you deliver them, and your body language. Put simply, words make 7% of the impact of your communication, how you say them accounts for 38%, and the rest is down to body language.
“Non-verbal communication†is the†least expensive†form of communication. If you take verbal / oral, the person should take effort to place proper words and convey information.
These studies led Dr. Mehrabian to devise a formula to describe how the mind determines meaning. He concluded that the interpretation of a message is 7 percent verbal, 38 percent vocal and 55 percent visual. The conclusion was that 93 percent of communication is “nonverbal†in nature.
Verbal communication is the use of sounds and words to express yourself, especially in contrast to using gestures or mannerisms (non-verbal communication). An example of verbal communication is saying “No†when someone asks you to do something you don't want to do.
Effective Communication is defined as the ability to convey information to another effectively and efficiently. Business managers with good verbal, nonverbal and written communication skills help facilitate the sharing of information between people within a company for its commercial benefit.
Professor Mehrabian combined the statistical results of the two studies and came up with the now famous—and famously misused—rule that communication is only 7 percent verbal and 93 percent non-verbal. The non-verbal component was made up of body language (55 percent) and tone of voice (38 percent).
If they are unhappy, frown and lower your eyes. Briefly matching their facial expressions not only shows your customers you are listening, it creates the same chemicals in your brain that body language shifts are creating in theirs, and you will actually feel what they are feeling and understand them more effectively.
Communication Barriers
- The use of jargon.
- Emotional barriers and taboos.
- Lack of attention, interest, distractions, or irrelevance to the receiver.
- Differences in perception and viewpoint.
- Physical disabilities such as hearing problems or speech difficulties.
- Physical barriers to non-verbal communication.
The rule states that 7 percent of meaning is communicated through spoken word, 38 percent through tone of voice, and 55 percent through body language. It was developed by psychology professor Albert Mehrabian at the University of California, Los Angeles, who laid out the concept in his 1971 book Silent Messages (1971).
Intrapersonal Communication
A typical study points out that many of us spend 70 to 80 percent of our waking hours in some form of communication. Of that time, we spend about 9 percent writing, 16 percent reading, 30 percent speaking, and 45 percent listening.
Body language is the use of physical behaviour, expressions, and mannerisms to communicate non-verbally. Non-verbal behaviours can allow people to be at ease, build trust and connections with others. However, they can also confuse others, generate tension, and even create an uncomfortable environment.
What Is Negative Body Language? Negative or closed body language are nonverbal cues that could diminish your credibility and influence. Your gestures, facial expressions and postures may offend or even hurt others.
Best Practices for Communicating Difficult Issues
- Know Your Audience.
- Find Common Ground.
- Be Kind to Your Audience.
- Identify Your Message(s)
- Make Your Message Appealing.
- Keep the Audience on Message.
- Communicating a Message about Behavior Change.
- Communicating a Message with Science.
Eighty five percent of people around the globe who are connected online send and receive emails and 62 percent communicate through social networking sites, particularly in Indonesia, Argentina and Russia, which have the highest percentage of users.
A person's nonverbal communication has to match up with the context and tone of what they're saying, or the interpreter may become confused and read the social cues wrongly, thus resulting in a communication breakdown.
Let's uncover some of the benefits of effective communication.
- Communication mitigates conflict.
- It improves public relations.
- Communication fuels innovation.
- Communication builds existing skills.
- It increases job satisfaction and loyalty.
- Communication powers productivity.
- It builds a culture of teamwork and trust.
Communication can be categorized into three basic types: (1) verbal communication, in which you listen to a person to understand their meaning; (2) written communication, in which you read their meaning; and (3) nonverbal communication, in which you observe a person and infer meaning.
Your tone of voice is not what you say, but how you say it – and is made up of the kinds of words and sentences you use as well as their order, rhythm, pace and length.
Written Communication is the most formal form of communication.
What Are Types of Nonverbal Communication? Nonverbal communication types include facial expressions, gestures, paralinguistics such as loudness or tone of voice, body language, proxemics or personal space, eye gaze, haptics (touch), appearance, and artifacts.
Communication can be categorized into three basic types: (1) verbal communication, in which you listen to a person to understand their meaning; (2) written communication, in which you read their meaning; and (3) nonverbal communication, in which you observe a person and infer meaning.
The oldest known form of communication were cave paintings. After them came pictograms that eventually evolved into ideograms. Fast forward to 3500 BC and the first cuneiform writing was developed by the Sumerians, while the Egyptians developed what is known as hieroglyphic writing.
Communication skills are abilities you use when giving and receiving different kinds of information. Communication skills involve listening, speaking, observing and empathizing.
Written communication. Explanation : Communication without words is called Non- verbal communication. When messages or information is exchanged or communicated without using any spoken or written word is known as nonverbal communication.
Four Types of Verbal Communication
- Intrapersonal Communication. This form of communication is extremely private and restricted to ourselves.
- Interpersonal Communication.
- Small Group Communication.
- Public Communication.
- 3 responses.
Body language is a major contributor to the attitude a person conveys to others. Albert Mehrabian maintains that during a conversation dealing with feelings and attitudes (i.e., like-dislike), 7% of what is communicated is via what is said, 38% is via tone of voice, and the majority, 55%, is via body language.
