Professor Albert Mehrabian has pioneered the understanding of communications since the
1960s.
Representation of Mehrabian's findings than is typically applied is:
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7% of meaning in the words that are spoken.
38% of meaning is paralinguistic (the way that the words are said).
55% of meaning is in facial expression.
According to the Mehrabian model, only 7% of personal communication relies on verbal
communication or the actual words that are spoken. The remaining 93% lies in non-verbal
communication, with 38% comprising tone of voice and 55% concerned with body language.
A lesson we can draw from this research is that we need to pay attention to far more than
just the words others are using when we communicate with them. Similarly, we should also
be aware of what we communicate to others through our tone and body language, not just
our words. We convey huge amounts of information this way. As leaders and managers, it’s
important that we understand what we’re communicating and that we try and communicate
intentionally.
Therefore, to communicate successfully, the Mehrabian rule can be incorporated into one’s
style of communication, with considerable focus on optimizing one’s tone of voice and body
language.
MAKE THE MOST OF BODY LANGUAGE BY:
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Making eye contact with the audience as much as possible
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Gesturing to stimulate curiosity and interest in the audience
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Smiling whenever appropriate implies positivity
REGULATE TONE OF VOICE BY:
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Altering the tone and pitch
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If in a big room with few people, echoes can affect a speaker’s voice
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If addressing a small gathering in a small space, the speaker can continue without a
microphone.