Non-Verbal Communication : Is It a Myth?
For years, I have been preaching that 90% of our communication (actually 93% as noted in the video below) is non-verbal. Coming from a family where non-verbal plays no small role in our communications, this is evident on a daily basis. A medical doctor commented years ago that my wife and daughter could have an entire conversation without ever saying a word. That certainly wasn’t a surprise to me.
What was a little surprising was the Youtube video below. Take a look and keep an open mind.
Now, take a look at one of Napo’s videos. Napo has been presenting safety videos for years – all without speaking a word. Gestures? Facial expressions? Intonations? Napo uses all these to get his point across. Take a look and ask yourself, “Do I understand the message that is being transmitted?” If so, perhaps Mehrabian wasn’t that far off in his theories – because Napo doesn’t use words!
Verbal or non-verbal, accurate communication is important in business, our personal lives and everyday actions. Use of non-verbal cues – again, facial expressions, hand gestures, intonations, etc – adds tremendously to our message. It can ensure the receiver of your message understands it fully – or – walks away with even more questions in their mind.
Let’s be safe out there – and communicate well!