There is no single percentage of all communication that is nonverbal. Dr. Albert Mehrabian’s often-quoted 7-38-55 findings concern how people judge feelings and attitudes when verbal and nonverbal signals conflict.
Understanding these nonverbal cues can make a big difference in how well we get along with others. This article will give you a closer look at this ‘silent’ communication and share some cool tips on getting better at it.
At a Glance:
- The 7-38-55 figures concern feelings and attitudes, not all communication.
- Nonverbal cues encompass body language, facial expressions, and gestures.
- Some gestures are universal; others differ by culture.
- Nonverbal cues can affect how listeners interpret words, especially when the signals conflict.
- Tips for improvement: awareness of body language, eye contact, open postures, and cultural sensitivity.
- Digital communication also has non-verbal aspects, like emoticons and clear photos.
- Mastery of nonverbal cues is key to better interpersonal interactions.
Contents
What is Nonverbal Communication?
Nonverbal communication is a type of communication that doesn’t involve words. It includes body language, facial expressions, gestures, and more. It’s important to be aware of nonverbal cues in order to properly communicate with others, as they can sometimes speak louder than verbal messages.
Some nonverbal communication is universal. For example, people around the world smile to show happiness and frown to show sadness. Other nonverbal communication varies by culture. For example, a thumbs-up sign in the US means “okay” or “cool” whereas it is considered a rude gesture in Iran.
What Percentage of Communication is Nonverbal?
There have been multiple studies to determine the percentage of communication that is non-verbal, with different results. One of such is Dr Albert Mehrabian’s research on non-verbal communication which was published in the book “Silent Messages” in 1971.
His formula assigned 7% to words, 38% to vocal cues and 55% to facial cues in judgments of liking. The combined 93% is often quoted as a general rule, but Mehrabian explicitly limits the formula to communicating feelings and attitudes. It does not measure the share of meaning in a lecture, set of instructions or ordinary conversation.
For a presentation, the practical lesson is to make your delivery support your words. A warm expression can help convey welcome, but your explanation still supplies the facts, reasoning and instructions.
It is worth noting that Mehrabian’s well-known 7-38-55 split came from two small lab studies in which people judged single spoken words that conflicted with the tone of voice or facial expression used to deliver them. Mehrabian himself has cautioned that the numbers only apply to those narrow situations, where the speaker is conveying feelings or attitudes and the words clash with the way they are said. The formula cannot tell us what percentage of an everyday conversation comes from words.
In those experiments, listeners gave more weight to vocal and facial cues when judging feelings from conflicting messages. Instead of treating the percentages as a rule for every conversation, keep your tone, facial expression, and posture in step with what you are saying. A confident point made in a flat voice, with no eye contact and a slouched stance, will land very differently from the same point delivered with warmth and steady posture.
Importance of Nonverbal Communication
In our daily interactions, whether we realize it or not, we’re often “talking” without speaking a word. The subtle gestures, facial expressions, and even our posture can convey a message louder than any words.
Expressing the Unspoken: Nonverbal cues allow us to share emotions and feelings that might be hard to capture with words alone. A hug or a frown can say a lot without uttering a single word.
Clarifying Verbal Messages: Have you ever tried explaining something and used your hands to help? That’s nonverbal communication in action, aiding in emphasizing or clarifying your spoken words.
Key in Cross-Cultural Interactions: When you’re interacting with someone from a different culture, nonverbal signals can be both a blessing and a challenge. It’s essential to understand gestures specific to certain cultures to avoid misunderstandings.
A Big Part of Interpersonal Relationships: How we communicate without words is a massive part of our daily interactions, both personally and professionally. It shapes perceptions, making it a key tool in building relationships.
Often More Trustworthy Than Words: Sometimes, what’s unspoken holds more truth. For instance, if someone’s words say they’re calm, but their clenched fists suggest otherwise, you’d likely trust the nonverbal cue more.
While our words craft the narrative, it’s the unspoken language that often reveals the true essence of our thoughts and feelings. By learning to read and use nonverbal cues well, we can handle our interactions more effectively and build deeper, more genuine connections.
Tips to Improve NonVerbal Communication
Here are some tips on how you can improve nonverbal communication:
1. Be aware
Pay attention to your body language and the body language of those around you. Consider several cues and the situation together, and ask if you are unsure what someone means.
2. Make eye contact
Maintaining eye contact helps build rapport and show interest in others.
3. Use open postures
Sitting comfortably upright or leaning forward slightly can help show attention. Avoid assuming that folded arms or slouched shoulders mean hostility; comfort, tiredness and the setting can affect posture too.
4. Be aware of your surroundings
External factors, such as ambient noise or distractions, can influence the nuances of non-verbal communication. Recognizing these can help you adapt and respond more effectively.
5. Maintain an appropriate distance from the person you are talking to
If you stand too close to a person, they may feel your nonverbal communication is threatening. If you stand too far away from a person, then they may feel as though you’re not interested in what they have to say.
6. Be aware of cultural differences:
Nonverbal communication varies by culture, so it’s important to be aware that what may seem appropriate in your culture may be considered offensive in another.
7. Practice nonverbal communication
Like any skill, refining your non-verbal communication requires practice. This could involve rehearsing facial responses or experimenting with various gestures during conversations to gauge their impact.
8. Pay attention to non-verbal signs
Nonverbal signals can sometimes speak louder than words. Looking for nonverbal cues such as facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice can help you read others better.
Tips to Improve Nonverbal Digital Communication
With the rise of communication via digital platforms, it is also important to understand the importance of nonverbal communication on calls, emails, and other online channels. Here are some tips to improve non-verbal digital communication.
1. Emoticons
Emoticons such as the smiley face 🙂 can help non-verbally communicate emotions and make your nonverbal communication clear.
2. Limit distractions
For video calls, always make sure that the call is in a quiet place where communication will be optimal. Put down your phone, close your door and turn off the music. For phone calls, make sure to keep it short and sweet; don’t interrupt the other person, but instead, let them ask questions if they need more information.
3. Slang
Avoid unfamiliar slang when writing to people who may not know it. Slang is verbal communication because it uses words; in a written message, an emoji or image supplies a different kind of cue.
4. Post clear pictures
Using blurry or unclear pictures that don’t reveal much information about yourself may leave people wondering who you are and what you look like.
Conclusion
Nonverbal communication can play a big role in interpersonal communication. Mehrabian’s percentages cannot tell us how much of every message is nonverbal. It is also key when it comes to cross-cultural interactions where non-verbal cues will be even more significant due to different cultures having varying non-verbally derived non-content knowledge about communicating effectively with one another through non-verbal signals such as facial expressions, body language, gestures, and tone of voice.