Here is a tip for those of you whom are wondering why your messages just don’t seem to get across to someone you are speaking to: It’s not what you say that is important but how you say it that counts! How you say something is most often much more powerful than what you say.
Do you pay attention to your body language, eye contact, and voice inflection when you speak? How does your nonverbal communication work for you? Did you realize that your tone of voice and facial expressions tell people so much more than words itself?
The tone of your voice, its inflection, and the facial expressions given during a conversation account for more than 92 percent of your message. The actual words only account for a mere 8 percent of getting your message across.
So what does it take to learn to communicate effectively with other people? Fortunately you do not need a college education or a huge technical vocabulary to communicate assertively and effectively to make yourself understood. Remember, as stated above, it is not what you say but how you say it that matters. Repeat this to yourself often throughout the day.
The way you speak, which is considered your non-verbal communication, can either enhance and totally support the words that you are saying, or can do just the opposite and oppose what you are saying.
In today’s article we are going to cover the importance of eye contact and how much it impacts the way you communicate towards other people. The eyes are an important factor when it comes to communication. Have you ever been conversing with someone who would literally stare off into space or keep their eyes glued to their feet the entire time? Not too inspiring, are they?
If anyone has told you that you do the same thing with your eye contact when speaking then it is vital that you learn to communicate with more confidence and polish by keeping your head up and vary the direction of your gaze. Always keep in mind that eye contact emphasizes a point and establishes trust with the other person or group of persons.
On the other end of the spectrum of eye contact you have people that will stare continuously while speaking, without ever taking their eyes off of the other person. This makes people feel very uncomfortable.
If this is you, then practice glancing at the other person for a second and then glance away to show that you are not just staring at them. When speaking, using relaxed and steady gaze while occasionally looking away, shows interest and respect for the other person.