“If you just communicate, you can get by. But if you communicate skillfully, you can work miracles.” —Jim Rohn
Last week we discussed listening and its importance. I thought it would only be fair this week to discuss the other side of that coin: communication.
Communication is both verbal and non-verbal. It is broken down in the following way:1
- Verbal – 45%
- Words – 7%
- Tone and Volume – 38%
- Non-verbal – 55% (this includes body language, breathing, movement)
Clearly what we say matters very little in the grand scheme… It’s all in how we say it.
Ultimately the goal of good communication is mutual understanding. It is essentially what forms the relationship between participants (people, animals, etc.).
Good communication is important because it…
- helps you avoid misunderstandings
- helps you express what you want to express
- allows for deeper connections
All things we should want with our partners, customers, friends, peers, managers; almost everyone we meet.
Some tips to make you a better communicator.
“Communication leads to community, that is, to understanding, intimacy and mutual valuing.” —Rollo May
Have a great weekend.
—Vijay
Sources:
1Mehrabian, A. (1981). Silent messages: Implicit communication of emotions and attitudes. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth
About Friday Food for Thought (FFfT)
I frequently attend conferences and retreats on entrepreneurship and leadership and while I am away, the J2 team picks up the slack, allowing me to learn to be better at what I do. I wanted to share what I was learning with my team, so I created the weekly FFfT emails in November of 2015 and have been writing them ever since.
Before long, the J2 staff began sharing the FFfT emails with their friends and family and now other leaders have asked to be included, which led to the creation of this newsletter. I hope you enjoy!