What you say is important, but how you say it is even more crucial, especially when talking about hot-button topics. Make sure your message is getting through clearly and in the way you intended it to! It’s easy for messages to get lost and miscommunication to occur, but not necessarily because of the words you choose. If you’ve ever had something you’ve said taken the wrong way and wondered why, you know what I’m referring to. I’m including this as part of the #marriagemonday series because relationships suffer all too often because of miscommunication. Let’s start by breaking down how communication is received by a listener:
Be careful of how your body language and tone can change if you’re nervous. If you go into a conversation about a topic that makes you uneasy, your nerves can create body language that may make you seem indifferent, cold, or angry. Just be aware of how you feel and make sure your body language reflects it.
In today’s digital world, a bulk of our communication is done electronically, think of all the text messages, Facebook posts, and emails you write every day, and how they lack any sort of visual or vocal cues to let the reader know how to interpret your words. So make sure your message is clear, and maybe add a smilie face or an exclamation mark for good measure, especially if you’re writing to your boss or a friend whom you’ve been on shaky grounds with, just to avoid miscommunication.
-rachel
- 55% of communication is visual, such as your body language and eye contact
- 38% of communication is vocal: the tone, pitch, and pace of your words
- 7% of communication is the actual words you use
Be careful of how your body language and tone can change if you’re nervous. If you go into a conversation about a topic that makes you uneasy, your nerves can create body language that may make you seem indifferent, cold, or angry. Just be aware of how you feel and make sure your body language reflects it.
In today’s digital world, a bulk of our communication is done electronically, think of all the text messages, Facebook posts, and emails you write every day, and how they lack any sort of visual or vocal cues to let the reader know how to interpret your words. So make sure your message is clear, and maybe add a smilie face or an exclamation mark for good measure, especially if you’re writing to your boss or a friend whom you’ve been on shaky grounds with, just to avoid miscommunication.
-rachel