Ask the average person, and there’s a good chance they’ll say communication is what we say or how we talk. But you already know this is off the mark. According to most experts in the field of human communications — both verbal and nonverbal — on average, the communication value of the words we say is less than 10 percent; the value of our tone and inflection is nearly 40 percent; and the value of our body language is over 50 percent of all communication. It’s not what we say, but how we say it, verbally and in our body language, that completes the message. In communications, all three modes must convey the same message. Otherwise, people just won’t believe us. Actions do speak louder than words.

According to MasterPlanning Group International’s training principles, all miscommunication is a result of differing assumptions. When we assume too much or have unrealistic or inappropriate expectations, problems will surface in our interactions with people. The source of much anger and frustration in leaders is the result of incorrect assumptions or inaccurate expectations of others. It’s not so much that we don’t trust people. It’s more a matter of not being able to trust the communication.

Have you ever played the game in which you tell something to a person in the room, and then each person passes along the message to every other person in the room until it reaches the last individual? Then, when you compare the first person’s message with the last person’s, it’s very different. Such is the challenge with communication. Distortions and nuances can creep into every message in a way that can alter our perception of the facts. And that’s where we get into trouble as leaders. A lot of this boils down to what we have done — or not done — to cloud an issue with poor communication. You can’t just assume that people know what to do or that they can read your mind.

Communication is critical to your success, so take it seriously. This will best serve you and those around you.

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