Accurately Interpreting Instructions Copy

Think about the ways we communicate. These are:

• What we say
• How we say it
• Body language.

According to the “Experts” people interpret messages mainly though body language and how we say something (stress and intonation)

What we say	7%
How we say it	38%
Body language	55%
Total	100%

 

Body Language

Even before we speak our body language can communicate a lot about us. There may be an emotional message in our body language communication that we don’t notice to our own detriment.

There are aspects of people’s body language that provide us with an insight as to their thoughts and feelings are before they speak. By being able to read their body language clues we can respond appropriately to build rapport and empathy.

 

We need to take particular note of:

Behaviour	Deportment
Posture	Demeanour
Facial expression	Hand gestures
Eye contact	Body gestures
Head movement

 

We can read the body gestures of others to identify their mood, e.g. how they sit- leaning forward or back, reclining, the former indicating interest and the latter which could infer a lack of interest in what is being communicated.