The Rule Of Prominence (It's True - Less is More)

When you really have something important to convey, don't bury the key facts in an avalanche of non-critical facts.

Often, thinking that more info is better, we bury the message we are trying to convey or, at very least, leave the listener searching through mountains of facts for the real nuggets. The next time you have something important to say (personal or business), decide which facts are most critical and focus on those.

This is the rule of prominence. You need to centre your words so that what is most important in your message takes prominence over everything else. Don't leave any doubt about what you are trying to say or what you are asking.

More isn't better; it is confusing. Stay clear and focused and you will create fewer misunderstandings. This holds true when talking to friends, colleagues, senior management and most definitely when talking to children.

Stay clear, stay focused on the key facts only and keep it short. It will make all the difference.

the communication guru

The 'Noise' Factor (Your Real Competition)

The next time you have an important message to deliver, consider the 'noise' that may prevent your message from being received and understood. The 'noise factor' is often neglected.

Whether you are speaking to someone or sending an email, you need to consider what else may attract the attention of your intended audience at the same time. Sometimes it is obvious; at other times you may need to do a little work to see what else may compete with your message.

Here are some considerations:

• Never try to compete with a television. Don't try to talk to your spouse or children about anything important to you while the TV is on. This is a losing proposition and will only lead to anger and frustration. This applies to the computer, when someone is reading or listening to music. Even if the person looks up from what he or she is doing, you are still competing with the TV, computer, book or music. Please don't get frustrated if your message is not received as well as you would like...pick another time, when the conditions are more favourable.
• If you are sending an email, realize that yours is one of dozens, maybe even hundreds that your recipient(s) will receive today. How can you make yours stand out? Give it some thought. There is a lot of competition for attention. And know that you may need to send out more than one email to get your message across.
• You know that you multi-task when you are on the phone; don't be surprised when I tell you that you rarely have the undivided attention of the people you are talking to on the phone. They are likely watching TV, sitting in front of a computer, reading whatever is at hand... Unfortunate, but so often true. If you have something important to say, ask for the attention you need before you say it or try to arrange to talk in person (we don't do that enough anymore).

Just remember, what you have to communicate is very important to you, but it will have to compete with the 'noise' of the modern world.

Awareness is more than half the battle...

the communication guru

You might be shocked...

Research shows that, whether speaking to one or more people, the actual words you use to express yourself account for only about 7% of the message others receive from you. Only 7%!! I was stunned when I heard that - just think about how much effort we put into carefully crafting our words so that just the right message is delivered.

So what could be sending the stronger message? Well, it is predominately our body language - about 55%, in fact. This means that your posture, facial expressions, eye contact, stance, gestures, energy level, confidence level, and even clothing and hairstyle have more impact on the listener than your words do.

The remaining 38% is another key factor with more impact than your words - your vocal delivery. That means how you say what you say carries more weight with the listener than does what you say alone. This includes the tone of your voice, your inflection, your perceived sincerity and how quickly you speak.

Looking at it another way, about 93% of your message when speaking is delivered through non-verbal cues. This is very important to acknowledge. When you prepare to communicate an important message, you need to consider both the message but also how you will deliver your message.

How a listener interprets your message is this: if what you say seems to be in line with your verbal tone and your body language, your message will be believed. If what you say seems to be in conflict with your non-verbal signals, you will not be believed, no matter how accurate and beautifully crafted your message may be. It is that simple.

Ever heard the phrases 'actions speak louder than words' or 'seeing is believing'? Well, the research backs it up.

Note: Many studies support these percentages, including the comprehensive study completed by Professor Albert Mehrabian at the University of California (on non-verbal communication).

Bet you didn't realize that we listen better with our eyes than we do our ears...
the communication guru