Communicate both online and offline

When we communicate, 93% of communication is voice, tone and body language, with only 7% actual words.

“We live in an online world”

So we are told, but I don’t feel it is that simple. Sometimes it is key to communicate offline (ie face to face!). The trick is to establish a balance, using both and at the right time and in the right order.

Today some thoughts from research, from my own experience, and from Seth.

Communicate: The “7%-38%-55% Rule”

The graphic above is referred to often as the “7%-38%-55% Rule”, as developed by Dr Mehrabian of UCLA.

To summarise, what it refers to is that when your communication is not aligned (ie to the listener it does not “feel” fully congruent), the weighting of what you communicate comes in the following proportions:

• 7% from your words
• 38% from your tone of voice
• 55% from your non-verbal communication (body language etc)

Consider that for a moment.