When the words don't matter
Did you know that 7% of the message you give is words, 13% intonation and 80% body language? Neither did I before I ran into the topic of body language. As an Austrian writer Peter F. Drucker has said, "The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn't being said. It's pretty funny isn't it? The words don't matter after all do they?
On the previous lecture we all explored non-verbal communication ivy doing a few exercises. First we were told to form a line according to our height without using words. This turned out to be relatively easy as everybody could see their place in the line by comparing their heights with the fellow students. After this the tasks got harder and in the end the task was to form a line according to the latitude where each of us comes from. Though challenging, that exercise turned out alright thanks to whiteboard and Google Maps (thanks Google).
What is non-verbal communication? Its gestures, movement, facial impressions, silence, space and so many other things. I think that non-verbal communication is one of the many things that differ when it comes to different cultures. It is more common to use certain type of nonverbal communication in some cultures than in others. For example the extent of using hands and the use of touching can be very different in different cultures.
What do you think about non-verbal communication and the previous lecture? =)
thanks google!! haha I’m always saying that google maps is the best invention ever!!
VastaaPoista80% body language, that’s a lot!! and yes, I also agree with what Peter F. Drucker said, but I also think that sometimes we are obsessed believing that the other person is saying more than the words s(he) is pronouncing... and not always is like that…. In Spain we usually say “buscar 3 pies al gato”, which literally means “to look for 3 legs on the cat”, we use it when someone is making things more difficult as what they are supposed to be”
Hahah, Google is a friend =D
PoistaAnd I agree with you. There's a danger that one would make things more difficult. Sometimes the words mean what they stand for and there's nothing else to it. I think this usually is because of the body language makes the other person think otherwise even though it is not intended to mean anything. This illustrates how great effect it actually has =)
VastaaPoistaHey,
I really agree with Druckers idea about communication, pretty funny ! Because sometimes, in some case,silences, are non verbal communications means more than words. And it's more difficult to have this ability to "hear what isn't being said".
Google maps make our lives easier in lots different situations and it was very useful in this exercice !!
Before this lecture I had some knowledge about non verbal communications differences between cultures, but it was more detailed on this lecture, and all the students interventions give us more example in some cases.
I think that in a international area, multicultural space we have to be very careful about the meaning of non verbal communication for others, because in some case it could be us like rude people, because of the use of some gestures in a non-proper way in the country we visit.
Heyy,
PoistaYou've got some really good points there. I like what you said about the body language and culture. It definitely changes a lot according to the culture how the body language is interpreted and can lead into serious misunderstandings. Thus it is important to be aware of what is appropriate and what is not. However, the body language can be quite hard to control sometimes as it's a matter of what you have got used to. What you mentioned is an important point and it proves Drucker right as it indeed is hard to hear what isn't being said as there's a chance for misinterpretation.