Dr. Albert Mehrabian, author of Silent Messages, conducted several studies on nonverbal communication. He found that 7% of any message is conveyed through words, 38% through certain vocal elements, and 55% through nonverbal elements (facial expressions, gestures, posture, etc). Subtracting the 7% for actual vocal content leaves one with the 93% statistic.

1. The Impact of Body Language On
Professional Success

2. Dr. Albert Mehrabian, author of Silent Messages,
conducted several studies on nonverbal communication.
He found that 7% of any message is conveyed through
words, 38% through certain vocal elements, and 55%
through nonverbal elements (facial expressions, gestures,
posture, etc). Subtracting the 7% for actual vocal content
leaves one with the 93% statistic.

3. Body language,
posture and distance
provide important
information to
supplement words,
or verbal
communication. They
are a crucial addition
to the overall
message.

4. Research has found that the right nonverbal
cues help you portray higher levels of:
• Power
• Charisma
• Intelligence

5. Context speaks volumes, much louder than body
language. Attempting to interpret body
language by analyzing a single gesture is like
trying to understand a sentence through one
word.

6. It is important to recognize that body language
may vary between individuals, and between
different cultures and nationalities. It is
therefore essential to verify and confirm the
signals that you are reading, by questioning the
individual and getting to know the person.

7. • As you observe others, you can identify some
common signs and signals that give away
whether they are feeling confident or not. Typical
things to look for in confident people include:
• Posture – standing tall with shoulders back.
• Eye contact – solid with a "smiling" face.
• Gestures with hands and arms – purposeful and
deliberate.
• Speech – slow and clear.
• Tone of voice – moderate to low.

8. Some of the common signs that the person you are speaking with may be
feeling defensive include:
• Hand/arm gestures are small and close to his or her body.
• Facial expressions are minimal.
• Body is physically turned away from you.
• Arms are crossed in front of body.
• Eyes maintain little contact, or are downcast.

9. Your body language can hint at your emotional
state. Scientists in the Communication
Department of Stanford now find that observing
subtle changes in your torso and head
movements can predict creative output or
learning ability.

10. Pay attention to the nonverbal cues
and signals you send and receive,
your ability to communicate will
improve.