It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it

It’s a goal! 

The announcer’s voice  had just raised an octave. It was impossible to ignore. The music of the language of the game, moving up and down as the movement of the players went up and down the ice.  As the excitement built, as they huddled and gripped around the goal posts, the voice rose.. Higher and higher.  And just a few words were all that was needed.

It’s a goal!

On a train ride, 2 strangers met. They had no language in common to hang onto. The only words they could exchange were the names of hockey players. The names were the music.  Cryptic phrases in dictionaries, drawings, and hand signals lasted the 8 hour ride.

They had few words, but lots of communication. 

Have you ever been in a room where the language spoken is not your own? How much did you follow? The lean in here, the lean back there. The wide open face here, the hands crossed and downward looks there. The bodies and glances speaking without words. 

It turns out that a whole lot of what we say is mostly said without words. And when we can’t see the speaker, we can understand a lot with just the sound of it, the tone. It’s a kind of music, and it can carry loaded messages. 

In statistical terms, if you like percentages - it turns out that our communication is mostly non verbal. 

• 55-56% of communication is Body Language (visual cues).

• 37-38% is Tone of Voice (auditory cues).

• A staggering 7% is the Actual Words we use.

Words are important, don’t get me wrong! But they are only the tip of the communication iceberg. Whether you are leading a team, a broadcast or a keynote, your presence, your energy and your tone is what really sends your message. 

So while the announcer of that hockey game was out of view, his tone - the rising and falling of his excitement - told  the story. Only the last three actual words were critical.  It’s a goal!

The takeaway for leaders and professionals: Focus on more than just your script. Master the way you say it, because that is where the real connection, trust, and storytelling are built.

#CommunicationSkills #Leadership #NonVerbalCommunication #BodyLanguage #ProfessionalDevelopment