5. Verbal and Nonverbal

There is a whole industry built on helping you to become a better communicator. One of the most-cited pieces of research into communication is that conducted by Albert Mehrabian in 1967. His research was concerned with the relative importance of verbal and nonverbal signals when communicating feelings and attitudes and has been interpreted as stating that over 80 percent of communications is nonverbal. However, his research was restricted to communication about emotions and his indings cannot be extrapolated to apply to typical workplace communications.

The ability to explain and get across complex ideas, messages, and instructions is paramount for a manager. Using three types of signals – verbal, para-verbal, and non-verbal – to ensure that your message is comprehended and received in a positive way is an essential aspect of your communications skills.