Communication is as effective as expectations and interpretations of recipients, allows it to be!

It is common knowledge that only about 7% of personal communication processes actually comes through the words we use. So what of the rest? Pose? What we wear? The face we carry around which displays our moods and emotions? Perhaps it could be our enthusiasm or attitude, or simply our tolerance of others? Without a doubt it is the entire package, but not only that!..........

All of the above are important considerations in how to present ourselves according to our audience and our intentions. If we are to communicate effectively and in a manner which allows us to portray ourself in the best manner that we can then why wouldn’t we be aware of, and try to master the above?

If you subscribe to the psychologist’s considerations of communication, then it stands to reason that your physical presentation is as important as your subject matter. Or does it?

In a work or employment environment, the reality is that the value applied to any communication will depend entirely on the expectations, prejudices and tolerance of the recipient, no matter what you do. I believe that for too long psychologists and business leaders have relied on the above to mask their own inadequacies through their personal processing of an individual’s qualities. The result is that they set the values of a person’s presentation, on their own desires and expectations and make their judgments and assessments accordingly.

So ‘first impressions count!’ Why? Because it’s always been that way. It’s easier to say ‘I don’t like that person because…………………..,’ or, ‘I couldn’t work with that person because……………...,’ but could this not have been avoided by the clear setting of behaviours, expectations and presentation parameters? Something that only the recipient of the communication, the manager, the interviewer could have pre-determined and have a moral duty to encourage if they are to have the open, honest and transparent environment that their company statements suggest they have!   

All the advice suggests that people should adapt to the situation that they are presented with, adopting the resident chameleon position and being as false as you need to be to fit the desired expectations.

Well guess what? That’s not communication, that’s deception, and all that this brings with it is a false presentation, false interpretation and false outcome.

How effective any communication is, is down to the transparency of expectations, and the rationality applied to the subsequent interpretation. In a work environment, that is the responsibility of the communicator and not the recipient, to ensure success!

Andrew R Graham

Andrew R Graham is the CEO of 360tm Limited and A R Graham Consultancy Limited, Founder of The International Centre of Excellence for Communication Skills, Author of ‘Your Life, Your Choice,’ designer of the SHAPE model of personal effectiveness, the PERMS system for Objective Focused Rational Communication and a Communications Expert and an Organisational Change Consultant.