Research suggests there are three elements in any face-to-face communication – “the 3 V’s”:
- Verbal – Your words
- Vocal – Your voice
- Visual – Your body language
The key to Charismatic Impact is to excel at the 3 V’s
Your voice and body language are particularly important for communicating feelings and attitude: if words disagree with the tone of voice and facial expression, people tend to believe the tonality and facial expression. “Congruence” (each V supporting the others) is vital for impact. Lack of congruence, e.g. a hesitant, quavering, mumbling voice, lack of eye contact, fast blinking and biting your nails, just isn’t going to create a great impression no matter how fantastic, exciting and downright astonishing your message happens to be!
A further strategy for success adopted by master communicators is the attitude that:
The meaning of communication is the response you get
So if your audience is skeptical, dismissive or annoyed by what you’re saying (and that’s not your intention!), then you need to be flexible with your 3Vs until they do understand or are convinced. It’s up to YOU to get your message across.
3 Quick Tips You Can Put Into Practice Today to Boost Your Impact
- Decide beforehand what you want the outcome of your face to face message to be and what’s in it for the audience, and then make sure your words say it.
- Speak clearly, and match the tempo and volume of the person you’re speaking to, or if it’s a group go with a moderate speed and volume.
- Broadly match the posture of the person you’re speaking to, or if it’s a group go with a balanced symmetrical posture, and avoid leakage (nervous gestures/expressions). Maintain eye contact around 70% of the time.
We learn by example and by direct experience because there are real limits to the adequacy of verbal instruction. (Malcolm Gladwell, Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, 2005)
Martin
Photo credit: “Verbal”
Photo credit: “Vocal”
Photo credit: “Visual”
Hi Martin,
I really admire how you managed to describe all 3 of those communication means to each begin with the letter V.
That makes it so much easier to remember.
I also like how you provide a visual anchor que for each with a wonderful image so we “get” the idea behind each of the 3 Vs of Impact.
Happy Dating and Relationships,
April Braswell
Single Boomer Dating Expert
Hi Martin,
I really enjoy reading your posts. V. good stuff!
*sigh* I wish more people would take the attitude that you suggest above instead of thinking that meaning of communication is what they meant.
Keri Eagan
AlternativeHealing*Insight
Mastering communication skills is one of the most important, life-impacting goals we can strive for.
Health, Fitness for Working People — Darryl Pace
Always good to amplify the 3 Vs to get results.
Thanks for the prompt!
Words only account for 7% of the overall meaning. That’s why we need to pay much attention to non-verbal clues.
John Ho
Numerology Expert Helps Understanding Personality for Better Influence & Persuasion
It’s a good idea to role play and practice all this stuff before hand, since we will fall back on our habits and training once we are in front of someone, be it an individual or an audience.
Steve Chambers