I spoke to a group of high school juniors and seniors this week and what an inspiration they are. They are highly motivated and excited to ‘get on’ with life. My goal in talking to them was to speak about the importance communications plays in their overall success in life.
Most of us think that communication is simply the words we say. Sure, we communicate when we speak. But, we also communicate by how we live our lives (our character). We communicate in the way that we write and we communicate when we listen (or not). Finally, we communicate by how we show up.
In a well known study by Albert Mehrabian, it was discovered that in order for your words to be absorbed by the listener, they have to be “packaged” completely. It is not only the written word, but also the tone in which it is delivered. Most importantly 55% of words being delivered are being received first through body language. Non-verbal queues.
So, what is it that you are communicating? Are you communicating that you are bored? Are you actively engaged? Do you have good eye contact? What are communicating when you show up by the way you are dressed? Are you ready to get business going by your attire or are you ready to play? Are your clothes cleaned and pressed? Shoes clean and shined or dirty and scuffed? Ladies are you ready for business or showing too much skin? Do you have too much cologne or make up on? Remember, it is all in the ‘packaging’.
Package yourself for success and those around you will sense your energy and desire for success. Dream of success. Learn to “live well, speak well, write well, listen well.” - communicate well. Package yourself for success everyday. Learn to communicate well and your dreams will come true.
