Word Is TRULY Bond

I use to hear this myth that the following is how forms of communication are taken.

• 55% - Body Language
• 38% - Tone
• 7% - Words

I never really understood this concept. Does this mean that I should be able to understand 93% of a foreign language just by seeing the person talk? Does this mean that I should be able to understand 55% of a speech on television with the sound turned off? Doesn't sound too logical, right?

For me, words largely outweigh body language or tone. Don't get me wrong. I do recognize those things, but they have far less value for me. Reason being is that tone and body language is so very subjective. People tend to see what they want to see in your body language and/or tone. Sometimes this is influenced by previous experiences with other people. Sometime this is influenced by their own current disposition. Either way, it is hit or miss that the feeling you have will be interpreted as intended with just body language and/or tone.

However, words are more tangible to me. I lean more to words because it is a lot easier to hold someone accountable to what they say than how they say it or their hand position at the time it was said. When I speak to anyone, I listen and dissect WHAT they say with very little regard to anything else. I meticulously chose my own words carefully before speaking or typing them as to make sure the essence of what I'm trying to say comes through the words and phrases I'm using. People can always judge tone and disposition but the words are always what they are.

I feel people get into trouble by not trusting the words and leaning more to these subjective things. It's discouraging for me personally when someone tells me "I didn't think you meant that" or "it's not what you said but how you said it"...especially since I feel I put some much thought and care into what I say. To me, these are excuses for the people who want to believe something other than what was actually said. Body language and tone may affect how believable you find the words that are said, but it seems to me that you can only hold a person to the words that they speak...whether you believe them or not.