Effective as a Whisper

Have you noticed when conversation drops to a whisper, a child oblivious to specific requests, suddenly hears every word? Kids magically tune into our body language as we turn down the volume.

You are experiencing the power of a whisper! Simple communication becoming effective when body language and intention match. Unfortunately, that childhood awareness of the non-verbal tends to disappear as our vocabulary grows. Despite that increased dependency on the spoken word, we continue to use body language to express our emotions, intention and ultimately the truth.

Taking tone of voice, facial expression and body language into account, studies suggest up to 90% of our communication is non-verbal. So you can imagine when our actions don't reflect the words we choose, meaning breaks down.

The term "horse whisperer" came to popular attention following the release of a book and movie of the same name. A horse whisperer is someone who understands a horse communicates through body language. While horse whispering may sound like mysticism, it has little to do with whispering and more to do with silent intent and action.

Horses are masters at recognizing congruency in our actions. Acutely aware of what goes on around them, a horse will respond to changes in the environment and in us. A horse becomes a mirror providing feedback on our relationship, our communication and ultimately our leadership style. It is this heightened awareness that makes the horse a wonderful teacher of the unspoken.

Increasing awareness of our body language is something we can only do through practice. A horse whisperer simply uses their body to clearly communicate their intention. It is the perfect example of how confidence, direction and energy level combine to gain trust, focus and movement in their horse.

While we have developed our vocabulary and we may listen to the words, we instinctively watch the actions of others to determine if they are believable. If working with a horse employs the same principles we need to communicate with people, why settle for 10% comprehension when it can be so much more. Go ahead use your body language and make every word as effective - as a whisper.