Communication experts have established the fact that less than one-third of the meaning transferred from one person to another in a personal conversation comes from the words that are spoken. The majority of meaning comes from nonverbal sources, including body movement, eye contact, gestures, posture, vocal tone, pitch, pacing and phrasing. Other messages come from your clothing, your use of time and literally dozens of other nonverbal categories. People learn how to read and interpret such wordless messages, but many of these messages may be difficult to detect and understand.

Nonverbal communication is widely regarded as the transfer of meaning without the use of verbal symbols. That is, nonverbal refers in a literal sense to those actions, objects and contexts that either communicate directly or facilitate communication without using words. As communication professionals and casual observers alike will testify, though, separating the effects of verbal and nonverbal behavior is never easy, largely because they tend to reinforce each other, contradict each other or are in some way about each other.

Virtually all nonverbal communication is culturally based, with the exception of emotional displays and certain facial expressions. That is, you learn to behave and communicate in certain ways, and to interpret the meanings of those behaviors, as you grow up in your culture. This means acquiring values, beliefs, possessions, behaviors and ways of thinking that are acceptable to others and, in fact, expected of you as a member of your society. So, what is strictly forbidden in one 36 culture— exposing an adult woman's face to strangers in public— may be perfectly normal in another. As a member of a global community, you must not only learn and abide by the rules of the society you grew up in, but also come to understand and appreciate the rules of other societies, as well.

What does this mean for you as a speaker? It means several things. First, it means that your audience has certain expectations of you. They pay attention, for example, to how you've dressed. With very few exceptions, the rule is simple: you should dress just slightly better than others in the room. Appropriate attire creates the impression that you are organized, professional and on top of your game. It also conveys the notion that you respect your audience and want to create a positive image in their minds.