What percentage of what you say to someone is in the form of words?

The correct answer highlights a widely referenced concept in communication studies known as the "7%-38%-55% rule," which suggests that only a small percentage of our communication is conveyed through the actual words we use. According to this model, only about 7% of communication is based on spoken words, while 38% comes from vocal tone and inflection, and 55% is derived from body language and nonverbal cues. This illustrates that the word choice itself plays a much lesser role compared to the way we deliver those words and our physical expressions.

Understanding this distribution emphasizes the importance of nonverbal communication in effective leadership and interpersonal interaction. While the specific percentage attributed to words in this rule is often cited as being even lower than 10%, the emphasis is on recognizing that meaning is frequently conveyed through how we say something rather than just what we say.