Discover how daily communication goes far beyond words, with practical skills to read nonverbal cues, validate emotions, and create genuine connections in every conversation.

From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco

**Lena:** Hey there, welcome to today's episode! I've been thinking about something lately—how often do we actually stop and consider the way we communicate with others? I mean, we do it all day, every day, but are we doing it effectively?
**Nia:** That's such a great question, Lena. Communication is one of those skills we use constantly but rarely examine. Did you know that when it comes to communicating emotions, the verbal part of our message may amount to as little as seven percent of the whole message?
**Lena:** Wait, seriously? Only seven percent? So what's happening with the other ninety-three percent?
**Nia:** Body language, facial expressions, tone of voice—all these nonverbal cues are actually doing the heavy lifting! It's why we can say "I'm fine" but everyone knows we're definitely not fine.
**Lena:** Oh, I've definitely been guilty of that one. You know, I think most of us assume communication should be instinctive, but it sounds like there's a lot more to it than just exchanging information.
**Nia:** Exactly! Effective communication is about understanding the emotions and intentions behind the information. It's about making the other person feel heard and understood. And the good news is that these skills can absolutely be learned and mastered.
**Lena:** That's actually really encouraging. So many people struggle with this daily—at work, at home, with friends. So let's dive into some practical ways we can all become better communicators, starting with the habits we can practice every single day.