Writing Boots

On communication, professional and otherwise.

When someone tells you that body language is more important than words, give ’em the finger!

01.31.2012 by David Murray // 25 Comments

Once Esther told Fred Sanford that beauty is only skin deep, and what's really important is what's inside a person. "Yeah?" said Fred. "Then why don't you put your liver where your face is?"

But how are writers to respond to communication consultants who would tell clients that it's not the words they use or the veracity of the ideas they espouse, but the body language they employ, that makes the difference.

Communication consultants like Carol Kinsey Goman, who chirped on Facebook last week, "KRON TV just asked me to compare the body language of GOP contenders with that of President Obama. I'll be on the weekend news this Sunday at 8:45 am." Oh, for heaven't sake, Carol.

Well finally, there's a worthy response to all this body language bullshit: "Busting the Mehrabian Myth." Actually, this little video has been around for three years, and it's been seen by 58,000 people—everyone, it appears, except me, and Carol Kinsey Goman. It was made by my British speechwriting pals Martha Leyton and Martin Shovel. Have a look. And pass it on.

Categories // Uncategorized Tags // Carol Kinsey Goman, Martha Leyton, Martin Shovel, Mehrabian Myth

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