Too Much Information
We are all aware that communication can take many forms. For example, did you know that in a face-to-face conversation, the spoken word represents only 30% of the overall communication? The rest takes the form of facial expressions, body language, tone of voice and eye contact.
Sometimes, it is not what is said that is important. Rather it is information left unsaid. Apparently the opposite also applies.
I recently met a bloke at a barbeque (as most Aussies do). Let’s call him Ross. We were discussing a man we had both met who has a tendency to “stretch the truth”. Ross told me that he was aware of this tendency on his first meeting with him. This surprised me as this particular man has managed to fool many of us for quite some time. Being the skeptic that I am, I asked him how he could possibly have known this after only one encounter. His answer was amazingly simple and logical.
He told me that when people are being a little less than honest, they always say one sentence too many. He said that it was that one sentence after their point had been well and truly made that negates all of the preceding information. How interesting!
After considering this for a time, I have to say that I agree with him. It really does make sense. When people are telling the truth, they are happy to just state the facts. However, there comes a certain desperation to be believed in people who are not being entirely honest. This could well lead them to overcompensate or give ‘too much information’. I encourage you to think about this in your own communication, particularly with those who are inclined to, let’s say, exaggerate. See if you agree.
What a useful communication tool and a great asset to add to our built-in BS Detectors.