This document summarizes and debunks the myth that 93% of the effectiveness of a presentation depends on body language and voice, and only 7% on the content of the words. It explains that the study this myth is based on actually referred to one-on-one communications containing an emotional element, not most business presentations. While body language and voice are important, the document emphasizes that the actual content and information being conveyed to the audience is most critical for an effective presentation.

1. Busting
a presentation myth
Jeanne Trojan
@jmtcz

2. The myth says that in a
presentation…

3. body language accounts
for 55%

4. voice accounts for 38%

5. the words you use
account for only 7%

6. In other words…

7. 93% of the effectiveness
of your presentation
depends on HOW you say
it!

8. REALLY?!

9. The author of this study
was talking about…

10. …communication that is
one-to-one and concerns
emotions*
‘This Communication Model was meant to apply only to face-to-face, one-to-one communications,
containing an emotional or attitudinal element’. Albert Mehrabian, author of study

11. How many presentations
do you give one-to-one?

12. How many business
presentations are about
emotions?

13. You can give a presentation
with beautiful body language
and a strong voice, but…

14. … if WHAT you say isn’t
important to your
audience…

15. …they won’t listen to you!

16. Forget this myth

17. Content matters!

18. Find out more:
@jmtcz
www.jmtcz.cz