Effective communication is 20% what you know and 80% how you feel

Host: The room was quiet, the soft light of the lamp casting a warm glow across the table. Outside, the world had quieted, and the peaceful rhythm of the night settled in. Jeeny sat at the table, her fingers lightly tracing the rim of her cup, deep in thought. Jack, standing near the window, gazed out at the darkened world, clearly reflecting on something deeper. There was a subtle, unspoken understanding between them, as if a meaningful conversation was about to unfold.

Jeeny: (breaking the silence, her voice calm but thoughtful) “I came across something by Jim Rohn today that really made me think. He said, ‘Effective communication is 20% what you know and 80% how you feel about what you know.’ What do you think about that?”

Jack: (pauses, his voice reflective) “It’s a really interesting perspective, isn’t it? Rohn is saying that knowledge alone isn’t enough—what truly makes communication effective is how we feel about what we’re sharing. If we’re passionate, confident, and emotionally engaged with the subject, that energy comes through and makes the message more impactful. It’s about how we express ourselves, how we connect with others through our emotions and conviction, not just the facts we present.”

Jeeny: (nodding slowly) “Exactly. It’s not just about the content—it’s about how we deliver it. When we feel strongly about what we know, we communicate with enthusiasm, clarity, and genuine emotion, which makes the message resonate with others. People don’t just listen to the facts; they respond to the energy behind those facts. When we speak with passion, it becomes contagious.”

Host: The stillness in the room deepened, as the conversation unfolded into a reflection on the power of emotion in communication. Jack turned slightly toward Jeeny, his expression softening as he considered the deeper meaning of Rohn’s quote. Outside, the world had quieted, but inside, their conversation had shifted toward how emotion and belief shape how effectively we communicate.

Jack: (his voice quieter now, more introspective) “What’s interesting about this is how emotion influences connection. It’s one thing to speak from a place of knowledge, but it’s another to communicate in a way that inspires or moves others. I think we’ve all had moments where we’ve heard someone speak about something they’re passionate about, and even if we didn’t know much about the topic, we felt connected to their message. That’s the power of feeling what you know.”

Jeeny: (softly) “Yes, it’s about authenticity. When we speak from a place of passion, it’s much easier for others to feel connected to us. People can tell when we’re simply reciting facts versus when we truly believe in what we’re saying. It’s that belief and conviction that make communication memorable, that make people not only hear us but also feel inspired by what we’re saying.”

Jack: (nodding slowly) “Exactly. And I think this applies to more than just formal communication—it’s about all the ways we interact with others. Whether it’s a conversation with a friend or a presentation at work, how we feel about what we’re saying has a profound effect on how it’s received. It’s not just about the words—it’s about the energy behind them.”

Jeeny: (smiling gently) “Yes. And when we communicate with genuine feeling, we’re also more engaged with the people we’re communicating with. We become more present, more open to connecting with them. Our emotions are what make communication feel real, rather than something that’s just transactional or mechanical.”

Host: The quiet between them felt deeper now, as if their conversation had uncovered something profound about the nature of communication. Outside, the world had quieted, but inside, the room was filled with understanding. Jeeny and Jack had uncovered a truth about effective communication—that knowledge alone is not enough. The power to truly connect with others lies in how we feel about what we know and how we convey that emotion in our words.

Jack: (smiling softly, his voice more assured) “I think it’s a reminder that effective communication isn’t just about what we know—it’s about how we convey it. Passion, confidence, and emotion are what truly bring our messages to life.”

Jeeny: (nodding warmly) “Exactly. When we speak with conviction and genuine feeling, we connect with others on a deeper level, and our message becomes not just heard but felt.”

Host: The world outside had quieted, but inside, the room was filled with understanding. Jeeny and Jack had uncovered a deeper truth in Rohn’s words—that effective communication isn’t just about the information we convey, but about the emotion we infuse into our words. Passion, belief, and conviction are what truly make communication impactful and meaningful. The night continued outside, but inside, the room felt full of the realization that it’s not just what we say, but how we feel about it, that makes all the difference.