IREM Certified Property Manager (CPM) Practice Test 2025 – All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

The claim that 93 percent of communication is nonverbal originates from research by psychologist Albert Mehrabian, who focused on the importance of body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice in conveying emotions and attitudes. This figure underscores how much of the emotional content in communication is transmitted through nonverbal cues rather than spoken words.

Nonverbal communication encompasses a wide range of elements, including gestures, posture, eye contact, and the physical distance between communicators. Understanding that a significant portion of communication is nonverbal is crucial for property managers and other professionals, as it enhances their ability to interpret client and tenant responses beyond just the spoken word.

Recognizing that nonverbal cues play such a large role can help property managers in various scenarios, from negotiating leases to addressing tenant concerns, by emphasizing the importance of being aware of their own nonverbal signals and those of others.