by Dana Bristol-Smith Just about every communication consultant, trainer, coach, or speaker I have heard, always quotes a study done by Albert Mehrabian from UCLA which supposedly concluded that how you look and how you sound are more important than what you actually say. Lincoln spoke nearly two hours and we believe he would have held his audience had he spoken all night." -- Dover ( New Hampshire) Inquirer , March 8, 1860 Yes, it’s important to let the strength of your convictions be heard in your words and show in your emotions, tone, and gestures.