We talk, but do we really communicate? There is a noticeable lack of genuine connection and authenticity in our communication.

New Nationwide Survey by Focus Bari on Applause 2026

Focus Bari captured the attitude of Greeks towards public discourse, communication and personal expression. The findings of the survey on the topic: “The Culture of Discourse in Greece”, were presented in the context of the Applause Summit 2026 conference, which took place on May 8-9 at the Pierce College Theater in Agia Paraskevi, in the presence of leading speakers from Greece and abroad as well as with an impressive participation of young people, students and market executives from different professional sectors

The results were presented by the founder of Focus Bari and Resilience Expert, Xenia Kourtoglou, who emphasized:

Gap between Perception and Action: While almost all Greeks consider communication to be the cornerstone of success in personal (96%) and professional relationships (94%), toxicity (74%), negativity (69%) and malicious criticism (68%) are observed in everyday life.
Power of Nonverbal Communication: 3 out of 4 Greeks focus on the nonverbal dimension when talking to someone. Emotion, tone of voice and body language are elements that determine the impact of a message, proving that communication goes far beyond words.
Public Speaking as an essential, but complex skill: Universal recognition of public speaking as a critical professional skill (96%). However, there is a significant lack of self-confidence, as only 2 out of 5 Greeks (43%) feel comfortable expressing themselves in front of an audience, with exposure and fear of embarrassment being the main obstacles.
Need for Education: Communication is recognized as a skill that must be systematically cultivated both by school (81%) and by the family with an emphasis on active listening, as poorer linguistic expression and a lack of empathy are observed in everyday life.

See the whole survey presentation here