First Impressions: Three Tips To Enhance the Sound of Your Voice
When I consult with people on creating a positive first impression I always include a section on voice communication. Why? Because if the quality of your voice is not consistent with your visual impression, most people will tend to believe the sound of your voice over your visual impression.
“The moment you open your mouth you either confirm or deny an initial impression. If you sound strong and confident, chances are you will be thought of that way.” – Janet G. Elsea, Ph.D.
As webinars and video become more popular forms of communication in business, below are three tips to enhance your voice impression.
- Monitor the Tone of your Voice –Use a recorder to listen to the sound of your voice. Does it have a high pitch? Does it sound flat? A high-pitch or melody sounding voice may be viewed as less credible or immature. A flat voice, or one that does not have a pitch, will likely come across as monotonous. Also take note of your pitch in declarative sentences. A sentence ending with an upward inflection usually forms a judgment of tentativeness or powerlessness.
- Sharpen the Articulation of Words – Pay attention to how individual sounds in your words are vocalized. For example of “yea” vs. “yes.” Avoid substituting one sound for another. Also avoid leaving a sound out of a word, for example “probbly” instead of “probably.” Lastly avoid adding syllables to words, for instance “ster-ong” instead of “strong.”
- Time How Fast you Talk – The average rate of speech is 130 to 160 words per minute. Use a stop watch to estimate your rate of speech. Do you talk too fast? Too slow? If words are running together, the rate of speech may be too fast. If the rate of speech is the same throughout the presentation, add pauses to stress important points. Varying the rate of speech (as appropriate) is a great way to add interest and variety.
What are your tips for voice communication? Leave a comment below telling us about them.
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