How often do you think about the quality and the value of your voice?
Maybe not that often and yet your voice and the impact of how you sound is one of your greatest assets – as a
leader and as a human being.
The Impact of your voice
The impact of your voice is the difference between being believed or doubted, trusted or unreliable, motivating or
boring. Some personal development tools take time and practice to see results. So, if you are someone who – like
all of us at 4D – sometimes likes super quick, instant results – then focus on the vocals. Because by using a few
super, simple vocal tips you will immediately increase your credibility, authority, gravitas and status.
Current leadership trends include empathetic leadership and leading positive remote teams while one of the
biggest business trends is increased AI. Your biggest differentiator in all of these – is your impact as a leader and
human being. And the sound of your voice is a huge factor in your impact. Whether you are trying to engage a
team, unite a workforce, drive a business vision or win a new job role – the sound of your voice is going to
influence the outcome a lot more than you might realise.
Think of the number of podcasts, radio and TV shows or videos you have stopped listening to because the
person’s voice was annoying or unsettling. Think of the leaders and people who have inspired you and how they
sound. How a paramedic or nurse would calmly reassure a patient in pain. Think how an infant wants to hear a
soothing, calming voice from its caregiver. How it’s not just the words we hear from a colleague, boss or loved one
that helps us feel better in a tough moment – but the tone of their voice. The sound of a human voice has an
enormous impact on how we feel, what we believe, who we will follow, the decisions we make, and the actions
that we take.
So, don’t simply stay with the vocal patterns you’ve inherited or unconsciously picked up. Be intentional about
how you sound to take your impact to the next level. In other words – Make a choice about your voice.
Here are 4 brilliant voice tips to instantly increase your impact, influence and inspiration:
- Pace
- Pause
- Pitch
- Precision
PACE
Did you know: Speaking more slowly helps you appear more confident and knowledgeable
In a fast-paced world we can often talk too fast. With schedules getting tighter and diaries getting busier we can
end up rushing our way through meetings, trying to squeeze in ever more content into a shorter space of time.
No wonder meetings become exhausting. By slowing your voice down, you will, in fact, be a far more engaging
and efficient leader. Not only will you give your listeners a chance to digest what you are sharing, but your words
will immediately have more credibility and gravitas. Speaking more slowly and emphasising your words gives
more weight and meaning to your message. By speaking more slowly you will appear more knowledgeable,
confident and in control. After all if you don’t sound in control of your voice, how can you sound in control of your
business ideas? When you speak more slowly you are communicating that you don’t need to hurry through fear
of wasting other people’s time, but rather that you are confident in what you have to share and are important
enough that people will give you space and time to say what you need to say.
“Talk low, talk slow, and don’t talk too much.”
John Wayne
Tip
Vocal Speedometer: In your next meeting play with speaking at half your usual speed.
Check out our training programmes on Confidence and Impact, Leadership Development, Executive Coaching and also our 4D OnDemand Impact Series, to make sure you make an impact today.
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