Vocal Impact on Communication
Vocal Impact on Communication
Many attempts to communicate are nullified by saying too much.
– Robert Greenleaf
Introduction
Your voice, like your looks, may disclose just as much about your personal background. The tone of a person’s voice and the substance of their speech may give insight into their emotional state, while a dialect can reveal their geographic origins. The voice is personal to the individual to whom it belongs. For example, poor self-esteem may manifest itself in reluctance in the voice; a timid person may speak in hushed tones; yet, someone who is secure in themselves is more likely to have command of their voice and speak clearly. Effective speaking is the ability to communicate confidently and clearly in a public setting while also reflecting on one’s own personality.
You’ve probably heard the expression, “It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it,” before. Yes, this is correct!
Try saying these three sentences out loud, placing the emphasis on the underlined word.
- “I didn’t say you were wrong.” (Implying it wasn’t me)
- “I didn’t say you were wrong.” (Implying I communicated it in another way)
- “I didn’t say you were wrong.” (Implying I said something else)
In this section, we will examine the messages based on the pitch, tone, and tempo of our communication and what it implies.
The Power of Pitch
The rise and fall of a person’s voice is referred to as pitch. It is most simply defined as the key of your voice.
Pitch, like the other qualities of voice, is important for transmitting your thoughts to others. In fact, the tone of your voice—its rise and fall—can reflect all of the emotions you want to convey.
Let’s look at the differences between loudness and pitch so we don’t get them mixed up. Because pitch has the ability to communicate and transmit all of our moods, feelings, and thoughts, it is critical that we carefully apply the ideal pitch patterns.
We often judge a person’s speech to be monotonous because he or she does not employ a diversity of pitch patterns to suit the circumstance. To grasp this, pay attention to songs in which the vocalist continues to sing solemnly until the conclusion. The variation in pitch patterns may be seen in the beginning note and the latter section. Even when listening to the music at the same loudness, we may notice the shifts and variations in pitch patterns. As a result, it is recommended that you use the varied pitch patterns sparingly in order to keep your listeners engaged and interested in your message.
You must be very cautious with the height of your voice; the higher the pitch, the more probable it is that it would be misinterpreted as anxiety, resulting in less success. To make your words come to life and express energy, you should use pitch inflection while speaking with the intention of being persuasive and communicating energy.
A low pitch sounds more serious and authoritative. People will pick up on the pitch of your voice and react to it. As well, variation in the pitch of your voice is important to keep the other party interested.
If you naturally speak in a very high-pitched or low-pitched voice, work on varying your pitch to encompass all ranges of your vocal cords. (One easy way to do this is to relax your throat when speaking.) Make sure to pay attention to your body when doing this – you don’t want to damage your vocal cords.
The Truth about Tone
Have you ever had anyone remark, “I don’t like that tone!” Well, if you did then that person was referring to the way multiple pitches were used to create a certain mood.
Here are some pointers on how to establish a confident, authoritative tone.
- Lower your voice’s pitch somewhat.
- Smile! This will instantly warm the voice of anybody.
- Sit/stand up straight and be attentive.
- Keep a close eye on your internal dialogue. Your speech will take on a negative tone as a result of this negative thought.
It is vital that your tone accurately represents your goals. If you begin with an angry tone, even if you are not upset, you will have an angry call as long as the person on the other end of the phone feels your tone is angry. You should strike a tone that is sober, professional, but accessible.
The Strength of Speed
The speed of our speech is measured in terms of the number of words we say every minute. Speaking too quickly is associated with a lack of comfort. Recall the speeches your buddies gave in class; recall how some of them simply wanted to complete their speech and return to their safe seats! A speaker who is insecure is often terrified by the prospect of presenting in professional settings.
This results in a sense of nervousness, and the best solution appears to be to speak as quickly as possible and avoid the terrifying prospect of standing in front of an audience, as the speaker’s breakneck pace not only reveals his or her lack of confidence, but also makes it difficult for the audience to comprehend, assimilate, and digest what the speaker is saying.
Just as an excessively quick tempo is inconvenient for the audience, so is an excessively slow pace. Indeed, speaking at an excessively sluggish speed is likely to create monotony and boring to the point that the listener becomes tired and loses interest in the speech. Additionally, a sluggish tempo implies a speaker’s lack of preparation.
The rate at which you talk also has a significant impact on your capacity to communicate. Practically speaking, someone who talks rapidly is more difficult to comprehend than someone who speaks slowly. On the other hand, someone who talks really slowly would almost certainly lose their audience’s attention before they get very far! Additionally, the speed of your communication has an influence on the tone and emotional quality of your message. A fast tempo might make the listener feel rushed and frightened. A sluggish pace may give the listener the impression that your message is unimportant. A slow pace will seem natural and will assist the audience in concentrating on your content.
Brief check
Speak slowly and enunciate clearly. Check frequently for comprehension.
Nothing is more annoying than a person speaking at such a quick speed that you are unable to follow along. Bear in mind that your speed should be suitable for the person you are chatting with. If you are speaking English to someone whose first language is not English, you should talk slowly. Along with ensuring that your message is comprehended, speaking slowly gives your words significant weight, and you will be taken more seriously as a result.
Pauses
Pausing is a necessary component of all human interactions. In our daily interactions with others, we stop between thoughts. As a result, if we do not stop when speaking in professional settings, our voice will look unnatural and rushed. Pauses provide believability to the speech’s text. The presenters who stop convey the impression that they are extremely competent, calm, and collected, and are unconcerned about being unable to identify a thought after pausing.
Thus, when we stop, we demonstrate a sense of confidence and certainty that we know how to proceed with our communication after the break. On the contrary, people who do not halt seem rushed. Additionally, people who speed through their talks and presentations are fearful of utilizing pauses, believing that if they do, they would be unable to restart or reconnect. However, such speakers are seldom remarkable or accomplished. We must, at all costs, employ pauses while speaking in professional settings. They contribute to the naturalness of our speech. Additionally, pauses are necessary for listeners to grasp what you say, connect it to your previous remark, and engage critically in the process of communication.
The critical aspect of pause is their timing. A well-timed pause is just as critical as a well-placed phrase. Because a pause must signify either the focus or end of a thought unit, it is critical not to place them in the incorrect locations. Thus, anytime you stop, do it at the finish of a particular thinking unit, not in the middle. Remember, a well-timed pause enhances the worth of your words and makes them sufficiently genuine and forceful. A poorly timed pause, on the other hand, diverts the audience’s attention. Additionally, keep in mind that although a pause is a natural respite for both the speaker and the audience, silence—a lengthier gap—makes the audience impatient.
Volume
This may surprise you, but to keep the volume as low as possible is often recommended. As I’m sure you’re aware, decibel collection is a technique in which the louder you shout, the better the results but the fact is that shouting to be a successful form of collection is absolutely not true. Shouting is often associated with a lack of control. Often, the loudness of a speaker dictates how the audience will perceive him or her. A speaker who shouts so loudly that those in the front rows begin to fear him or her. Additionally, a speaker of this sort is likely to be rejected by the audience, just because his/her arrogance is implied.
Brief check
Don’t raise your voice. Don’t shy away from over punctuating and pausing or using small sentences; if you are speaking with someone who doesn't speak your language that well.
The other end of the spectrum is a speaker who talks quietly is likely to be seen as someone who lacks confidence in his or her opinions. Such a speaker can never seem or emerge as the situation’s master. Low volume is fundamentally related with insecurity, and if you demonstrate a lack of confidence, you will be unable to influence your audience or earn their respect as a speaker.
One easy way to check your volume is to record yourself speaking. Think of how you would feel listening to your own voice. Work on speaking the way you would like to be spoken to.
Practical Application
Jane was preparing her presentation for her research project. After she was done she decided to ask her two coworkers, Nik and Joe, to act as an audience for her practice session. Since they were all working remotely, Jane decided to rehearse her presentation online with Nik and Joe. However, soon after Jane started presenting, her two coworkers were having difficulty paying attention. Jane quickly became dissatisfied and began to lose faith in her ability to make a presentation.
In response to Joe’s suggestion, they set out to find Jane’s communication problem, and they quickly discovered that, although Jane’s presentation was useful, it was her delivery style that was the problem. Jane became aware that she was speaking too slowly and that she was losing the attention of both Nik and Joe, who were sitting in the audience. Jane attempted to talk at a more leisurely speed and was successful in gaining their attention. All three of them returned home shortly after, and Jane was relieved that she had sought the assistance of her coworkers.
This case highlights the problem of remote meetings and the importance of voice during such meetings or presentations. Online offers a limited range and depth of nonverbal communication cues because of the distance between participants. Not just because of the often sub-optimal lighting, posture, and gaze circumstances, but also because of the restricted speaker visibility, this is a common problem. Because of this, the voice of the speaker becomes quite essential, particularly when it comes to being persuasive and expressing charismatic characteristics.
