James Metcalfe
Extensive research has been conducted in recent years to really decipher just how essential and influential an individual’s tone of voice can be in an everyday interaction. The answer is, in short, pretty remarkably vital. In every aspect of our everyday lives we’re met with scenarios and situations that are made or broken by our conversation partner’s tone of voice.
To delve deeper into this fascinating subject, we consulted several leading experts in this field and produced these insights.
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#1 Impactful Energy
Whether people are aware of it or not, the tone someone uses, expresses their truth while their words may not. The energy that flows through the tone of voice is deeply impactful and is assessed by the heart and brain simultaneously. It's the reason we shush babies to sleep to calm them, more information is received by the brain and body through tone (or sound) than the words alone.
Contributor: Tracee Dunblazier from Be A Slayer
#2 Resonating With Listeners
We regularly do A/B testing on Marketing Emails and Social Posts to ensure that our tone and voice is resonating with our audience. There’s been times where we thought that content or promotional material has missed the mark, only to find that small tweaks to the language we are using has dramatically improved our engagement.
Contributor: Liam Ridings from spares box
#3 How You Say It!
We address the issue of communication skills across the board. In that arena, I often refer to the findings of Dr. Albert Meharabian, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at UCLA known as the Meharabian Rule. These break down communication into its facets which are as follows:
- 55% non-verbal (body language, facial expressions)
- 38% voice (volume, tone, pitch, cadence)
- 7% words used
So here tone plays into the section of 38% for voice and has a dramatic effect on communication. It harkens to what I so remember my father saying, it's not what you say, it's how you say it! This again addresses the issue of tone.
Contributor: Mark Anderson from anderson investigative
#4 Active Listening
In our training we continually focus on our need to participate in active listening. We have to do this because we are much better at talking than we are at listening. We must listen with all of our senses, minimize our biases, and ensure understanding with the person we are talking to. One of the main factors is to listen holistically which will include accessing tone.
Remember it is also important in interactions to access our own tone. All of these communication issues are always two way streets, and one person's tone can adversely or positively affect the other participant's.
Contributor: Mark Anderson from anderson investigative
#5 Tool For Authority
The lower your voice the more authority you have. Also, a well modulated voice is calming and doesn't cause a reaction in a discussion. Body language needs to support the voice of course, as well as the vocabulary you use.
Contributor: Dr. Gayle Carson from spunky old broad
#6 Building Rapport
I feel like tone of voice is huge in communication, it can be a great verbal cue to get in rapport with someone. If they are talking softly, you should to. If they are loud and fired up, then you need to get to their level to build rapport. Mirroring and matching as Tony Robbins talks about!
Contributor: Chris Cucchiara from personal develop fit
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