Does Your Voice Rate?

Several years ago, researchers conducted a study where they set up conversations between two people who had never met before. We'll call them Jane and Joe. These conversations took place on the phone. There were many of these conversations that took place, and Jane and Joe would discuss whatever they wanted to talk about, and then they'd end the call.

The next day, the researchers would go to the person in the role of Janeand say "Jane, tell me about Joe. What is Joe like?" And Jane would say "Well Joe is funny," or "Joe's not too smart," or "Joe's laid back"or whatever, Jane would describe Joe.

Then the researchers would ask,"Well, Jane, what was it about Joe during that conversation that gave you the impression that that was the kind of guy that he is, that that's his personality?"A certain percentage of those folks in the role of Jane focused on how Joe's voice sounded, they judged his personality based on what his toneof voice was on the phone. And a certain percentage of those folks in the role of Jane focused on the actual words that Joe used like "he kept using these certain words" or "he kept using these certain phrases, and that's how I could tell his personality."

Out of 100% of the people in the role of Jane, what percent were judgingthe other's personality based primarily on how his voice sounded? The rating? 86%. That left only 14% for words.You think so hard about what to say on the phone, but people are judging your personality by how your voice comes across. Make sure you have atone that conveys energy, interest, empathy, and respect. Make sure your voice rates.