With so many of us working from home these days, it’s become the norm to speak with our colleagues over email or chat, and to see them through our screens when we conduct meetings. You may have noticed it’s not quite the same as a boardroom meeting… From the neighbour lawn-mowing, to dogs barking, all the way to lagging internet connections – there are a number of factors outside our control that can stop us from being heard. Our voice, however, is something we can control, and learn how to use your voice effectively.
After so many days of only conversing with the people in our house, hearing someone else’s voice can feel like a breath of fresh air! This is why it’s so important, now more than ever, to use your voice effectively.
So, what does that sound like?
Getting Yourself Heard
You don’t have to be a master speech performer or entertainer to use your voice effectively – anyone can work on their pacing, volume, timbre, tone, and kinds of conversation in order to be truly heard. In the TED Talk, ‘How To Speak So That People Want To Listen’, Julian Treasure outlines a few habits to avoid, and a few habits to ingrain, so your voice doesn’t get lost.
Habits to avoid include gossiping, judging, being negative, complaining, embellishing your stories, and dogmatism. You may be quick to think, “Luckily I don’t have any of those bad habits,” but you never know how easy it can be to slip from time to time. And while a lot of us are working from home, it’s vital your voice is received as positive, confident, and supportive.
While these conversational habits might be easy enough to control, have you thought about the way your voice sounds?
When speaking with people over video chat, you’re already battling a few communication barriers, so understanding the register, tone, depth, and timbre of your voice, will ensure you’re being heard. Try to speak from the chest, and ditch all filler words such as “um” and “like”. Speak clearly and evenly, and allow others time to digest what you’re saying by using appropriate pauses in your speech.
Working remotely and not physically being present in meetings or workshops, means we have to focus on ensuring our voice makes an impact. Stop and think about how you use your voice, and become conscious of how you can use it more effectively. It’s not as tough as you think – with all things, some simple skills training can make big improvements quickly.
Hone Your Communication Skills!
Our online training platform, Canity, offers a raft of skill-sharpening videos that can help you and your team communicate better, and be heard by each other and your customers. From tactics to Dealing with Difficult Customers, to the all-important Phone Skills and Delivering Internal Customer Service – Canity can help you and your team connect more effectively.
And keep an eye out for our upcoming Video Chat Skills training module! From tech tips, to creating an agenda, Canity’s Video Chat Skills will help you be heard in meetings, and ensure you’re keeping up with your project goals while working remotely.
Take a look through the videos today, and see where Canity can take you!
