Our last post gave examples of how you can change your communication to convey strength and confidence, which is important during meetings, particularly with KOLs. This post focuses on tone, and if you were ever a teenager and had a sassy tone, you might have suffered consequences because of it. There’s no getting away from it (just ask your mom) – tone matters. The tone in which you approach conversations will help put you on level footing or might result in the end to conversations. Our tone refers to the way we use our voice to convey meaning, emotions, and attitudes.
Your tone should convey confidence and respect, even if your heart doesn’t reflect those feelings. Whether you are speaking with your manager, a KOL or a troublemaking colleague that likes to push buttons, dig deep and use a respectful tone across the board. Use your emotional intelligence to keep your voice steady, even in challenging situations.
· Speak with confidence but ensure your tone is respectful.
· Don’t use a tone that would reflect the sentiment “I’ve told you that a thousand times” (even if you have!).
· Stick the landing. Don’t elevate your pitch at the end of your sentence as it will sound like you are asking a question rather than stating a fact with confidence. It will impact your credibility.
· Tone is often lost with written communication so, when an email/text chain seems to be going south, speak to the person directly (even an old fashion phone call is an option) to avoid misinterpretation.
Pairing the right words with the wrong tone can derail a conversation quickly. Even a simple phrase like “of course” could be misinterpreted as being sarcastic based on tone in which it is said. Aligning your tone of voice effectively can convey authenticity, empathy, concern, and represent your best self and aligned with your emotional intelligence, will help you strengthen your relationships.