Episode 01: A Year In Quarantine
Voices for Hire: Joe, Marie
Welcome to this edition of Quarantine 2021, the 1 year anniversary, brought to you by Faces for Radio, Voices for Hire. Your digital presence - whether your company or your personal brand - is critically important. When a customer engages with you online or over the phone, it is essential to have a confident and professional voice representing you. Faces for Radio, Voices for Hire is available to be your professional voice for company or personal voice mail recordings, sales information, webinars, educational seminars, video narrations and more!
Digital communication and the importance of “sounding good” in a digital format
Social distancing has forced us to rethink how we gather with anyone outside of our home unit. From work, to school, to professional organizations and social clubs, our options to “gather” have been transitioned in many cases to online formats.
Sound and vocal quality have always been important. Communication theory tells us that 55% of what someone is saying is interpreted and understood by the listener through body language, while 38% is interpreted through the vocal quality of the speaker, leaving only 7% for the actual words used. At a distance, communication can be difficult.
Video is not always a component of online communications, and when it is, the image on the screen typically frames only a portion of the body - significantly reducing our primary ability, or communication tool, to understand someone. Without clear body language, the audience is primarily left with “vocal quality” to hold their attention.
Group communication can be even more challenging. Keeping the attention of many attendees in a fast-paced world is difficult, made nearly impossible as we participate using online formats with endless opportunity for distraction. Your voice, HOW you sound, is a key opportunity to engage your audience and convey your message. Here are a few key thoughts:
Speak clearly and slow enough to be understood by all participants, and loud enough that your words are heard equally while you are speaking - the start, middle, and end of your communication should all be audible.
Minimize background noise (as much as possible) and consider getting a noise cancelling microphone/headset.
Reduce or eliminate your vocal pauses such as “um”, “ahh, “like” and “so”. It is OK to take a breath, and a real, silent pause as you gather your thoughts before speaking again.
Speak with a smile and convey your personality. Listeners will tune out if the speaker is monotone or sounds uninterested in what they are speaking about.
The pandemic has changed the way we interact in many settings, driving us online. Be sure you are using your voice to convey your personal brand - even when others can’t see you! Your voice can convey “Business Attire” even though you may be wearing pajama bottoms and cozy slippers.
