The power of the voice for impact: Jackie Kennedy's voice

I don't know about you, but I found the sound recordings of Jackie Kennedy speaking, compelling. Reading her thoughts on history, leaders and situations is one thing, but to actually hear her voice, with its nuances made it so powerful to listen to. It brought to live an individual and was a fascinating portrait of the person.
Here is an article about the recordings.

The Language Generation Gap

I found this hilarious Ali G interview on You Tube which rather emphasised the challenge different generations have communicating! There are so many misunderstandings, and in fact, two separate conversations going on.

So what implication does that have for us: well as good communicators we need to engage people of different generations, without being patronising, cold or even incomprehensible. As we get older, we tend to be less tolerant of 'youth speak' (it's a sign of age!) but young people deserve to be listened to, understood and respected in the same way as older people.

I believe it is the role of the speaker to make it as easy as possible to be understood. So if you are using slang or technical jargon, you are alienating some of your audience. Of course the reason why some people use such terms is to single themselves out into a particular group - or generation, but it is worthwhile bearing this in mind when speaking to other generations.

So here are my top tips for addressing different age groups.

• Be aware of the audience you are speaking to; if you are speaking to mainly young people they won't respond to references that aren't relevant to them.
• Don't speak down to your audience.
• Don't adopt a 'Street Speak' just because you are speaking to younger people - remember how awful Tony Blair sounded when he adopted an Estuary accent. There is nothing worse than someone trying to be young, but who isn't!
• Be respectful to your audience. Don't speak down to them, but don't use language that alienates them.
• Engage your audience by Q and As: you will learn as much as they do and this is a good way to engage them on their level.

One extra point that should be considered, is when interviewing people. I have been told, so many times by employers interviewing for junior posts, that young people are 'unemployable'. Perhaps there is an element of forgetting what it is like to be young and inexperienced! However, I have some top tips for employers and interviewees who are facing either side of the interview desk.

For young people:

• Don't fib; it is likely that the more experienced person will see through your lies and it rather discredits you.
• Don't feel you have to exaggerate your experience; employers don't expect you to have done everything.
• Listen to the questions.
• Answer questions clearly and honestly.
• Be enthusiastic and interested! Employers are looking for potential and people wishing to learn.
• Be careful with your language and expressions; you are not talking to your friends but people like teachers, parents and your friends' parents.
• Do some research of the company and the person you are meeting; you will be able to answer questions with the company in mind and also ask questions.
• Remember to ask at least one question at the end of the interview.
• Look at the interviewer when listening to him/her and acquire eye contact.
• Practice beforehand.
• Don't be late; there is nothing wrong with being really early!
• Be smart; clean hair, shoes and nails.

For employers:

• Remember what it was like when you were young and had no experience!
• Don't expect the interviewee to know everything - particularly if they have come straight from school.
• Ask them questions about themselves; hobbies; interests; dreams. You will be able to assess how enthusiastic they are and also whether they have a positive attitude.
• Remember that they possibly have little experience - and certainly not being interviewed, so take this into account.
• An arrogant young person could be hiding a lack of confidence.
• A young person might not have been made aware of appropriate language, like, that, like OMG, is appropriate for the office environment. It is up to you how you assess whether this could be changed.
• Look for potential; prepare a list of criteria you are looking for - such as interest in the company; having prepared for their interview beforehand; punctuality.

Straining or overusing the voice; warnings

http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/connie-fisher-no-longer-has-vocal-range-for-sound-of-music_1238831

I read a sad story of a music theatre singer who has over used her voice - using it when she had an infection, resulting in what appears to be some vocal damage. The link is above. I often highlight the plight of teachers who have an occupational hazard of vocal strain. This also is a problem for performers: singers, actors and music theatre specialists. Within their training, they should learn all of the techniques for sustaining a long, career, free of vocal problems. This is why, in particular, opera singers train for as long as Surgeons, to acquire their skills. However, outside factors, such as fumes, pollen and even hormones do have an effect on vocal usage so you need to know when there is a potential problem and have the technique to modify your vocal usage.

In the case of the singer involved, I believe she didn't have the necessary advise given to her, or possibly she didn't listen to advice. She had been given a 'dream' opportunity to star in a West End production. Normally a role as long as this would not be taken by one person, but a 'lead' person and another who would do at least two performances a week. However, she took all of the performances; exhausting for a very experienced performer but for one that was inexperienced, this was a danger. She didn't yet know how to pace herself and change her lifestyle to cope with the physical and mental demands of such a role. When she was ill, she came back from sick leave too early and then developed some damage to the vocal cords - resulting in the reduced vocal range.

My advise to anyone using their voice frequently: whether they be a performer, teacher or telesales worker: make sure you are aware of any vocal strain. If your voice is tired or strained, don't use it and seek medical advice. Don't be fobbed off with "Well it's part of the dangers of being a singer/teacher" but insist on expert advice.

Executive Voice: directness works at times of trouble

Like everyone else, I have been appalled by the riots; the greed of the looters; the callousness of the thugs. I have been disappointed by some people that have half heartedly spoken to the public; Nick Clegg seemed out of his depth when he met with the local community in Clapham today, and some community speakers used the knee jerk reaction of "It's the police" or "It's because of the cuts".
I am not denying that there might be outside influences causing these actions, however, this does not help the situation or calm many angry, frightened residents and people that are watching on TV.
I was therefore reassured by the new temporary Chief Constable of the Met, who said it as it was; "Call your children; tell them to go home; stop standing in the streets; go home; let the police get on with their job". Brave, sensible talk. Not pussy footing around or trying to find excuses, it was practical stuff.
Today, there was another highlight: the MP for Battersea saying that if your child has new trainers, phone or other equipment, "Ask those difficult questions; where have they come from." She also told parents to march their children to the nearest police station if they have been looting.
This is not the time for excuses; that will come later. In the meantime, our leaders and clear voices need to tell people what to do, to avoid this escalating and also to send the message that this behaviour - excuses or not - is illegal.

Executive Voice: the power of podcasts

I read an interesting article on the BBC website about podcasts:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/click_online/9545533.stm

With social media being the buzz word du jour, it appears that podcasts are no longer in vogue. It appears that everyone is tweeting; on facebook, or for work on Linkedin. However, the BBC has discovered that podcasts are being downloaded and listened to more.

As a communication tool, podcasts are very useful in that they have a human contact element to them. We engaged with the human voice in a way that Twitter -which of course has it's own uses, does not. Listening to tips on setting up a business; training for the marathon or even deciding what to cook for supper tonight engage many people that prefer audio communication to the written word. Using podcasts transmits information to more people than written word only.

I currently use audioboo for my podcasts (although I am just about to change). My channel is www.audioboo.fm/executivevoice

Tweeting is only one way of engaging clients

I have a number of acquaintances I have met through business, who rave about Twitter. They have had seriously good results from Twitter: linking up with a number of people; getting business this way; having thousands of followers to their tweets. This is brilliant and I am really pleased for them. In this world, success stories are uplifting!

However, I have also met people, that I have engaged with; subsequently worked with, and who now appear to have moved onto the next 100 people to engage with and be followed by. These particular people rave about Social Media as if it is the ONLY business tool to use, yet they've unfortunately disengaged me! Emma Freud mentioned that at a party, her sister ignored her because she wanted to speak to her new 'Twitter' friends that were there. 

And last week I was at a select business meeting where I started a conversation with another business owner. On trying to find out more about her business she said 'Do you go on Twitter; if you follow me, then you'll know what I'm doing!" Yet I was in the room with her; face to face engagement is invaluable for starting a business relationship!

There is no doubt that Twitter and other Social Media packages are an invaluable business tool for engaging with other businesses and to establish a rapport. From tweeting I have gone on to arrange face to face meetings and to develop the business relationship further, and postings are a great way to keep people up to date with what you are doing.

But relationships are more than collecting as many followers as possible; and there is a process from initially connecting with a person via Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook etc, to picking up a phone and interacting as human beings - rather than via a computer. Once the human interaction takes place, the business relationship moves forward far faster. Face to face meetings also play a major impact in this; the number of times I have gone out of my way to pop into a new contact - which has led to business is significant, yet I'd been emailing for some time before that!

However, even after telephone or face to face meetings, you STILL need to maintain the relationship, and tweeting alone isn't enough. You almost need to be more personal; more hard working with these relationships once you've reached this level.

The social media expert Eileen Brown, says that you need to monitor how long you spend each week on Social Media; measure the results and effectiveness of your activities and don't spend more than 5 hours a week. She is an expert and I believe her advice is valid: it is easy to get sucked into building up a large following which takes up time, and does not lead to significant business or to developing long term business relationships.

In the end it is about balance, and the realisation that people buy from people. Let's not forget the power of ourselves - our physical presence and voices, in selling our services.

The Apprentice: All talk and no action

There is no doubt that Melody has an impressive CV: being tutored by world leaders including the Dalai Lama and Al Gore. Winning a number of awards and running a Global Industry. Then why don't I take her seriously and respect her?

Really it is the outlandish self promotion; the talking; the inability to answer the question 'What do you do?'; the arrogance. In our youth, we all over emphasise our achievements, but we learn when to stop and when not to over exaggerate. Yet Melody's exaggeration appears to be a business version of those X Factor candidates, that despite being tone deaf, really believe they are star singers.

Of course, for the BBC, Melody was gold dust; she provided excellent TV with her memorable claims and quotes, and her obvious business flaws. It was hilarious that she was unable to explain the nature of her business: something that anyone would ask - and demand a simple explanation.

However, my concern is that she is obviously a role model for young people; she coaches in communication skills, yet she had a style that invited ridicule and disbelief. Is exaggerating experience really going to win a young person a job, or investment in new business? Is this communication style going to win a young person respect in an adult world?

Recently I was an invited guest at a conference. One of the speakers was a beautiful young woman, who specialised in 'communications'. She spent her 30 minute speech, talking herself up, and outrageously name dropping. Her feedback marks were very low, with some devastating comments. At no time did she engage her audience; she never indicated how she might help of assist any of the businesses represented at the conference, and as a result, didn't create any possibility of trust or of any future rapport. It was a puffed up presentation by someone that gave little indication that she could cope with anything more demanding that the primary school tuck shop, with adult help. I have no idea how good this woman was at her job, but her communication and presentation style was flawed.

Youthful optimism and lack of fear is such a powerful tool, and one that we all want to encourage within young people. However, this style of communication, and mind set is doing no favours to our young people. There are plenty of fabulous young people, however, the promotion of this style of b***shitting, as being in any way acceptable, is risible - and won't lead to any more people being able to win investment for their businesses or job offers.

The crazy thing was that for a moment, we saw a less arrogant Melody in 'Your Fired'. She suddenly became the 26 year old that she is: passionate, wanting to learn and humble. It was only for a brief second, but it left me sad that she wasn't able to be herself - rather she'd decided to portray herself as a Global Leader.