VOCAL VARIETY
This month's article deals with the concept of "vocal variety". Frank Shapiro is a personal development coach in the UK, and although this article was not written with voiceover in mind, the concept is vital to effectively delivering message when you are working on mic. Notice that Frank touches on the concept of physical movement as an aid in helping interpretation and vocal variety. The next you're working with a script,try taking any line and delivering it a half-dozen different ways. You'll quickly realize how important this concept is tocreating the proper interpretation.
I know what I meant ...... Why don't you?
Ever wonder why you are not listened to sometimes? Is what you say misheard or taken the wrong way? It is actually possible for you to be saying something and in your head you think it means one thing but to the person listening to you it means something completely different.
It is all about communication. Communicating is not only about what you say but about how you say it. I'm sure this is not news to most of you but it is so important in our every day lives that it is worth taking a few minutes to think about it.
The manner, style and tonality of what you say can be, and most often is as important as what you actually say.
Try this little game. You must say the sentence below out loud and emphasize the word in bold.
Understand that you are saying the same sentence but to the listener it will mean something different each time.
- You didn't tell me that was what you wanted
- You didn't tell me that was what you wanted
- You didn't tell me that was what you wanted
- You didn't tell me that was what you wanted
- You didn't tell me that was what you wanted
- You didn't tell me that was what you wanted
- You didn't tell me that was what you wanted
- You didn't tell me that was what you wanted
- You didn't tell me that was what you wanted
I am sure I don't need to go through each one, but do you get it? Do you understand that to communicate your thoughts accurately you must verbalize them in a way that allows the listener to understand what you are actually saying?
Not only is it important to have the tonality of the sentence so as to give the correct message you intend but it is also important to have the correct posture, facial expression and so on, so as to give the correct message.
So how can you benefit from being careful with the way you say things?
In your life with your family and friends it is important because you want them to understand you without having any doubt as to what you are saying. So many relationships go wrong because of lack of communication. The same can be applied to business. Both staff and customer problems can be created and solved by the tone of what you say. I know someone who owned his own business and had good motives, but when he made suggestions to his employees, he had such a hyper, shrill tone of voice that they reacted defensively. When he learned to lighten up about what he was saying, spoke more slowly, and used more silence, he started building stronger relationships with his staff.
Many of you who read this newsletter are actors. Can you imagine reading a script for a part and using the wrong tone of voice? The script just wouldn't make sense. The same is true in real life. How well you come across is as important as what you say. Your tone of voice, pace, authenticity, energy, style, and attitude matter. It is all very well having great things to say, but until you know how to come across well, you are less likely to be listened to.
When you come across well, people are more able and more likely to pay attention.
Try it this week. After you have thought of the words you want to say to someone think of how you are going to say it. Then say it.
See the difference for yourself
Lawrence F. Dooley
Boston, MA
lfdooley@gmail.com
http://twitter.com/LDooleyVoice
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