When it comes to the speaking voice, tone deals with the expression of a mood or emotion. In relation to your delivery, your tone can have a surprising influence on how your topic or issue is perceived. If you were to give a motivational speech, your tone would be different than a master’s level course in horticulture.
While tone depends somewhat on the color of your speech, your facial expression, and your body language, your mood or emotional state can convey a different message than what you’re actually trying to say.
I worked with a woman who always sounded distant when answering her phone. In truth, the tone of her voice made her sound disinterested. While there is no doubt that she was bored with her current position, her tone when speaking to others, be it her colleagues or potential clients, gave her listeners the feeling that she was a cold person. Nothing could have been further from the truth. This woman was very warm and very nice; however, her tone of voice never said that.
When I was teaching graduate students at the University of Western Ontario, it was fascinating to listen to these very talented young people in their delivery of the news. Many of them recounted the story of a murder in the same tone of voice they used to announce Stanley Cup winners or talk about a boy’s heroic saving of horses from a burning stable. Each of these stories requires a different tone of voice.
Furthermore, your facial expression can also change depending on your tone. His brows may frown when talking about the murder; his face can show joy when describing the last minute goal of the Stanley Cup winners; and his facial features can be softened by talking about the 9-year-old’s heroism.
Without color, your presentation, whether at the podium or just in conversation, will be boring. Setting the wrong tone, however, can be just as devastating as a delivery devoid of emotion, life, or expression. If I tell my dog that she is mean but use an attractive tone of voice, she will think that I am pleased with her. Likewise, if I spoke to her in an angry tone, but told her that she’s a good bitch, she’ll still think I’m upset with her.
By working on expressive delivery skills with my clients, I teach them to paint a picture with their voice. For anyone who listens to audiobooks, this is a technical standard that the reader will use to add interest, allowing the listener to ‘see’ what the reader is saying. Take that advice one step further and be mindful of your tone, too.
Is the tone of your voice attractive or does it tell others that you are not interested? If you are describing a wonderful adventure, does your tone convey emotion or do you sound bored? You may also not be aware of your tone.
The next time you plan to give a presentation, toast, eulogy, acceptance speech, or if you’re just introducing another speaker, record yourself and listen to the tone of their voice. Does it match what you’re trying to say or is it telling a different story?
