When you’re in the same room as your interlocutor, a wealth of contextual and non-verbal clues helps you (often subconsciously) interpret their level of engagement. A closed sitting posture, crossed arms, or a skeptical facial expression may indicate resistance to what you are saying, while the colleague who fiddles impatiently with their pen may be frustrated by you speaking for too long.
In virtual settings, however, a large portion of non-verbal and contextual information is lost – warm handshakes, affirming nods, and friendly smiles (or their opposites) are replaced by low-quality images, or simply a black square with a name. This means:
But, while virtual settings offer fewer physical cues, they mean a greater role for a powerful tool we often take for granted: the voice.
Without the full spectrum of body language information, your voice is key to how your message is received and interpreted. It becomes the primary instrument for conveying not just your message, but also your emotions, intentions, and willingness to build trust and find solutions.
As a leader, your voice has the potential to be an intentional tool for influence – a potential that is increased by the change of setting. It acts as a bridge, connecting you with others on both an intellectual and emotional level, and is the vehicle for sharing ideas, building relationships, and navigating the complexities of virtual collaboration.
“Beyond the literal words you speak, your accent, tone, and pacing all paint a picture of who you are and how you feel.”
Beyond the literal words you speak, your accent, tone, and pacing all paint a picture of who you are and how you feel. Do you sound confident and passionate, or hesitant and unsure? Is your voice supporting your content? Does it signal that you are genuinely engaged in the conversation, or simply going through the motions?
The easiest way to develop your vocal awareness is to listen to a recording of yourself speaking in a virtual meeting and check for:
Before a meeting, think about how you would like to show up to make the meeting productive. Then check in with your current mood and energy level. Is there a gap between your current state (annoyed) and how you want to come across (enthusiastic)? If so, what do you need to do to shift your state? A quick stretch? A glass of water? A kind word from an empathetic colleague?
Once you’re in the meeting, tune into the soundscape and sense the energy levels and emotions. What does the meeting need and how can you positively influence the conversation with your voice?
Two contrasting techniques are available to you to increase audience engagement: raising your listeners’ energy, or calming it. Which approach will ensure your colleagues engage and contribute better?
Say you find yourself in a meeting that’s stuck on low energy – people are mostly silent, ideas are stagnant, and you can practically feel peoples’ tiredness through the screen (possibly a hangover from the previous meeting). It’s time to inject some life into the proceedings! Here’s how:
Take a few deep breaths, exhaling slowly and fully.
Just as you can use your voice to energize a conversation, you can also use it to create a sense of calm, especially when disagreements arise. Here are a few ways to de-escalate tension:
Record yourself regularly during virtual meetings and listen back to analyze your vocal patterns and deepen your awareness of them.
Mastering the art of using your voice effectively takes motivation, time, and practice. Start by identifying and weeding out vocal patterns that tend to have unintended negative impacts (for example, your habitually rapid speech might make you sound nervous or insecure; while brief, sharp statements likely come across as curt and dismissive).
Record yourself regularly during virtual meetings and listen back to analyze your vocal patterns and deepen your awareness of them. Ask for feedback from trusted people and observe others – notice how different voices make you feel and identify what techniques they use that you might want to emulate.
Start by practicing one or two new techniques at a time and gradually expand your repertoire. The following articles will help you come across with warmth and competence, and how to use your voice to bolster your leadership skills:
In a world where virtual communication is the norm, your voice is a unique and valuable asset. By leveraging its power and learning to wield it effectively, you acquire an always-available tool to overcome communication challenges and build stronger, more genuine relationships.
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